Free agent point guard Gary Payton said he would have no problem fitting in with the Laker triangle offense. It's the constraints of the NBA's salary cap that could prevent Payton from coming to Los Angeles.

Payton was traded from the Seattle SuperSonics to the Milwaukee Bucks last season in the last year of a seven-year, $85-million contract. His most lucrative option would be to stay with the Bucks (who can exceed the salary cap to re-sign him) or to be part of a sign-and-trade deal. Because the Lakers are over the salary cap they can't offer him more than the mid-level exception, or $4.5 million.

Minnesota, Dallas, San Antonio and Golden State are other options for Payton. San Antonio has the most salary cap room, but Payton ranks below Jason Kidd on the Spurs' point guard shopping list. Teams such as Dallas are over the cap but have more tradeable assets than the Lakers.

"I'm just going to chill," Payton said late Thursday night while attending Nike's "Battleground" one-on-one basketball tournament in Bel Air. "I'm going to see what's happening. I need a championship.