Free Agents Break Fast

In a day filled with innumerable twists, the local basketball landscape shifted, sighed and eventually settled as Vladimir Radmanovic left the Clippers for the Lakers, Tim Thomas left Phoenix for the Clippers, and Sam Cassell stayed where he was last season -- as a Clipper.

The Lakers moved quickly on the first day of free agency by snatching away a piece from their cross-town rival and agreeing to terms Saturday with Radmanovic, a three-point shooting forward who has made a career of stretching defenses.

The Clippers reacted swiftly after Radmanovic and Cassell apparently reneged on agreements to stay with them, then reaching terms with the sharpshooting Thomas and making a push for free-agent guard Bobby Jackson as a backup plan in case Cassell left.

But Cassell, the 36-year-old point guard and undisputed on-court general of the Clippers last season, late Saturday agreed to a two-year, $13-million contract, keeping intact a Clippers nucleus that lasted longer than the Lakers in this year’s playoffs.

Free agents cannot officially sign contracts until July 12. Radmanovic and Thomas must pass physicals before signing, which are not expected to be problems.

Throughout the day, Cassell was weighing three options: a two-year, $13-million offer from Atlanta, a two-year, $11-million offer from the Clippers and a three-year, $12-million offer from Denver. After learning Atlanta was the highest bidder, Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy told Cassell to give him a number to get the deal done, sources said.

Cassell mentioned $13 million and Dunleavy said he probably could do it, but this would be Cassell’s last chance. Dunleavy received approval from Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling to increase the offer, and Cassell agreed to remain with the team he helped lead to new heights last season.

The move capped a dizzying 24-hour period in which the Clippers were informed Cassell and Radmanovic accepted and then rejected multi-year offers, sources said.

Radmanovic, 25, later agreed to a five-year, $31-million contract with the Lakers, who used their full mid-level exception, the same package the Clippers had offered. Milwaukee and Phoenix are believed to have offered similar deals to Radmanovic, who can terminate his Lakers contract after the fourth year.

“I feel badly for the Clippers,” said Radmanovic’s agent, David Bauman. “They didn’t do anything wrong. That’s the shame of it all. They did everything in their power to sign Vlade. It’s based on a gut feeling he had about his situation.”

The Clippers recovered by signing the 6-foot-10 Thomas, who revived his career with Phoenix late last season and agreed to a four-year, $24-million deal early Saturday morning.

Radmanovic, who extends defenses by luring players away from the basket with his outside shot, has career averages of 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 38.1% shooting from three-point range.

He chose the Lakers over the Clippers in part because he could get more playing time, his agent said. Dunleavy, in a phone conversation late Friday night, could not guarantee Radmanovic would be a starter.

“We feel very comfortable that Vlade’s going to have the option to play with a bona fide star, that there will be an opening for him to start and play significant minutes at the forward spot” with the Lakers, Bauman said.

Radmanovic was also impressed by a conference-call pitch from Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Vlade Divac, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak and Lakers Coach Phil Jackson. “He thinks they’ll win championships,” Bauman said. “This kid is jazzed to be going to the Lakers.”

The Radmanovic deal means the Lakers no longer have enough salary-cap space to dole out a maximum contract in the summer of 2008, when there’s a slight chance big-name players could be available.

Cleveland forward LeBron James, Miami guard Dwyane Wade and Toronto forward Chris Bosh have all said they plan to sign lengthy contract extensions with their current teams this summer. On Saturday, the Cavaliers offered James a five-year, $80-million contract extension, and Denver forward Carmelo Anthony agreed to a five-year, $80 million contract extension.

Minnesota center Kevin Garnett could also opt out of his contract after the 2007-08 season, but he would leave behind a $23-million payout for 2008-09.

So the Lakers went with Radmanovic, who initially agreed to terms with the Clippers when they called a minute after the free-agency period began Saturday at 12:01 a.m. on the East Coast.

An hour later Bauman contacted the Clippers and said Radmanovic was having second thoughts and was concerned about sharing playing time with swingman Corey Maggette. Dunleavy, who could not fully allay Radmanovic’s concerns, then went after Thomas.

Phoenix made an offer starting at $3.5 million a season for Thomas, who provided a boost off the bench in 26 games last season, averaging 11 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 42.9% from three-point range.

The Clippers, however, offered Thomas their mid-level exception starting at about $5.4 million, and after Phoenix declined to raise its offer, Thomas agreed to join the Clippers. A nine-year veteran, Thomas played a key role in the Suns’ run to the Western Conference finals. He averaged 14.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and made 37.8% of his three-pointers as Phoenix defeated the Clippers in the Western semifinals.

In Game 6 of a first-round series against the Lakers, he made a three-pointer with 6.3 seconds remaining that sent the game into overtime. The Suns won at Staples Center and routed the Lakers in Game 7 at Phoenix.

Radmanovic is not considered a physical player and has problems using his 6-10 height to his advantage. He will, however, probably have numerous open shots as teams double-team Bryant.

Radmanovic felt underappreciated in Seattle and rejected a six-year, $42-million offer before last season, instead signing a one-year, $3.1-million contract.

The Lakers, aware that point guard Smush Parker struggled in the playoffs, are now expected to pursue a ballhandling guard with their biannual exception, which allows for a two-year contract totaling about $3.5 million.