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Lakers Send Divac To Hornets

From Wire Reports

The Los Angeles Lakers got the young player they wanted and cleared some room under the team’s salary cap Thursday by trading veteran center Vlade Divac to the Charlotte Hornets for the rights to high school draft pick Kobe Bryant.

The trade was announced just hours after the 2 p.m. PDT expiration to the moratorium on player movements until the collective bargaining agreement between NBA players and owners was signed.

“We’re very excited to get a player with Kobe’s talent and ability,” Lakers vice president Jerry West said. “We feel his potential in this league is unlimited, but we’ll be patient in letting him develop.”

Bryant, 17, son of former NBA player Joe Bryant, was selected by the Hornets with the 13th overall choice in this year’s NBA draft. The 6-foot-6 guard averaged 30.8 points, 12 rebounds and 6.5 assists as a high school senior in Lower Merion, Pa., last year.

The salary cap room cleared by trading Divac’s $8.5 million salary for the next two seasons, means the Lakers have more money to offer Shaquille O’Neal, the free agent they reportedly covet.

Quiet day

Many had expected a flurry of activity to take place as soon as the collective bargaining agreement was officially ratified. Instead, it was a relatively quiet day, with many of the contract and trade talks expected to be carried over the weekend.

In Salt Lake City, O’Neal declined comment on his free-agent status or what offers that he might consider from the Magic or any other team. He accompanied the U.S. Olympic basketball team from Phoenix to Utah, where the Dream Team is preparing for a game tonight.

In a statement released Thursday, O’Neal’s agent said he will field offers for O’Neal through July 18.

O’Neal’s agent spoke with officials from Orlando and met with the Lakers’ West. Orlando also began talks with power forward Horace Grant, their other top free agent.

Parish to retire

Robert Parish, who played in more games than any other NBA player, left little doubt that he will retire after 20 seasons.

“I think my basketball career is about over,” he said in an interview with Boston’s WHDH-TV. “I really haven’t made an official decision, but I’m leaning toward retirement right now. I think Robert Parish is about done.”

Parish, at 42, the oldest player in the NBA, spent the last two seasons as a backup center with the Charlotte Hornets after 14 years as part of one of the best frontlines in NBA history with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale on the Boston Celtics.

Bucks get Lang

In a deal that had been rumored since the day of the draft, the Milwaukee Bucks acquired center Andrew Lang from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Bucks said they signed the 6-foot-11 Lang and returned to Minnesota a future first-round draft choice that had been acquired June 26. Milwaukee also created room under the salary cap by renouncing rights to center Benoit Benjamin.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SONICS IN SPOKANE The Seattle SuperSonics and Portland Trail Blazers will play at the Spokane Arena Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the game go on sale Monday at G&B Select-A-Seat locations or by calling 325-SEAT or 1-800-325-SEAT outside Spokane. Proceeds benefit the Gonzaga University Endowment Fund. Ticket prices range from $19.50 to $50.

This sidebar appeared with the story: SONICS IN SPOKANE The Seattle SuperSonics and Portland Trail Blazers will play at the Spokane Arena Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the game go on sale Monday at G&B; Select-A-Seat locations or by calling 325-SEAT or 1-800-325-SEAT outside Spokane. Proceeds benefit the Gonzaga University Endowment Fund. Ticket prices range from $19.50 to $50.