Kazaam! Shaq Gets $120 Million Lakers Strike Deal That Lures O’Neal Away From Magic

Shaquille O’Neal became the first premier free agent to switch teams, abandoning the Orlando Magic on Thursday to sign a seven-year, $120 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.

While three other top-of-the-line players in this summer’s bumper crop of free agents - Michael Jordan, Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning - elected to re-sign with their teams, O’Neal opted for a coast-to-coast move and a contract that will pay him an average of $17.4 million per season.

It is the most lucrative total package in team sports history and the second this summer to exceed $100 million. However, Jordan’s contract signed last week with the Chicago Bulls is the largest one-year deal - $25 million to $30 million.

O’Neal, who won the NBA scoring title last season, has averaged 27.2 points and 12.5 rebounds during his four-year pro career. Although he led Orlando to 57-plus wins the last two seasons, the Magic were swept in the 1995 NBA Finals and in this year’s conference finals.

“I’m a military child, so I’m used to relocating every three or four years,” said O’Neal, whose father was a sergeant in the U.S. Army.

Along with his muscular inside game, the 7-footer with the telegenic smile is bringing his rap music and fledgling movie career to Hollywood.

“My final decision was to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. I felt that a change was necessary,” O’Neal said. “Change is for the good and change is for the better.”

He will be the latest in a long line of superstar Lakers centers that includes George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem AbdulJabbar, all Hall of Famers who led the Lakers to NBA titles. O’Neal will replace Vlade Divac, dealt to Charlotte, and start alongside Cedric Ceballos, Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel.

Power forward Elden Campbell is still un-signed, but the Lakers hope to retain him. High school phenom Kobe Bryant, acquired for Divac, and center Sean Rooks, another free-agent acquisition, will give the Lakers, 53-29 last season, some bench strength.

“There’s no question this is a rebirth,” said Lakers general manager Jerry West, whose team last won an NBA title in 1988. “Our oldest player is only 28, and the only starter we’ve lost from last year is Divac.”

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SHAQ OFF TO L.A. A look at the career of NBA center Shaquille O’Neal, who signed a seven-year, $120 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers: Born: March 6, 1972 College: Louisiana State Played: 1992-96 with Orlando Magic Named: 1992-93 Rookie of the Year

CAREER STATS Regular season: 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds Playoffs: (3 seasons, 1993-96): 25.3 points, 11.4 rebounds