Article clipped from Santa Ana Orange County Register Evening

Save Clipping View Newspaper
SPORTS 10The Orange County Register SPORTS Tuesday, July 9, 1996Lakersget tamperingNBA NOTES: Orlandoreportedly would file a claim that an O’Nealcontract was reachedbefore he officially became a free agent.From Register news servicesThe Orlando Magic isn’t going to lose Shaquille O’Neal to the Lakers without a fight.The New York Daily News has learned that the Magic plans to file tampering charges against the Lakers — claiming they broke the rules in luring the ail-star to the West Coast — once O’Neal signs with Los Angeles.Today O’Neal becomes a free agent, along with Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, AlonzoMourning and a host of other blue-chip players. But O’Neal’sstatus might be in name only. Several league sources maintain his Los Angeles-based agent, Leonard Armato, reached a deal worth more than $100 million with the Lakers while he still was under contract to the Magic. Armato denies it.If found guilty of tampering, the Lakers automatically would lose O’Neal and be subject to a heavy fine and a loss of draft picks. NBA commissioner David Stern also would decide whether O’Neal would ever be able to play for the Lakers. Stern is empowered to impose a lifetime ban, if warranted.But charges wouldn’t be filed until after O’Neal signs, which is expected to be in the next few days, according to the DailyNBA: Free agents can dealFROM 1Knicks, Minnesota Timber-wolves, Indiana Pacers and Van-of Hollywood can lure him from the Disneyesque motif of central Florida.News. Magic owner Rich DeVos, who still hopes to re-sign O’Neal, reportedly will spearhead the move to have the league investigate the Lakers’ actions.“The Magic ain’t gonna take this sitting down,” said one source with direct knowledge of Orlando’s plans. “DeVos won’t stand for it. They know that something went on behind the scenes between the Lakers and Shaq’s people, and they don’t like it. Once he signs in L.A., they’re gonna file charges.”Magic vice president John Gabriel did not rule that out, though it probably would be a futile, last-ditch effort to prevent the player-/rapper/actor from moving to the capital of the movie and entertainment industry.Relatives of Kevin Duckworth, a former Portland Trail Blazer who was waived last month by the Milwaukee Bucks, have been arrested in the theft of $32,000 in jewelry from his suburban Portland home.Rings, necklaces and otherjewelry were taken June 30 from Duckworth’s bedroom, Washington County sheriff’s Sgt. Paul La-zenby said.“I think there was one piece of jewelry that had double-0 Duck on it. That was his number, double zero,” Lazenby said.Brendan Malone, fired as coach of the Toronto Raptors after their inaugural season, and Tom Thibodeau have been hired as as-‘ sistants by the New York Knicks. Malone and Thibodeau will join assistants Don Chaney and Jeff Nix on coach Jeff Van Gundy’s staff. ... The Philadelphia 76ers named Ed Badger and Bob Ociepka as assistants on new coach Johnny Davis' staff. Philadelphia hired Davis June 10 to succeed the fired John Lucas.mAcfjne• * ■ ■ ' . .' 4 mSportsLineTHE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER1500714/550-INFO(I
Newspaper Details

Santa Ana Orange County Register Evening

Santa Ana, California, US

Tue, Jul 09, 1996

Page 26

Full Page
Clipped by
Profile Icon
Anonymous

NY, USA 15 Jul 2020

Other Publications Near Santa Ana, California

Santa Ana Orange County Register

Santa Ana Register

Santa Ana Orange County Register Evening

Santa Ana Daily Evening Register

Santa Ana Orange County Register Sunday