After taking a week to study their options, the Lakers on Wednesday opened negotiations to bring in a new starting point guard ? not with Derek Anderson, but with Aaron McKie.

Until General Manager Mitch Kupchak contacted McKie's agent, Leon Rose, the Lakers had been focused on Anderson. The switch is thought to have been prompted by Coach Phil Jackson, who decided he preferred the 6-foot-5, 210-pound McKie, who is bigger and more solid if not as talented as Anderson.

Both players were released as amnesty moves and are far from the zenith of their careers. Anderson, 31, missed 66 games the past two seasons. McKie, 32, played only 48 games last season, averaged a career-low 2.2 points and shot 16 free throws in the entire campaign.