Report of Laker Trade for Center Denied by West

Jerry West, the Lakers’ general manager, denied a report that the club is considering trading forward Orlando Woolridge, or other players or draft picks, to the Indiana Pacers for center Herb Williams.

“That’s ridiculous,” West said Wednesday. “I haven’t even talked with (Indiana officials) about that. Donnie Walsh, Indiana’s general manager, and George Irvine, another Pacer executive, have followed the Lakers the last 2 games. They had attempted to hire Laker assistant coach Randy Pfund as new Pacer coach Dick Versace’s top assistant. Pfund turned down the offer.

Williams, 30, averaging 12.6 points and 8.7 rebounds a game going into Wednesday night’s Pacer game at Boston, is earning $983,000 this season, part of a long-term contract. Woolridge reportedly is making $500,000, meaning that the Lakers would face salary-cap problems if they went after Williams.