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Heat reportedly working on Shaq deal
/ FOXSports.com
Posted: 3 hours ago
It seems things have deteriorated so badly in Laker land that there's no chance or scenario in which Shaquille O'Neal would return to Los Angeles next season. Lakers owner Jerry Buss is committed to "deal" the superstar center, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Thursday.
And one team that has emerged as a frontrunner for O'Neal's services and hefty contract is Miami. Sources told the newspaper that the Lakers have fielded about 17 or 18 offers and narrowed them down to about five or six.
The deal with the Heat would include former Clipper Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and probably a first-round draft pick, sources said.
The Lakers have asked for rookie sensation Dwyane Wade, but the Heat refuse to part with him.
To make any deal work, the NBA stipulates that the Lakers have to come within 15 percent plus $100,000 of O'Neal's $27.6 million salary for next season.
The tumultuous situation between Buss and O'Neal started during training camp, when O'Neal demanded an extension and yelled, "Now you gonna pay me!" at the owner during an exhibition game.
Buss also was frustrated by O'Neal's lack of conditioning and consistent demands for more money, sources disclosed. O'Neal wanted a two-year, $60 million extension.
O'Neal did express a desire to play for Rudy Tomjanovich, most likely the Lakers' new coach by Friday. But with all bridges burned, the three-time NBA Finals MVP appears to have played his last game for the purple and gold.
"I just feel terrible for Rudy because I wanted to play for him," O'Neal said. "But I ain't coming back there."
/ FOXSports.com
Posted: 3 hours ago
It seems things have deteriorated so badly in Laker land that there's no chance or scenario in which Shaquille O'Neal would return to Los Angeles next season. Lakers owner Jerry Buss is committed to "deal" the superstar center, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Thursday.
And one team that has emerged as a frontrunner for O'Neal's services and hefty contract is Miami. Sources told the newspaper that the Lakers have fielded about 17 or 18 offers and narrowed them down to about five or six.
The deal with the Heat would include former Clipper Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and probably a first-round draft pick, sources said.
The Lakers have asked for rookie sensation Dwyane Wade, but the Heat refuse to part with him.
To make any deal work, the NBA stipulates that the Lakers have to come within 15 percent plus $100,000 of O'Neal's $27.6 million salary for next season.
The tumultuous situation between Buss and O'Neal started during training camp, when O'Neal demanded an extension and yelled, "Now you gonna pay me!" at the owner during an exhibition game.
Buss also was frustrated by O'Neal's lack of conditioning and consistent demands for more money, sources disclosed. O'Neal wanted a two-year, $60 million extension.
O'Neal did express a desire to play for Rudy Tomjanovich, most likely the Lakers' new coach by Friday. But with all bridges burned, the three-time NBA Finals MVP appears to have played his last game for the purple and gold.
"I just feel terrible for Rudy because I wanted to play for him," O'Neal said. "But I ain't coming back there."
