Shaq Is ‘Chilling’--and Leaning Toward Orlando

Olympians with business deals on their minds, the Dream Team’s free agents keep whipping out cellular phones for hushed conversations with their agents.

Except one.

“Shaq really isn’t one of the guys,” says Penny Hardaway. “He’s always got his headphones on. Really. The rest of the guys are always on the phone.”

Shaquille O’Neal says he’s “chilling,” steering clear of negotiations--and wants to return to Orlando. He has been calling the Magic his “first option” for weeks but is doing it with more feeling now.

“Because I played there first,” he said Sunday. “Got a big 50,000 square foot house there. Own a couple buildings, couple restaurants there.”

People keep suggesting he likes Los Angeles. O’Neal keeps asking them where they got that.

“How’d you come to that conclusion?” he asked a reporter.

Movies? Records?

“Did my movies in Florida,” O’Neal said. “Universal Studios. . . . I was told it doesn’t matter where I’m at. If people want to offer me movie deals, I mean, I can get movie deals wherever. You guys have to realize that I don’t do movies during the season. Movies and rap music are summer jobs to me.”

Is this real or a negotiating posture? “Do I need a posture?” asked O’Neal. “No. OK. If I don’t need it, then I wouldn’t take advantage of it. Me, I’m the type of guy, if I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it. I have my family in Orlando. The game’s been going pretty good. Orlando is the first option.”