O’Neal Is Never at a Loss

Shaquille O’Neal -- “Dr. Shaq,” as he wants to be known in the near future -- will be back in town tonight, almost a year to the day after he became a former Laker.

He is back for business of a different type -- as host of an auto show in Hollywood -- but a return to the city he captivated for most of eight seasons rarely comes without his thoughts on all things basketball, past, present and future.

O’Neal, entering the last year of a three-year contract extension he initially signed with the Lakers, is getting closer to an extension with the Miami Heat, team President Pat Riley told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Monday.

There was other talk of the future from O’Neal, specifically about Andrew Bynum, the Lakers’ first-round selection in last month’s draft. Bynum, 17, invited a comparison to O’Neal on draft day, with one exception -- he makes his free throws, he said.

“Tell him Shaq doesn’t respond to juvenile delinquents without a college degree,” O’Neal said. “Tell him to get his degree and we can talk. In the meantime, he should call me Dr. Shaq because I’m working on my PhD.”

Bynum is young for the NBA but does not carry a record of delinquency.

O’Neal, who recently received a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix, said he planned to get a doctorate in psychology, criminology or sports psychology.

Until then, he said he was not concerned about a contract extension.

“We understand business, and we understand leverage,” said O’Neal, scheduled to make $30.6 million next season. “We’d just like to do it in a professional manner.”

Acquired from the Lakers last July 14 for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and Miami’s 2006 first-round pick, O’Neal said he thought the trade worked out well despite the Heat’s loss to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals.

“I feel we did better than everyone expected us to do,” he said. “We’re going to add a couple more pieces, and I know Riley is going to do that.”

O’Neal is host of the second annual “GM All-Car Showdown” at Paramount Studios.

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Vlade Divac was back from a six-week European vacation, surrounded by kids eating lunchtime burritos at his Redondo Beach summer camp Monday. So it seemed to be a logical time to talk about the “lunch money” issue trotted out by Phil Jackson.

Jackson, rehired last month to coach the Lakers, said in May that neither Divac nor forward Brian Grant had earned his lunch money last season because of injuries. They made a combined $18.2 million and averaged a combined 6.1 points.

“It’s funny,” Divac said, smiling. “From where he looks on the outside, it’s right. But hey, that’s the NBA. Sometimes things work for you, sometimes they don’t.

“He doesn’t need to motivate me. I’m 37. I know what to do. It’s just hard to get back from back surgery.”

As the Lakers try to revamp a roster that went 34-48, Divac’s status has been put on hold. The Lakers deferred on their one-year, $5.4-million option on Divac, receiving an extension from his representatives until Sept. 30, four days before training camp starts in Honolulu.

The scenarios are many. He could be brought back at the option price. Or bought out for $2 million and waived. Or bought out and re-signed for the veterans’ minimum of about $1.5 million if he clears waivers, a move that would save the Lakers almost $2 million from his option price. Or traded to a team that could release him immediately to clear salary cap space.

“Whatever they want to do with me is fine,” Divac said. “I’d still love to be a part of the Lakers somehow as a player or as a coach. They brought that kid from high school; I could help work with him at least. I didn’t like the way I finished my career with the injury and not playing. That’s the only thing that’s kind of holding me to go one more year.”

Divac, who underwent back surgery in January and averaged only 2.3 points in 15 games, reiterated earlier comments that he would not play for any other team. He said his back has been mostly sound, although it fatigues at times.

“When I work out it’s fantastic, but at the same time, four or five days it’s great, and then one day, it’s a little tired,” he said.

Divac’s weeklong South Bay camp, coupled with one he runs in Sacramento, is expected to raise as much as $250,000 for the children’s foundation he oversees.

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The Lakers have been in contact with unrestricted free-agent guard Antonio Daniels about a visit, possibly this week.

Daniels, who set career highs with averages of 11.2 points and 27 minutes a game for the Seattle SuperSonics last season, is a selfless player who, at 6 feet 4, fits Jackson’s preference for bigger guards.

“He’s tall and athletic, can score and penetrate, can do a lot of the dirty work too, which helps make him successful,” said Daniels’ agent, Tony Dutt. “He thinks the Lakers are obviously going to do nothing but get better. We’ve talked to them about a possible visit, just haven’t got a date yet.”

Daniels, 30, has also drawn interest from the Miami Heat, Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Lakers have also had talks with restricted free-agent guard Jannero Pargo, who played parts of two seasons for the Lakers before averaging 6.4 points for the Chicago Bulls last season.

“Mitch [Kupchak] has had him there in the past, and Phil has had him and liked him,” said Pargo’s agent, Mark Bartelstein. “We’ve talked a little bit. We’re keeping the door open.”

The Bulls gave Pargo a qualifying offer of $875,000 and would have the opportunity to match if he signs an offer sheet with another team.

Pargo, 25, averaged 10.4 points in the Bulls’ first-round playoff loss to the Washington Wizards last season. He has also drawn interest from the Wizards, Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves.