Vlade didn't want to be a Clipper either

http://www.pe.com/sports/lakers/stories/PE_Sports_Local_nba_notes_19.57936.h
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Again, it came down to the Lakers and Clippers for the services of a player,
and once again the Clippers lost to the Lakers.

Vlade Divac has decided to return to the Lakers, the same team that drafted
him in 1989 with the 26th pick in the first round, sources said late Sunday
night.

Kobe Bryant was also deciding between the Lakers and Clippers and chose
Thursday to remain a Laker.

The Clippers had more money to offer, but sources said Divac wanted to be a
Laker.

Divac will get the mid-level exception of about $5 million, and Laker team
sources said they might be willing to give the 36-year-old free-agent center
a two-year deal.

The Clippers, after being shunned by Bryant, still have about $14 million to
spend and were able to offer Divac millions more.

Divac, who spent the past six seasons in Sacramento, said the Kings offered
him just $2.5 million.

"It's a bad feeling to make a decision that you don't want to make," Divac,
who has kept his home in Los Angeles, told the Sacramento Bee on Sunday. "In
the last couple of days, I've been coming to grips that I really might have
to leave. But (the Kings) are looking at it from the business side, and I
have to do that, too."

With Divac able to play center, Brian Grant can move from center to his
natural position of power forward, and Lamar Odom can move to his best
position of small forward.

The signing of Divac could help the Lakers' chances of getting Karl Malone
to return. Malone, who had surgery on his right knee, said he will take most
of the summer to make a decision on retiring or playing again.

"s_knight8" <s_knight8nospam DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<cdglfu$kga@dispatch.concentric.net>...
> http://www.pe.com/sports/lakers/stories/PE_Sports_Local_nba_notes_19.57936.h
> tml
>
> Again, it came down to the Lakers and Clippers for the services of a player,
> and once again the Clippers lost to the Lakers.
>
> Vlade Divac has decided to return to the Lakers, the same team that drafted
> him in 1989 with the 26th pick in the first round, sources said late Sunday
> night.
>
> Kobe Bryant was also deciding between the Lakers and Clippers and chose
> Thursday to remain a Laker.
>
> The Clippers had more money to offer, but sources said Divac wanted to be a
> Laker.
>
> Divac will get the mid-level exception of about $5 million, and Laker team
> sources said they might be willing to give the 36-year-old free-agent center
> a two-year deal.
>
> The Clippers, after being shunned by Bryant, still have about $14 million to
> spend and were able to offer Divac millions more.
>
> Divac, who spent the past six seasons in Sacramento, said the Kings offered
> him just $2.5 million.
>
> "It's a bad feeling to make a decision that you don't want to make," Divac,
> who has kept his home in Los Angeles, told the Sacramento Bee on Sunday. "In
> the last couple of days, I've been coming to grips that I really might have
> to leave. But (the Kings) are looking at it from the business side, and I
> have to do that, too."
>
> With Divac able to play center, Brian Grant can move from center to his
> natural position of power forward, and Lamar Odom can move to his best
> position of small forward.
>
> The signing of Divac could help the Lakers' chances of getting Karl Malone
> to return. Malone, who had surgery on his right knee, said he will take most
> of the summer to make a decision on retiring or playing again.

I wonder how the signing of Vlade will make Karl more likely to sign
with the Lakers? I think the only way Karl comes back is if it's out
of some sort of loyalty to GP and Kobe. I don't really see him going
to the Spurs. Miami is a good possibility. They need a starting PF. So
do the Lakers.