INGLEWOOD, Calif., July 18 -- The Los Angeles Lakers announced Thursday that they had signed free agent center Shaquille O'Neal to a multi-year contract. The announcement was made by Jerry West, the Lakers' Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. Terms of the agreement were not released, but WFTV in Orlando reported Wednesday night that the 24-year- old All-Star had come to terms with the Lakers on a seven-year contract worth $123 million. At a Thursday morning news conference in Atlanta, O'Neal said he would make an announcement about his future at 3 p.m. EDT at his shoe company's headquarters, also in Atlanta. Though O'Neal would neither confirm nor deny the report at the early news conference with the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team, the way Orlando point guard Penny Hardaway responded to questions made it seem the two were about to be former teammates. 'What happened last season (when the Magic got off to a strong start while O'Neal was out with a broken thumb) was a matter of luck, but I don't think we can win over an entire season without a big guy like Shaq,' Hardaway said. 'I just have to rise to the challenge and play as hard as I can.' O'Neal himself appeared uncomfortable whenever any of the other members of the team were asked about the reported deal, and he only seemed to relax after he made the announcement of his own news conference for later in the day. It was believed the only team that could lure O'Neal away from the Orlando Magic was the Los Angeles Lakers because of his secondary careers as a rap singer and movie star that could be enhanced by playing near Hollywood.
O'Neal met with West and other team officials Wednesday night. The Lakers presented O'Neal with a sizeable increase from their original seven-year, $95.5 million offer after creating more salary cap room two days ago. The Lakers sent guard Anthony Peeler and forward George Lynch to Vancouver Tuesday for draft choices, enabling them to increase their offer to O'Neal. The Magic made a strong pitch to retain O'Neal, offering a seven-year contract worth $115 million last week. The Lakers already have traded center Vlade Divac to the Charlotte Hornets, gambling that they will be able to lure O'Neal away from Orlando. The All-Star center exercised an option in his current contract and is the most coveted free agent now that Michael Jordan has re-signed with the Chicago Bulls. Orlando may exceed the salary cap to re-sign O'Neal, who was to earn $6.6 million next season. O'Neal averaged 26.6 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 54 games last season, missing 28 games with a broken thumb and other ailments. The 24-year-old O'Neal was the first pick of the 1992 draft and was the 1993 NBA Rookie of the Year. He led the Magic to their first playoff berth in 1994 and won the scoring title in 1995 as Orlando reached the Finals, losing to the Houston Rockets.
