In a rebuttal to recent published reports, Lakers owner Jerry Buss said Sunday that he has not reached any understanding with Phil Jackson about returning as Lakers coach and denied that Jackson wants the role of team president.

"Going back to last year when we did have an offer on the table, and he had a counter, I think I could imagine pretty much what it would take to sign Phil," Buss said in an interview on XTRA 570-AM's "Simers Says" show. "But we have not reached any kind of agreement or discussed it."

Buss said he had not formally sat down with Jackson to discuss the job and added that his short list of coaches has more than one name on it, "but not terribly many more."