Vlade Divac - the Next Laker?
It sounds like Vlade Divac will join the L.A. Lakers for the mid-level exception ($4.9 million). Divac was quoted as saying:
"I called [the Lakers] and said, 'Let's do it,' "
Vlade Divac, at 7-1” and 260 lbs. will bring some size to the Laker's frontcourt next year, as well as some wily veteran skills. Last year Vlade netted nearly 10 ppg, and over 5 rpg and 5 apg, although all of those numbers (save the assists) are lower than his career averages. Divac is not a young guy, either; he's 36, which is ancient for centers. The Kings, in a bid to lower their payroll, offered Vlade a shade over $2 million.
Hopefully Vlade will be able to sign with the Lakers and make a strong impact. He'll definitely bring some bulk and veteran capabilities that the Lakers are sorely missing since Shaq's departure. Assuming Vlade signs with the Lakers, he'll likely end his career there, which, coincidentally, was the team he began his NBA career with in 1989.
Interestingly Karl Malone urged the Lakers to pay Divac the mid-level exception. This means that if the Lakers do sign Divac, Karl will likely only be offered slightly more than the $1.5 million he made last year. I hope the Lakers get Karl back, but it might be time for him to retire. (He might even end up in Miami or San Antonio.) He's undergoing knee surgery this offseason, so we'll all probably have to wait until he's recouperated from that before he'll make his move, be it retirement, resigning with the Lakers, or jetting to another team.