LAKERS RUNNING FASTBREAK OFFSEASON TOMJANOVICH INTERVIEWS; PAYTON STAYS; MORE RUMORS.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

The triangle offense the Lakers employed for the past five seasons likely departed last week with Phil Jackson. But the triangle offseason, with developments coming at times from three directions or more, is well underway for the team's management.

In the case of Tuesday, that meant Rudy Tomjanovich interviewing to succeed Jackson - a job he seems increasingly likely to land - Gary Payton electing to stick around another year and Shaquille O'Neal's name being mentioned in trade rumors from coast to coast.

Tomjanovich, who won back-to-back titles with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and '95, met with general manager Mitch Kupchak and owner Jerry Buss. There were conflicting reports about whether the two sides would meet again but Tomjanovich was expected to stay in Southern California today.

One source said Tuesday morning that under one scenario, the hiring of Tomjanovich could play out ``pretty quickly.'' There was no word if Tomjanovich had been offered the job Tuesday or if the Lakers' coaching search was nearing an end after just four days.

Kupchak said Monday in a conference call he planned to interview multiple candidates and added that he thought a new coach would be hired within a few weeks. He also said the team would not ``experiment'' on an unproven coach.

All indications were that Tomjanovich soon could be the choice. Another source said Tuesday that Tomjanovich likely would keep his home in Houston if he came to Los Angeles, a way of maintaining ties to the area in which he has lived since the Rockets moved from San Diego in 1971.

But Tomjanovich already appears to have lined up two of his former assistants from Houston, Jim Boylen and Larry Smith, as part of a prospective staff.

One person discussed in early speculation about the Lakers' vacancy was former Milwaukee Bucks coach George Karl, who played at North Carolina with Kupchak.

But Karl's agent, Bret Adams, said Tuesday that Karl had not received a call from the Lakers and characterized the job as being Tomjanovich's to accept or decline. Karl will interview at Ohio State in the coming days.

Former Lakers coach Pat Riley also has been mentioned in connection with the job. Riley was scouting and unavailable to comment Tuesday. Riley released a statement Saturday saying, in part, ``Rumors are going to fly, and there's nothing I can do about it.''

Amid all the speculation, the Lakers assistant coaches - under contract through the end of the month - reported to work Tuesday morning and helped put potential draft picks through their paces at the team's practice facility in El Segundo.

One thing that is official is the return of Payton. He decided not to opt out of his contract despite a maddening season that ended without a championship and left the nine-time All-Star point guard saying in January, ``I didn't sign up for this (stuff).''

For as much as Payton looked as though he wanted out of Los Angeles - particularly when he was benched during the fourth quarter of games - his decision to return was not unexpected, given Jackson's departure and the $5.4 million he stood to earn by staying.

``I joined the Lakers organization last season to win an NBA championship and that is still my goal,'' Payton said in a statement. ``I look forward to the opportunity to return to play like the G.P. of the past; the G.P. that Dr. Buss brought here in the first place.''

Payton later added: ``With this decision, it is my hope that the team will stay intact and together we can bring a championship back to the city of Los Angeles.''

Payton, who turns 36 in July, was the only member of the Lakers' Big Four to start every game last season - regular and postseason. But his 4.2 assists per game were a career low, and Payton scored a total of 21 points in the NBA Finals.

During the playoffs, Payton struggled against San Antonio's Tony Parker and Detroit's Chauncey Billups. He could not find his way in Jackson's offense but could flourish in Tomjanovich's, which is more uptempo and plays to Payton's strengths.

Also Tuesday, the Lakers lost second-year forward Jamal Sampson to the Charlotte Bobcats in the expansion draft. The 21-year-old Sampson appeared in just 10 games and was not on the playoff roster but was one of the Lakers' most athletic players.

Kupchak did not return a call seeking comment about Payton and Sampson.

The Lakers also faced the possibility Tuesday that they might have to deal O'Neal should the center's trade demands continue. And there was no shortage of speculation about which team O'Neal could wind up with next season.

The Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, New Jersey Nets and Clippers all were postulated as possible destinations. The New York Post reported that O'Neal could go to the Clippers in exchange for Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Melvin Ely and the No. 4 draft pick.

Trading O'Neal is a complex matter since he will make a league-high $29.4 million next season. A team over the salary cap must send the Lakers players making at least 85 percent of what O'Neal would have made, according to collective bargaining agreement rules.

O'Neal's agent, Perry Rogers, said he would not discuss any potential trades involving his client. The Lakers were not believed to be close to trading O'Neal as of Tuesday night.

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) TOMJANOVICH

(2) Despite struggling through a tough first season with the Lakers, Gary Payton has decided to come back to the team next season. ``I look forward to the opportunity to return to play like the G.P. of the past,'' he said in a statement.

Edna T. Simpson/Daily News