http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=1842289 Divac scorn Kings'offer; likely to return to Lakers By Marc Stein ESPN.com Vlade Divac's six-year stay with the Sacramento Kings is apparently over ... and the veteran center told ESPN.com on Sunday night that he's leaning toward a return to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers brought Divac to the United States from the former Yugoslavia as the No. 26 overall pick in the 1989 draft. They traded him to Charlotte in 1996 for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant in a move also aimed at creating some of the salary-cap space that led to the signing of Shaquille O'Neal. Eight years later, L.A. is courting Divac to team with Bryant and help fill the mammoth void created by last week's trade of O'Neal to Miami. "It looks like right now I'm definitely leaving Sacramento," Divac said in a phone interview, after a meeting with Kings officials earlier Sunday confirmed to the 36-year-old that his current team won't be increasing its offer of $2.5 million for next season. "After the season, if you asked me who's the favorite, I would always say the Kings. In my mind I thought I was going to stay here. The town and the fans ... it's been a beautiful six years. I feel sad leaving, but [the Kings] didn't show any kind of interest to keep me here. I was ready to come back to stay here for less, but a little bit [less], not such a big difference." "If you ask me right now," Divac added, "it's going to be the Lakers." Kings vice president Geoff Petrie could not be immediately reached, but team sources said Sacramento had hoped to bring back Divac at a pay cut of nearly $10 million and then sign multiple players with its $4.9 million mid-level exception to fill out its roster. With the Lakers, Divac can nearly double the $2.5 million offered by the Kings if L.A. presents all or the bulk of its $4.9 million exception. He can likely make even more if he chooses instead to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, who have the salary-cap room to far exceed the $4.9 million. It's believed the Lakers have reserved that $4.9 million slot for either Divac or bringing back Karl Malone, who has said he wants to make a decision about next season later in the summer after undergoing knee surgery. Miami or San Antonio are also options for Malone if Divac lands the Lakers' exception. Phoenix would also love to sign Divac and has chased him before, but Divac said he hopes to make a decision as soon as Monday or Tuesday. The Suns' remaining free-agent funds are tied up through July 29 for having signed Clippers restricted free agent Quentin Richardson to an offer sheet. Sacramento co-owner Joe Maloof told ESPN.com last week that he feared losing Divac to the Lakers because the Kings, for the second successive summer, are trying to reduce payroll to avoid future luxury-tax payments. The strategy, however, could backfire if there is no luxury tax after next season, as some teams are forecasting. Maloof insisted that the Kings don't want to part with Divac, a fan favorite who doubles as Sacramento's locker-room glue and as a surrogate brother to star forward Peja Stojakovic. Yet Sacramento is reluctant to offer more than $2.5 million as it tries to gets its payroll as far below $60 million as it can. The Kings carried a payroll of nearly $65 million last season, resulting in nearly $10 million in luxury tax. Divac earned $12.1 million last season in completing a six-year pact worth nearly $63 million. Divac concedes that rejoining the Lakers now after so many bitter Sacramento- L.A. battles in recent seasons won't be the easiest move. "I know how people here feel about the Lakers," he said. He quickly adds, though, that playing in Los Angeles for his original team is the most comfortable decision for his family, although Divac said the Clippers remain a consideration. "I played for the Lakers for seven years and for the Kings for six years," Divac said. "Both teams have a special place in my heart." Divac averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 28.6 minutes per game last season before his playoff minutes were cut in a run-and-gun series with Dallas in the first round. He has flirted with the idea of finishing his career with one season at a top European club in Italy or Spain -- so his kids can experience a bit of full-time European life -- but Divac insists that "I know I can be productive [in the NBA] for one or two more years." "A friend of mine said it would be kind of nice to finish with the team I started with," Divac said. "If I do go back to the Lakers, it will be because of Dr. [Jerry] Buss. We've always had a great relationship." Since returning from Europe late last week, Divac said he has been approached by numerous Kings fans pleading with him to stay. As for Stojakovic's reaction, Divac said: "He's sad, but so am I." --

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