Tampering Issue May Be Resolved
The Orlando Magic’s investigation into the Lakers’ signing of Shaquille O’Neal will probably end today, depending on the outcome of a conversation between Magic President Bob Vander Weide and NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik in New York, sources said Tuesday.
They are scheduled to talk after the league’s board of governors meets, at which time Vander Weide will report the Magic’s findings, all circumstantial according to one person close to the situation, and then ask if it’s enough to proceed with tampering charges. In the absence of a smoking gun that could implicate the Lakers, one league official said, Granik will probably tell Vander Weide that filing a complaint would be useless.
That, in turn, would probably be enough to convince the Magic to drop the issue.
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Kobe Bryant, still sidelined by a hip injury, has been ruled out of the first two games, as expected.
The Lakers are considering putting their 18-year-old rookie on the injured list, which would cost him at least five games. A decision must be made by Thursday afternoon, a day before the opener against Phoenix.
Bryant on the injured list would guarantee a roster spot for Trevor Wilson--unless Wilson beats him there. The veteran forward underwent an MRI on Tuesday to check on an inflamed left knee.
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