Divac said to reach deal to rejoin Lakers
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-07-20 09:56

Vlade Divac has reached an agreement to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving the Sacramento Kings after six seasons, an NBA source told The Associated Press.

Sacramento Kings' Vlade Divac, right, drives to the basket past Los Angeles Clippers (news)' Chris Kaman during the first half at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, in this Jan. 19, 2004 photo. Divac has reached an agreement to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving the Sacramento Kings after six seasons, an NBA source told The Associated Press Monday July 19, 2004.[AP]

The deal with the 36-year-old Serbian center was expected to be finalized by Tuesday, the source said on condition of anonymity.

Earlier in Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro, Divac said he was leaving the Kings.

"It was a great six years in Sacramento," he said. "I'm sad that I'm leaving, but the Kings did not show any interest to keep me."

The Lakers would not confirm the deal with the unrestricted free agent, but said a player announcement was expected Tuesday.

The Lakers drafted Divac in 1989, and he spent seven years in Los Angeles until the team traded him to Charlotte for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant. Divac still has a home in Los Angeles, and the Lakers were desperate to sign a center after trading Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat last week.

The source told the AP that Sacramento made an offer to Divac, but wouldn't match the Lakers' offer of the midlevel salary cap exemption, worth nearly $5 million next season, for a player entering his 16th year in the NBA. For the second straight season, the Kings want to avoid the luxury tax, even if it means losing one of their most popular players.

Divac joined the Kings in 1998 - at the same time as Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic and coach Rick Adelman. They transformed one of the NBA's worst franchises into a perennial championship contender. Sacramento has made six straight playoff appearances with Divac as its starting center.

But Divac lost significant playing time last season when the Kings acquired All-Star center Brad Miller from Indiana. Divac averaged just 6.6 points last season, the lowest of his career.

Divac will bring superb passing, solid defense and leadership to the Lakers, whose frontcourt was terribly thin behind O'Neal last season. Divac and Brian Grant will see playing time at center as the Lakers inevitably change their style of play without Shaq.

And after six years angering Lakers fans with his flopping style of defense against O'Neal, it will be interesting to see Divac's reception at Staples Center.

The Kings once had one of the NBA's deepest frontcourts, but Divac's departure leaves Miller as the only center on the roster. Still, Sacramento's top six scorers and promising reserve forward Darius Songaila will return.

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