Divac says he's leaving Kings ___ for L_A

[chpan (chimp)]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=1842289

Divac scorn Kings'offer; likely to return to Lakers

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com

Vlade Divac's six-year stay with the Sacramento Kings is apparently over ...
and the veteran center told ESPN.com on Sunday night that he's leaning
toward a return to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers brought Divac to the United States from the former Yugoslavia as
the No. 26 overall pick in the 1989 draft. They traded him to Charlotte in
1996 for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant in a move also aimed at creating some
of the salary-cap space that led to the signing of Shaquille O'Neal. Eight
years later, L.A. is courting Divac to team with Bryant and help fill the
mammoth void created by last week's trade of O'Neal to Miami.

"It looks like right now I'm definitely leaving Sacramento," Divac said in a
phone interview, after a meeting with Kings officials earlier Sunday confirmed
to the 36-year-old that his current team won't be increasing its offer of $2.5
million for next season.

"After the season, if you asked me who's the favorite, I would always say
the Kings. In my mind I thought I was going to stay here. The town and the
fans ... it's been a beautiful six years. I feel sad leaving, but [the
Kings] didn't show any kind of interest to keep me here. I was ready to come
back to stay here for less, but a little bit [less], not such a big
difference."

"If you ask me right now," Divac added, "it's going to be the Lakers."

Kings vice president Geoff Petrie could not be immediately reached, but team
sources said Sacramento had hoped to bring back Divac at a pay cut of nearly
$10 million and then sign multiple players with its $4.9 million mid-level
exception to fill out its roster.

With the Lakers, Divac can nearly double the $2.5 million offered by the Kings
if L.A. presents all or the bulk of its $4.9 million exception. He can
likely make even more if he chooses instead to sign with the Los Angeles
Clippers, who have the salary-cap room to far exceed the $4.9 million.

It's believed the Lakers have reserved that $4.9 million slot for either Divac
or bringing back Karl Malone, who has said he wants to make a decision about
next season later in the summer after undergoing knee surgery. Miami or San
Antonio are also options for Malone if Divac lands the Lakers' exception.

Phoenix would also love to sign Divac and has chased him before, but Divac
said he hopes to make a decision as soon as Monday or Tuesday. The Suns'
remaining free-agent funds are tied up through July 29 for having signed
Clippers restricted free agent Quentin Richardson to an offer sheet.

Sacramento co-owner Joe Maloof told ESPN.com last week that he feared losing
Divac to the Lakers because the Kings, for the second successive summer, are
trying to reduce payroll to avoid future luxury-tax payments. The strategy,
however, could backfire if there is no luxury tax after next season, as some
teams are forecasting.

Maloof insisted that the Kings don't want to part with Divac, a fan favorite
who doubles as Sacramento's locker-room glue and as a surrogate brother to
star forward Peja Stojakovic. Yet Sacramento is reluctant to offer more than
$2.5 million as it tries to gets its payroll as far below $60 million as it
can. The Kings carried a payroll of nearly $65 million last season,
resulting in nearly $10 million in luxury tax. Divac earned $12.1 million last
season in completing a six-year pact worth nearly $63 million.

Divac concedes that rejoining the Lakers now after so many bitter Sacramento-
L.A. battles in recent seasons won't be the easiest move. "I know how people
here feel about the Lakers," he said.

He quickly adds, though, that playing in Los Angeles for his original team
is the most comfortable decision for his family, although Divac said the
Clippers remain a consideration.

"I played for the Lakers for seven years and for the Kings for six years,"
Divac said. "Both teams have a special place in my heart."

Divac averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 28.6 minutes per
game last season before his playoff minutes were cut in a run-and-gun series
with Dallas in the first round. He has flirted with the idea of finishing
his career with one season at a top European club in Italy or Spain -- so
his kids can experience a bit of full-time European life -- but Divac
insists that "I know I can be productive [in the NBA] for one or two more
years."

"A friend of mine said it would be kind of nice to finish with the team I
started with," Divac said. "If I do go back to the Lakers, it will be
because of Dr. [Jerry] Buss. We've always had a great relationship."

Since returning from Europe late last week, Divac said he has been
approached by numerous Kings fans pleading with him to stay. As for
Stojakovic's reaction, Divac said: "He's sad, but so am I."

--
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※ 編輯: chpan           來自: 61.59.77.164         (07/19 11:57)
推 winas:歐尼爾走了 可以回到湖人當禁區助攻手了
→ kkkhsu:來吧來吧^^
推 AmadeusC:希望Divac可以加入順便提高malone留下的機
→ AmadeusC:會..為湖人組成老人球+硬漢禁區..
→ AmadeusC:而且有老迪以後  只要再一筆交易換一個堪
→ AmadeusC:用的中鋒  以Divac、B.G、Medvedenko加另
→ AmadeusC:一名堪用的中鋒，禁區就不算太殘破了..
→ AmadeusC:當然  假使還有malone的話  就更完美了^_^
推 KaMiRyuu:Welcome home Vlade!
推 yjhuang:老狄先生 回來吧 Lakers 需要你!!
推 ricemilk:welcome
推 jimli:這是最近聽到最棒的消息了爽拉
推 DDHH:yes!
推 Kobe760422:來增強湖人禁區吧~湖人加油!!
推 jerrysu:水唷..老迪要回來嚕..^^
推 DDHH:Malone留的話,可以和Divac組成哈林禁區囉ꐠ
→ chpan:就錢的方面 Divac 和 Malone互相衝突
→ chpan:用大部分的中產給Divac 那Malone又要低薪
→ chpan:國王和湖人應該不太可能談交易吧 @@"