More from RealGM
 Los Angeles Lakers WiretapLakers LinksNews Archive
NBA News
Buss on Malone: "I Am Confident That If He Plays, He'll Be A Laker"Karl Malone had microfracture surgery on his right knee back in June and is expected to finally decide in about a month whether he will play this season. Malone's agent recently said his client would prefer to stay in the Western Conference, which gained increased attention from teams such as San Antonio and Minnesota. "I think every team in the league could use him and would want him…. He's getting offers, probably two or three a day," Buss said. "I am confident that if he plays, he'll be a Laker. He has said that publicly in the papers, and he has told me that personally as well." The Lakers could offer Malone $1.8 million, and the Spurs could offer the veterans' minimum of $1.1 million. The Timberwolves would be in the neighborhood of the Lakers' $1.8-million offer. All signs point towards Malone remaining with the Lakers, as he has been frequently spotted at the Staples Center. Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Dr. Jerry Buss Offered Shaq 2 Years For $45 MillionDr. Jerry Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, said in a rare interview that he regrets the anger Shaquille O'Neal expressed after being traded to the Miami Heat. "I have not spoken to him," Buss said before Sunday night's game against the New Orleans Hornets. "I did call his agent and asked if we could have lunch before he left town. I plan on doing that again." O'Neal has repeatedly expressed anger at the Lakers, general manager Mitch Kupchak and Kobe Bryant since being traded to the Miami Heat in July. "Right now, his statements indicate he's not in a very good mood," Buss said with a smile. "He's bigger than I am, so I guess I'll wait a little bit." Buss confirmed that O'Neal was offered around $45 million for two more years, meaning he would have been under contract for over $100 million over the next four seasons had he accepted the offer. "Do I wish he had taken that? I wanted him to take it," Buss said. "Whether or not I would have still traded him or not, I'm not sure. It's hard to go back in history." Buss said he eager awaits the Christmas Day game between the Lakers and Miami Heat -- O'Neal's first against the Lakers since the trade. "I can't wait. I think that's going to be one of the biggest games in sports," Buss said. Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Odom Cries Foul On Constant WhistlesBack out West this season new Laker Lamar Odom doesn't mind playing the power forward position and banging against the likes of Elton Brand, Chris Webber and Carlos Boozer on a nightly basis, but according to Ross Siler of the Los Angeles Daily News Odom is having a hard time understanding the way the referee's decisions have been going against him all season. For the fifth time in first 13 games, Odom picked up five fouls in the Lakers' 109-106 loss Friday night to the Sacramento Kings. Only nine NBA players have been called for more fouls this season than Odom, who is averaging 3.8 per game. "A lot of my fouls are really ticky-tack," said Odom, who was limited to 34 minutes Friday. "I'm definitely right now a little frustrated about it. But I just have to keep playing. "Sometimes it takes my aggressiveness away from me, which I can't help because you're thinking that 'I must be too aggressive if I keep fouling."' Odom said Saturday that this is the first time in his pro career he can remember being called for charging against bigger players. He also said he was stepping aside for Brad Miller when he picked up his fourth foul. "When I foul, I raise my hand (to say) I got him," Odom said. "When you're trying to get out of the way and they get you for fouls and things like that, it's frustrating. But it's part of the game. (The referees) have the hardest jobs out there." Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Lakers Nov 2004 Archive
|
