Lakers Get More Room to Move

The bill for the Lakers’ planned free-agent shopping spree now includes valuable trade-ins.

Looking to build up the war chest to sway Shaquille O’Neal from across the country or lure Brian Williams from across the city, they pretty much dumped Anthony Peeler and George Lynch for nothing Tuesday, sending them to the Vancouver Grizzlies for the right to flip-flop second-round picks in 1998 and ’99.

More importantly for the Lakers, they got an additional $3.63 million in spending power, the $2.09 million due Lynch this season and the $1.54 million for Peeler. Part of that immediately went to signing one big man--Sean Rooks from Fontana and most recently the Atlanta Hawks, to what Rooks says is a seven-year package--but a large chunk remains from the $12.16 million they had before that deal, not the maximum available but an amount that would allow them to retain negotiating rights with Elden Campbell.

Large enough to mount another Shaq attaq?

The Lakers still figure it’s pretty much a done deal he’ll stay in Orlando. But this at least makes things interesting: If, for the sake of argument, they have $10 million to dangle for 1996-97, that translates into a seven-year offer worth $112 million, an increase from the $95.5-million deal extended late last week and enough to at least put O’Neal in the same financial standing as Alonzo Mourning.

Figure O’Neal and agent Leonard Armato are aware of the new possibilities, The Magic too.

“In any negotiation, you’ve got to be aware of the competition,” said John Gabriel, Orlando’s vice president of basketball operations. “It also puts us in a position to maybe establish new parameters. We’re quite aware of it.”

Maybe even quite concerned by it. Sources said later Tuesday that Magic officials may increase an offer already believed to be in the $115-million range, hoping to counter the Laker move and make sure O’Neal never gets all that tempted by the aggressive moves in Los Angeles.

There are no indications that an O’Neal signing is imminent, only that Orlando is close to an agreement with its starting power forward, Horace Grant, and that the Lakers will continue to pursue other options. More and more, that means Williams, the Clippers’ starting center last season.

He has emerged as the top target from Column B, and the Lakers have talked dollars and sense with his agent, Fred Slaughter.

Slaughter said Williams has received offers from seven teams and hopes to sign by the end of the week.

“Based on what I’m watching happen with other people similarly situated, the threshold is $7-7.5 million to start out with the first year and the offers can increase by up to as much as 20% per year,” Slaughter said. “It’s a very healthy market and there are lots of teams interested in Brian. We hope to get something done by the end of the week. I’m counting on it.”

With the Lakers’ new money, they could now sign a second big man to go with Rooks, then do a relatively minor deal for another position (Tracy Murray was a possibility before he went with the Bullets), and then care of Campbell, who apparently is willing to be patient because he wants to stay with the Lakers. Williams might be No. 1, but he’s not the only one.

Various sources say Ervin Johnson, late of the SuperSonics, is now in the mix, along with Oliver Miller, the Very Big O. There’s also Jim McIlvaine. And then there’s Dennis Rodman, Jerry West’s dinner guest from Monday, still a possibility in the Lakers’ minds but, according to Rodman’s agent, wanting to re-sign with the Bulls and willing to do a one-year contract if that’s what it takes.

“He does not want to be responsible for breaking up the greatest team in history,” said Dwight Manley, who is scheduled to meet with Bull officials Thursday and plans to have a contract done, with someone, by Friday. “He wants to keep that together.”

Peeler leaves after four seasons with the Lakers, long enough to become a Jerry West favorite and establish himself as an integral part of the backcourt, having made a nice contribution as both a starter after Byron Scott left and then a reserve after Eddie Jones. Now, he becomes teammates with Scott in Vancouver and should give the Grizzlies a much-needed infusion of offense while also challenging Blue Edwards for the spot in the starting lineup.

Lynch spent three seasons here as a defensive specialist who was held back by having the game of a power forward but, at 6-6 1/2, the body of a small forward. The Grizzlies could start their two first-round picks at forward, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Roy Rogers, but Lynch should get a chance to fill the same reserve role.

Rooks, meanwhile, is a four-year veteran from Arizona who has played for the Mavericks, Timberwolves and Hawks. The 6-foot-10, 250-pounder has career averages of 10.6 points and 5.8 rebounds a game.

Losing Williams would be a severe blow for the Clippers. Center Stanley Roberts, the likely starter if Williams departs, has sat out 181 games over the last three seasons because of injuries.

“Our top priority has always been to re-sign Brian Williams,” Clipper spokesman Joe Safety said. “Our policy is not to negotiate deals in the newspaper.”

Slaughter said he sent the Clippers a contract proposal Tuesday.

“I let the Clippers know by fax where the market is and I also let them know what it is that Brian seeks, as supported by the market, in order to get a deal done,” Slaughter said. “We made a formal outline to the Clippers and the ball is in their court.”

Staff Writer Chris Baker contributed to this story.

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Laker Comings and Goings

* ANTHONY PEELER

The Lakers’ top pick (15th overall) in the first round of the 1992 draft. He averaged 9.7 points last season and provided a spark off the bench with his 41% shooting from three-point range.

* GEORGE LYNCH

The Lakers’ top pick (12th overall) in the first round of the 1993 draft. He averaged only 3.8 points and 2.7 rebounds, but brought a strong defensive presence to the court in his role as a reserve.

* SEAN ROOKS

A Fontana native drafted by Dallas in 1993 and traded to Minnesota in 1994. Rooks was dealt in February to Atlanta, where he averaged 6.5 points and 3.9 rebounds.

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AROUND THE NBA: Kenny Anderson expected to be a Trail Blazer, Chris Gatling to join Mavericks and Don MacLean signs with 76ers. C6