Lakers Losing Hope for Shaq

Shaquille O’Neal, who could be on the verge of becoming the NBA’s next $100 million man, remained noncommital Monday about his future with the Orlando Magic.

The all-star center reiterated that re-signing with the team he led to the NBA finals in 1995 is his first option, but he intends to wait until agent Leonard Armato is comfortable with an offer before making a decision.

“Leonard’s going to come to me and say I think this is a good deal. If I like what I see, I’ll sign,” O’Neal said after a workout with the U.S. Olympic basketball team at the Disney Institute.

“I’ve said a million, zillion times that I would like to be here. . . . I’m just looking for a deal that’s good for me and my family.”

The Orlando Sentinel reported the Magic were set to offer O’Neal $115 million over seven years, a deal that would top the $112 million package Alonzo Mourning received from the Miami Heat over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Lakers acknowledged their chances of luring O’Neal from Orlando with an offer reportedly worth $95.5 million over seven years aren’t very good.

‘We’re not optimistic, but we’ll continue to keep our hat in the ring until either he tells us he’s not interested in us or he signs with Orlando,” Laker spokesman John Black said. “Until that time, we’ll keep the dialogue open.”

The Sentinel said the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons also may be pursuing O’Neal, who insisted he hasn’t seen any figures from anyone, including the Magic, who tried to bolster their bid to retain the four-time all-star with a half-page ad in Monday’s editions of USA Today.

Magic owner Rich DeVos wished O’Neal and Penny Hardaway, the other half of Orlando’s Dream Team duo, good luck in their pursuit of a gold medal in the Olympics while restating his desire to keep the nucleus of the Magic together.

“We look forward to having you both back on our team as we continue our drive to an NBA championship,” the ad--signed “Love ya, Rich, the DeVos family, Orlando Magic players, coaches and staff”--said.

O’Neal said he appreciated the gesture, described by team spokesman Alex Martins “as just a way to show our support.”