Divac Would Like to Return

There have been no farewell speeches, no Harley-Davidson motorcycles bestowed on him, not even the gently mocking gift of a rocking chair.

If this turns out to be Vlade Divac’s last season, it will have come and gone quietly.

Divac, 37, could be down to a handful of games in a career that included 16 seasons and an indeterminable number of kisses blown to Laker crowds.

He has played only 11 games this season because of a back injury and could be done for good April 20, the date of the Lakers’ season finale. He has another year left on his contract at $5.4 million, but the Lakers could buy it out for $2 million.

“If they don’t [bring me back], I’ll retire,” he said Friday. “I won’t play anywhere else. I don’t want to move again. If they want me to come back, I’ll come back.

“I would like to come back because I missed the whole season. Overall, it’s not been fun at all because of the back injury and obviously the team [missing playoffs]. I want to retire on a good note.”

Divac, averaging 1.3 points before Friday, had the liveliest game of his shortened season, passing with zest and accuracy in the Lakers’ 117-94 win over the Seattle SuperSonics.

The Lakers have six games left, providing Divac with a tryout of sorts the rest of the way. Divac’s back has been solid since recovering from January surgery, and Divac could be brought back if Laker management likes what it sees.

Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak has declined to comment on specific personnel decisions until after the season.

If Divac isn’t asked back, he has an idea of what he’d like to do.

“I’d like to stay with the organization, work with the big guys,” he said. “I can teach them a little bit, especially after [watching] this year. It’s like I was scouting. I think I could offer a lot.”