Lakers go looking for a big man

The Lakers aren't content to wait for Andrew Bynum's return.

They're looking to add a big man after losing reserve center Theo Ratliff for at least four to six weeks because of surgery on his left knee.

"We have to have some support there interim until Andrew comes back," Coach Phil Jackson said Tuesday.

Bynum is expected to return around Thanksgiving from off-season knee surgery.

"Sounds about right, sir," he said in a brief interview.

The Lakers will talk to the representative for free-agent Erick Dampier, though it might not be a good match for either side. Dampier will want more than a short-term contract, and the Lakers are looking for a little more mobility in the post.

Teams cannot offer free agents 10-day contracts until later in the season, but they can currently pay signees on a daily or weekly basis.

The Lakers currently have the highest payroll in the league ($95.6 million) and are projected to pay an additional $25.3 million in luxury taxes, but they have only 14 players on their roster, one below the NBA maximum.

One of the candidates for a spot was Jake Voskuhl, 33, who the Lakers believe would be an active defender and rebounder despite career averages of 3.4 rebounds and 0.4 blocked shots a game. He played for five teams in a nine-year career and did not play in the NBA last season.

There are few free-agent big men available, but Steven Hunter and Sean May aren't on NBA rosters after spending last season with Memphis and Sacramento, respectively. May was waived by New Jersey after sustaining a stress fracture in his left foot before training camp.