Chris Mihm is progressing better than expected and should return soon, the L.A. Times is reporting.

"We've gotten the swelling out," he said Wednesday, referring to his severely sprained right ankle. "It's healing pretty quickly. We're pushing it more and more, day by day, and it's responding well."

"Hopefully my body still retains the shape that I had worked myself into before this, and I can get back there with some games and practice before the playoffs," said Mihm.

Just as Kwame Brown started showing flashes indicating that he may not be a bust, the Laker bigman has had a setback.  The L.A. Daily News is reporting that Brown may be limited as the Lakers clash with the Hornets tonight with a problematic hamstring.

Brown injured his hamstring in the final minutes of the Lakers' win over Milwaukee on Friday. He didn't participate in team drills Saturday but performed other exercises with physical therapist Alex McKechnie in an attempt to prevent further injury.

Brown wasn't ruled out of tonight's game against New Orleans, but it's clear he might not play much.

"We have to be really careful," coach Phil Jackson said. "(Trainer) Gary (Vitti) wants me to assess whether we should think about playing him in (today's) game. ... We'll have to make an assessment. It's too early to tell right now."

The hamstring isn't torn but Brown was feeling tightness.

The Los Angeles Lakers have recalled guard Von Wafer from the
Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Wafer, originally selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft with the 39th pick overall, appeared in eight games as a member of the Forth Worth Flyers, averaging 8.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 17.9 minutes.

Kobe Bryant said Monday he left without speaking to reporters after Sunday's loss to the Seattle SuperSonics because he was frustrated with his performance.

"I was just upset at myself for missing those shots," Bryant said before a late-afternoon workout. "I had a tough time sleeping last night."

Bryant was asked about bumping teammate Sasha Vujacic on the bench.

"Oh, so what," Bryant said. "Give me a break. This is really silly. I mean if people are out there saying negative stuff about me trying to get a player pumped up or whatever?. I don't think they showed on TV the very next time out me putting my arm around him and encouraging him to continue to be aggressive. I don't think they put that on TV."

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived bigman Slava Medvedenko, a two-time champion with the club, making way for discarded Sun Jimmy Jackson, the L.A. Times is reporting.

Medvedenko has only played two games this season before undergoing season-ending surgery in January for a herniated disk in his back.  He was re-signed to a two-year, $6-million deal before the 2004-05 season but played only 23 games after that because of injuries and ineffectiveness.

Jackson, who is joining his 12th team in 14 seasons, will be asked to add a veteran presence and outside touch to a team that has shot inconsistently throughout the season but is fighting for a playoff spot, according to the L.A. Times.  

His contract is contingent on passing a physical today in Los Angeles. It is not expected to be a problem.

Agent Rob Pelinka pushed hard to get Carlos Boozer traded to the Lakers before last week's deadline, and plans to do his bullying best to force the action this summer. For some reason Chris Mihm, Devean George and Aaron McKie didn't appeal to the Jazz, or, for that matter, the Warriors, whom Utah tried to lure into the deal by offering to assume the stretch contracts of Troy Murphy and Derek Fisher. Chris Mullin couldn't get off the phone quick enough.

Jim Jackson, who was waived last week by Phoenix, has begun talks with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers have $2.5 million remaining from their midlevel exception and could offer Jackson a prorated portion of it, about $500,000 for the rest of the season.

Jackson, 6 feet 6 and 220 pounds, played in 27 games this season for the Suns and averaged 3.7 points and 2.4 rebounds in 15.6 minutes. He has not played since Jan. 4.

Jim Jackson, just cut by Phoenix, wanted to play for the Lakers in 2002, settling instead for Sacramento. Penny Hardaway, Jon Barry and Rick Brunson are other options, albeit with health concerns, too.

Jackson said if McKie could be counted on, then the Lakers "wouldn't be as concerned as we are looking ahead to having to go through the rest of the season and the playoffs with this really young guard crew."