O’Neal Will Stay With Laker Plan

Shaquille O’Neal on Friday opted not to opt out.

Pleased by the hiring of Phil Jackson and, after contemplating tearing up his contract in order to sign another, longer deal with the Lakers, O’Neal decided not to exercise a clause that could have made him a free agent.

In a statement on deadline day to make a decision, O’Neal’s agent, Leonard Armato, said that O’Neal was looking forward to Jackson’s arrival as coach and that he was “excited about the Lakers’ prospects for the future.”

O’Neal has four years and $81.47 million remaining on the original seven-year deal he signed with the Lakers in 1996 and cannot opt out again.

But, if both sides are willing, a three-year extension beyond the 2002-03 season is a possibility after the conclusion of next season, once O’Neal becomes eligible for extension rights.

A player cannot receive an extension until he has served at least four years of a long-term contract.

If he had opted out, O’Neal could have negotiated to sign a new seven-year deal with the Lakers that could have been worth more than $150 million, but would have meant less money over the short term because of the new labor deal.

“Obviously, we’re delighted that he’s going to be here,” Executive Vice President Jerry West said Friday of O’Neal.

“I think we’ve always felt that since he’s been here we’ve tried to do things to make him really feel comfortable, tried to put players around him who really complement him.

“Just from a personal standpoint, I can’t tell you how delighted I am.”

West said Jackson’s hiring--and the five-year, $30-million commitment owner Jerry Buss made to him--definitely is the impetus to crystallizing the relationship between Laker players, coaches and management.

“Most importantly, we have a coach that has very, very lofty credentials, and I think every player is going to benefit from that,” West said.

“I think there’s going to be stability factor that maybe we haven’t had in the past--and that’s not really a knock of any of the other coaches.

“One thing I’ve always felt is that when you make a commitment to a coach, players have to understand he’s going to be here. And that definitely is the case now.”

Asked about Jackson’s suggestions that O’Neal and the other Lakers would benefit from an off-season program, West said that the team’s new El Segundo practice and office site--due to open in October--will draw players year-round.

“It’ll be a first-class workout facility, and we’ll have our staff there full time--and in the past, we haven’t really had that,” West said.

“It’s difficult not to have a place to go, difficult for some of our more visible players to be traveling all over the place and get [together with other players in L.A.].”