PACIFIC DIVISION.(Brief Article)

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: F/C Marc Jackson becomes a restricted flee agent July 1. He looked like a worldbeater for two months, winning Rookie of the Month awards for December and January, but faded after the All-Star break and ended his season March 10 because of a strained groin. Is he a flash in the pan? Teams with salary-cap room must determine if Jackson is an offensively skilled, defensively challenged big man who sneaked up on unsuspecting opponents for a few months, or if he has the capability to produce on a regular basis. The team wants him back, but the market will determine if the Warriors can afford him. --Brad Weinstein

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: The Keith Closs Jr. experiment might be coming to a quiet end. Closs had the potential to complete a great underdog story as a 7-3 center who went from rags to riches. He left college early and began his pro career playing in the Atlantic Basketball Association. The Clippers saw visions of a young, raw Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and signed him to a shocking five-year contract. But he never quite lived up to his billing. Closs was a discipline problem almost from the start. He dashed with coaches regularly, and his minutes were shaky at best. --Lonnie White

LOS ANGELES LAKERS: Gee, back to work already? The Lakers got to lay around for a week after sweeping the Blazers, which was helpful, what with SG Kobe Bryant's sore ribs and C Shaquille O'Neal's sore toe. The bottom line on the next series is the Kings are a lot better than they were last season. SF Predrag Stojakovic and F/C Scot Pollard are vastly improved, as is the Kings' defense, which was nonexistent a year ago. The Lakers are better themselves, and they weren't exactly chopped liver a year ago. Moreover, except for those two playoff games on the road last spring, the Lakers have handled the Kings easily enough, even in the last three seasons with PF Chris Webber, when Sacramento was a solid playoff team. --Mark Heisler

PHOENIX SUNS: The wild card in the team's offseason plans is SG Penny Hardaway. If the Suns believe Hardaway will return next season at or near full strength and play out the final five years of his contract, they probably aren't in need of a makeover. Hardaway is scheduled to ...