Lakers Sweeten Deal, Offer Shaq $120 Million

The Shaquille O’Neal sweepstakes took a dramatic turn in the Los Angeles Lakers’ favor when they delivered a higher final offer to the free-agent center than the Orlando Magic, a seven-year package worth approximately $120 million as the process appeared to head into its final hours.

O’Neal and his advisers huddled into early this morning in Atlanta, after O’Neal had arrived with the Dream Team for the Olympics. A final decision was expected to come out of that meeting, though nothing is definite.

Negotiations that had the Magic feeling confident and the Lakers offering a concession speech a day earlier changed course in stunning fashion after a whirlwind day in Atlanta that included separate meetings by both teams with agent Leonard Armato. This came some 24 hours after the Lakers set the stage by clearing additional salary-cap room by trading Anthony Peeler and George Lynch to the Vancouver Grizzlies, and after after Orlando officials had failed to offer more than $110 million for the seven seasons.

It was at these conferences, well-placed sources said, that the Magic increased the bid to $115 million, by all indications its final proposal because ownership did not want to go higher for fear of not being able to run the franchise at a profit.

The Lakers also met with Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman on Monday night and retain an interest in Clippers center Brian Williams. Black confirmed Rodman met with Lakers executive vice president Jerry West, but declined further comment.

Sonics center on big men

One of these days, the SuperSonics will officially announce their mega-million-dollar deal with Gary Payton.

Right around the same time, they will introduce a new center, undoubtedly Jim McIlvaine, who is about to become the richest two-points-a-game scorer in NBA history.

But Wednesday there was still a lot of finagling and posturing, and not much in the way of concrete news other than the report of Ervin Johnson’s destination.

The free-agent center, whose rights were renounced by the Sonics on Tuesday, has reached an agreement on a seven-year contract with the Denver Nuggets. Johnson’s salary will average a little more than $2 million a season, making the deal worth around $15 million.

Johnson wanted to stay here, but the Sonics did not want him anymore.

“I’ve got no bitterness toward the Sonics,” Johnson said. “They made a decision to go in a different direction.”

Regarding the signing of McIlvaine, the 7-foot-1 center is 2 inches taller than Johnson and because he is more athletic, the Washington Bullets player is slightly quicker to the ball. He also is just turning 24 and may have a bigger upside.

Of the two free-agent centers the Sonics are eyeing, the other being Brian Williams of the Los Angeles Clippers, McIlvaine is more affordable. Williams reportedly wants at least $7.5 million in the first year of his contract. McIlvaine wants a deal worth $4 million to $5 million a year, and the Sonics could fit that amount under the cap.

Around the league

An NBA doctor has confirmed Cleveland’s Brad Daugherty’s lingering back problems won’t improve enough for him to resume his career. Daugherty has been out for two years with back pain. The confirmation should clear the way for the Cavs to remove Daugherty’s $5 million salary from the team’s salary cap and make the money available for other players.

The Orlando Magic re-signed free agent Horace Grant to a five-year contract. Sources close to the deal confirmed Grant’s deal is worth $50 million.

Grant, a 31-year-old power forward, averaged 13.4 points and 9.2 rebounds for the Magic last season.