Divac retires after 16-year NBA career
Vlade Divac ended his 16-year NBA playing career Tuesday, easing into a new job with the Los Angeles Lakers as a liaison and scout in Europe.
The Lakers bought out Divac’s contract for $2 million. The 37-year-old center had back surgery in January, and played in 15 games last season, averaging 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds.
“I didn’t have fun anymore with the injury I had,” Divac said from El Segundo, Calif. “If I didn’t have fun, I wouldn’t play my best.”
Divac said he had seriously considered playing this season, “but I couldn’t find the ride that would take me there.”
He had career averages of 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in 15 previous seasons – seven with the Lakers, two with Charlotte and six with Sacramento.
“I’m happy today,” said Divac, who sat next to his wife, Ana. “When I look back, it was a wonderful career. It was a great ride for me.”
He joined centers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players in NBA history to get 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists and 1,500 blocked shots.
Lawyer argues for Williams
Jayson Williams cannot be retried on a reckless manslaughter charge in the shooting death of a hired driver because a jury already acquitted him of three other charges resulting from the same shotgun blast, a lawyer for the former NBA star said in Hackensack, N.J.
Williams, 37, has remained free on bail since his April 30, 2004, conviction on four charges stemming from a failed attempt to cover up the fatal shooting.
While the Somerset County jury acquitted him of the most serious charges, including aggravated manslaughter, it could not reach a verdict on a reckless manslaughter charge. Prosecutors are seeking a retrial.
Williams’ lawyer Joseph A. Hayden Jr., told an appellate panel that the same conduct that a jury found insufficient to convict Williams of aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault and a weapons charge, is the same conduct at the heart of the reckless manslaughter charge.
Around the league
LeBron James is feeling better and will try to play in Cleveland’s exhibition game today against Memphis. James was hospitalized for two days last week with pleurisy. … New Orleans waived guard Troy Bell after he appeared in only one preseason game. … Chicago waived guard Jermaine Jackson, two weeks after he was acquired from New York.