MALONE'S DESTINATION UNCERTAIN STAR SAYS HE WILL PLAY, BUT MAYBE NOT FOR L.A.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

Amid reports that Karl Malone wants to play next season, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Thursday he remains optimistic but uncertain that Malone will choose to remain in Los Angeles.

Kupchak said he has spoken with Malone in the past two weeks but the conversation did not delve into specifics. Malone has spent his offseason rehabbing his right knee and weighing offers from the Lakers, Miami, San Antonio and Minnesota.

``I don't think our feel of the situation is any different than it was a month or two months ago,'' Kupchak said. ``I'll admit we're a little more antsy now because we would like him back and he hasn't decided yet.''

Malone told the San Antonio Express-News on Thursday that he is going to be able to play this season. He also said he has made up his mind where he will play.

``I know what I want to do,'' said Malone, who would become the ninth player in NBA history to play past his 41st birthday. ``I'm just not ready to say yet.''

A report earlier this week that Minnesota's Kevin Garnett and Flip Saunders were flying to Southern California to meet with Malone was refuted by Timberwolves general manager Kevin McHale on Thursday.

But commenting in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, McHale did not hide his interest in the forward: ``If Malone decides he wants to play, we would love to try to work something out with him.''

Kupchak said the Lakers would continue to be patient with Malone, who took a pay cut to sign as a free agent last summer and tore up his knee twice during the season. The Lakers can offer Malone a $1.8 million contract for his final season, although championship potential and family priorities are also part of the equation.

``A lot of guys would have signed a month ago to have some security,'' Kupchak said. ``He's really gone beyond the call. He wants to make sure he can play.''

The Lakers reserved the $4.9-million midlevel exception for Malone, who in turn gave the club his blessing in July to use the money to sign free- agent center Vlade Divac. At the time, Kupchak said every indication he received was that Malone wanted to remain a Laker.

Should Malone not return, the Lakers would turn to Brian Grant at power forward, with Chris Mihm, Slava Medvedenko and Brian Cook all counted on for substantial contributions.

``It's not really what we'd hope for, but I think we'd be able to get going and far enough into the season to get a feel for what we need to do,'' Kupchak said. ``But you can't compare a team having Karl Malone to not having him.''

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com