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$49-Million Deal for Campbell Caps Spending Spree

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

What price victory?

For the Lakers, it’s at about $171 million over a 36-hour stretch alone. That got them two starting big men and one backup point guard in a spending spree that culminated Friday with free-agent power forward Elden Campbell signing a seven-year deal for $49 million and rookie Derek Fisher getting three years for $2.2 million.

The other rookie, Kobe Bryant, will probably have a deal early next week, officially bringing the roster to nine players. That leaves three spots open, which the Lakers hopeto fill with veterans who will accept the league minimum of $247,500.

The Lakers and Campbell, together since he came to the NBA as a first-round pick in 1990, had expressed mutual interest all along to get the deal done. But timing was the critical factor. They had to get Shaquille O’Neal--or any other free agents--signed first to use all the money available and then sign Campbell because teams are able to exceed the salary cap to re-sign their own free agents and rookies.

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Other teams called, and he listened. Mostly, though, he waited patiently.

“This is home for me,” said Campbell, who attended Morningside High in Inglewood before leaving for Clemson. “I love it here. This organization, this city.”

The Lakers loved him right back. The signed him to a contract that sources said will bring a $3.5-million signing bonus and then $6.5 million annually for the next seven seasons.

“Elden had a number of attractive offers from other teams,” said Jerry West, the Lakers’ executive vice president. “But I think he felt Los Angeles was the place he had developed, and his family is here.

“He has become a very, very, very good, versatile player within the NBA. We’re hoping that with the acquisition we made yesterday [O’Neal] and with Elden that when teams look at us they’re going to say, ‘How the hell do we match up with those guys?’ ”

Fisher, from Arkansas Little Rock, was the 24th pick in the draft last month. Like the more-publicized Bryant, Fisher got positive reviews for his play in the summer league.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NBA Free-Agent Market

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED

Player: P.J. Brown

95-96 Team: New Jersey

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Signed with the Miami Heat for 7 years, $35 million

Player: Elden Campbell

95-96 Team: Lakers

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Re-signed with Lakers for 7 years, $49 million

Player: Chris Childs

95-96 Team: New Jersey

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Signed with New York Knicks for 6 years, $24 million

Player: Antonio Davis

95-96 Team: Indiana

Pos.: Center

Comment: Re-signed with Pacers for 7 years, $38.5 million

Player: Dale Davis

95-96 Team: Indiana

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Re-signed with Pacers for 7 years, $42 million

Player: Ghris Gatling

95-96 Team: Miami

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with Mavericks for 5 years, $22 million

Player: Horace Grant

95-96 Team: Orlando

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Re-signed with Magic for five years, $50 million

Player: Tim Hardaway

95-96 Team: Miami

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with the Heat, undisclosed

Player: Allan Houston

95-96 Team: Detroit

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Signed by New York Knicks for 7 years, $56 million

Player: Juwan Howard

95-96 Team: Washington

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Signed with Miami Heat for 7 years, $98 million

Player: Michael Jordan

95-96 Team: Chicago

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with Bulls for 1 year, $30 million

Player: Don MacLean

95-96 Team: Denver

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Signed with Philadelphia 76ers for 4 years, $12 million

Player: Tracy Murray

95-96 Team: Toronto

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Signed with Washington Bullets, undisclosed

Player: Dikembe Mutombo

95-96 Team: Denver

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with Atlanta Hawks for 5 years, $50 million

Player: Shaquille O’Neal

95-96 Team: Orlando

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with Lakers for 7 years, $120 million

Player: Gary Payton

95-96 Team: Seattle

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with SuperSonics for 7 years, $85 million

Player: Sam Perkins

95-96 Team: Seattle

Pos.: Center

Comment: Re-signed with SuperSonics for 2 years, undisclosed

Player: Brent Price

95-96 Team: Washington

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Signed with Houston Rockets for 7 years, $18.2 million

Player: Sean Rooks

95-96 Team: Atlanta

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with the Lakers, undisclosed

Player: Bryant Stith

95-96 Team: Denver

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with the Nuggets, undisclosed

ALL BUT WRAPPED UP

Player: Kenny Anderson

95-96 Team: Charlotte

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to sign with Portland for 7 years, $50 million

Player: Ervin Johnson

95-96 Team: Seattle

Position: Center

Comment: Agreed to terms with Denver for 7 years, undisclosed

Player: Reggie Miller

95-96 Team: Indiana

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Pacers

Player: Alonzo Mourning

95-96 Team: Miami

Position: Center

Comment: Agreed to terms with the Heat for 7 years, $122 million

Player: Steve Smith

95-96 Team: Atlanta

Position: Gurard

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Hawks

Player: John Stockton

95-96 Team: Utah

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Jazz

Player: Dennis Rodman

95-96 Team: Chicago

Position: Forward

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Bulls

STILL ON THE RACK

*--*

Player Team Pos. Hersey Hawkins Seattle Guard Derek Harper New York Guard Dan Majerle Cleveland Guard Robert Pack Washington Guard Latrell Sprewell Golden State Guard Mario Elie Houston Forward Armon Gilliam New Jersey Forward Brian Grant Sacramento Forward Otis Thorpe Detroit Forward Jim McIlvane Washington Center Oliver Miller Toronto Center Brian Williams Clippers Center

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