The Lakers exercised a fourth-year contract option on Caron Butler, the team announced Sunday.  Butler was part of the Shaquille O'Neal trade with the Miami Heat.

The Lakers declined to pick up the fourth-year option on Kareem Rush.

Butler, a third-year forward out of Connecticut who was acquired earlier this summer from the Miami Heat, has career averages of 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.45 steals in 33.5 minutes and was a member of the NBA All-Rookie first team following the 2002-03 season.

Entering his third season, Rush, a 6-6 guard out of the University of Missouri, averaged a career-best 6.4 points in 72 games last season, including a career-high 30-point performance on Jan. 16 at Sacramento.

Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal said he had "a few discussions" with the Magic this summer but ultimately didn't want to be traded to a rebuilding situation.

"We had a few discussions, but my salary was too high, and I'd have to come here with a brand-new team and start over, and that's not something I really wanted to do," said O'Neal, noting Tracy McGrady already had been traded to the Houston Rockets. "I wanted to come to a team that had an exciting player, and Miami has that exciting player in Dwyane Wade. Just shows you how smart Mitch Kupchak is."

Kupchak, the Los Angeles Lakers' general manager, dealt O'Neal to the Heat.

World War III was postponed until the regular season, as Ray Allen sat out the Sonics' preseason contest in San Diego versus Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant himself didn't play beyond the first quarter.

The Lakers ultimately were victorious, defeating the Sonics 117-91.

Several weeks ago Staples Center officials made it seem as though they were unsure whether hosting 41 Clippers games per year was worth it, but now a long-term lease between the two sides is imminent.

"We would like the Clippers to stay and ? I think we're going to work this out," Tim Leiweke, president of Anschutz Entertainment Group, told radio station XTRA. "I think we'll have something in the next week, at the very latest.

"And it will be a long-term deal."

Leiweke was previously quoted as telling the newspaper, "We actually would make more money if, instead of 40 Clippers games, we had five concerts. So, those are some of the decisions we're going to have to make. The Clippers' issue is in negotiations now. Their lease is up after this year.

"And ironically, shockingly, we've got to make a decision as to whether we even want them back. We're not sure."

The Clippers moved from the Sports Arena before the 1999-2000 season, signing a six-year lease with Staples Center, which opened five years ago this month.

At the same time, the Lakers and NHL's Kings signed 20-year leases with Staples Center.

In anticipation of Monday's preseason game between the Lakers and Sonics, Kobe Bryant reportedly called Ray Allen and said, "I'm gonna bust your ass."

Allen denies receiving this call, which was confirmed by a Laker source.

When asked about it, Bryant said, "Don't even put me and dude in the same breath."

"I hope he plays me hard," Allen said. "I would like to think that he's been doing that already because when I play against him, I go hard at him whether it was something that's been said in the newspaper or whatever.

"That mentality doesn't change. I know it doesn't for me, and I'm quite sure he feels the same. But if he's extra motivated then he should know that I don't care what goes on in L.A. I could(n't) care less. ... My focus is on this team right here."

With the war of words continuing, this meaningless preseason game has the look and feel of an October game between the Red Sox and Yankees.

Warriors guard Derek Fisher, who spent his first eight NBA seasons with the Lakers and won three championship rings with them, got a standing ovation from the crowd of 15,237 during pregame introductions. His made his first shot, a 3-pointer from the left corner, less than two minutes in and finished with seven points in 26 minutes.

The Warriors went on to win the game 90-88 in overtime.  Kobe Bryant missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime, which would have won the game for the Lakers.

If Karl Malone decides to return to the NBA, his short list will be the Lakers, Spurs and Wolves, in that order.

With Eddie Griffin on board, the Wolves should be covered at the power forward position, so despite their attempts at signing Malone, there won't be too big of a void without him.

The Minnesota Timberwolves haven't given up on trying to sign free agent Karl Malone.

Malone, who is skipping training camp because of a tender knee, has assured the Timberwolves they'll receive serious consideration if he decides to return to the court for the regular season.

Malone visited the Lakers training camp on a personal level recently, causing speculation that he'd resign with them if he decides to play this season.

Another element of Phil Jackson's book will be the relationship between Laker assistant Tex Winters and Shaquille O'Neal.  

In a video session during the NBA Finals, Lakers assistant coach Tex Winter criticized O'Neal's defense against the screen roll. Winter said when O'Neal's career was over, he'd expose O'Neal as "overrated."

When Jackson defended O'Neal, Winter criticized O'Neal's footwork, his free-throw shooting and said his field goals were "all dunks." When the players joined the video session, Winter and O'Neal had a confrontation.

Thursday, O'Neal said, "I'm a man and I'm not always going to agree with everything. ... I'm not a yes man by any circumstances."

O'Neal has reached his boiling point fielding questions about aspects of the Lakers.  "I think it takes away from what we're trying to do down here. I have a good group of guys down here and they don't want to hear about this, and I'm tired of talking about it."

There may be an additional element of intrigue when the Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat visit Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers, as Phil Jackson is currently in negotiations to become a color commentator with ABC.

Jackson's girlfriend, Jeanie Buss, said, "Like anyone else whose significant other is no longer working full-time, I'd like to see Phil do something before he drives me crazy."

Added Buss: "Seriously, I think it's a great opportunity. But I don't control him. It will be his decision."

Jackson couldn't be reached for commented, but according to reports, the former Laker and Bull coach would be interested in working a few select games, rather than take on a full schedule of telecasts.