Divac’s Deal Bought Out

Vlade Divac has blown his last kiss to Laker crowds.

The gregarious but injured center was waived Thursday, ending a reunion that didn’t fare so well the second time around. Divac played only 15 games last season because of back problems.

The Lakers had the option of paying Divac $5.4 million for one more season but instead bought him out for $2 million and waived him, leading to his likely retirement.

“It’s all my about my health,” said Divac, 37. “I can probably play a year or two like this, but I won’t be me out there. I don’t want to cheat basketball. They asked me about my back and I told them honestly that it’s not where I want it to be. Any time I try to work hard, it bothers me a little bit. When you feel that way, it’s probably time to stop.”

One of the first European players to have an NBA impact, the Yugoslavian-born Divac averaged 11.8 points over 16 seasons with the Lakers, Charlotte and Sacramento. He was replaced on the Laker roster by Adam Parada, a 7-foot center from UC Irvine.

Divac, who began his career in 1989 with the Lakers after being drafted 26th overall, averaged 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds last season after sustaining a herniated disk during an informal preseason workout.

“We signed him last year to a two-year deal, and our anticipation was that he’ll play two years,” General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. “I don’t think you can predict that a guy’s going to go down a week before training camp and have back surgery. The bottom line is that he can’t play.”

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Kwame Brown, new Laker, former Washington Wizard, has grown tired of hearing about his past. Acquired by the Lakers in August, Brown never reached the expectations of being the top overall draft pick in 2001 and was booed by fans toward the end of last season.

“Two, three days into camp and I just wish the Washington questions would stop,” he said politely but firmly. “If any of you have been divorced before, it’s like hearing about an ex-wife or something. I just want that to be over. I know Washington’s not thinking about me. I’m not thinking about Washington.”

In truth, they are still thinking about him.

His name has been bouncing around the nation’s capital since his recent admission that he skipped practice the day before a playoff game last season because he feared he would physically harm All-Star teammate Gilbert Arenas, who told Wizard Coach Eddie Jordan not to insert him into a playoff game, according to Brown.

Brown was suspended for the rest of the playoffs.

“I’m here now,” Brown said. “I’ve got one of the greatest players ever to play, Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar], in my ear. I’ve got Scottie [Pippen] in my ear, trying to help me along the way. Thinking about Washington is not going to help.”