Shaq’s agent says O’Neal accepts trade to Miami

Shaquille O’Neal would be happy to be traded to the Miami Heat.

That word came from O’Neal’s agent, Perry Rogers, who told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that O’Neal has given his blessing to a deal that would send him to Miami.

“We’ve said that we would agree to a trade,” Rogers said in a story posted Saturday night on the newspaper’s Web site. “I think that’s going to happen. I’d be very surprised if it didn’t happen.”

The deal, expected to include Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant going to Los Angeles, cannot be completed until Wednesday when a two-week leaguewide moratorium on trades and free agent signings expires.

“It’s very serious. I think it’s very close to getting done,” said Grant’s agent, Mark Bartelstein.

ESPN and the Sun-Sentinel reported that O’Neal joined his representatives for a 3-hour meeting that included Pat Riley and Heat general manager Randy Pfund.

O’Neal’s contract runs for two more seasons with a combined salary of almost $59 million, and he was angered earlier this season when the Lakers refused to offer him an extension.

Rogers said the Heat had not discussed a new contract with O’Neal.

Barry agrees to offer from Spurs

Free-agent guard Brent Barry has reached agreement to join the San Antonio Spurs, leaving the Seattle SuperSonics to play alongside Tim Duncan and improve his shot at an NBA title.

The four-year deal is believed to be worth between $22 and $24 million.

Seattle initially offered the 32-year-old Barry three years at $17.75 million, with a counteroffer near San Antonio’s proposal but worth more in the first three years and with a partially guaranteed fourth year.

Instead, Barry chose to join one of the NBA’s elite teams. He’s also likely to extend his career as a spot shooter coming off the bench.

Hawks give sales pitch to Martin

The Atlanta Hawks are willing to wait for Kenyon Martin.

The New Jersey Nets’ free agent was expected to leave Atlanta with a six-year maximum contract offer — as much as $85 million.

“Going through the process, we let the guy know we have a great town and a great facility and we have an interest in putting the best team together,” Hawks vice president Dominique Wilkins told the Associated Press.

Martin, however, is a restricted free agent, which means if he signs the Hawks’ offer sheet, New Jersey can take 15 days to decide whether to match it.

By that point, the free-agent market may have dwindled considerably. Players can begin signing with new teams on Wednesday, and if the Nets decide on the 15th day to match the offer, Atlanta — and its $20 million in cap space — could be left without a high-profile free agent.

Martin has said he would prefer to remain with New Jersey, but the Nets may not be willing to match a maximum offer. The 6-foot-9 power forward has also visited the Denver Nuggets.

Rudy T. hopes to coach Kobe

Rudy Tomjanovich made it clear that Kobe Bryant will be the focal point of the Los Angeles Lakers’ offense — if the All-Star free agent stays with the team.

“He has already done legendary things on the court,” Tomjanovich said of Bryant at his first news conference as Lakers coach. “I truly believe he has a chance to become the greatest player ever to play the game.”

Bryant has reportedly narrowed his choices to the Lakers or Clippers. Free agents can sign with teams starting at 9:01 p.m. (PDT) Wednesday.

Tomjanovich was hired Friday to replace Phil Jackson, whose triangle offense often irked Bryant.

Former Lakers’ great dies

Five-time NBA all-star Rudy LaRusso has died after a long fight with Parkinson’s disease. He was 66.

LaRusso died Friday, Los Angeles Lakers spokesman John Black said.

LaRusso helped the Lakers reach the NBA Finals three times in the early 1960s. The power forward started with the Lakers in Minneapolis in 1959 and moved with the team to Los Angeles. He averaged 15.6 points and 9.4 rebounds over a 10-year career.