The Los Angeles Lakers and Vlade Divac agreed for a second time to postpone a decision on the status of the veteran center's contract.

The Lakers have the option of picking up a one-year, $5.4 million contract option or buying him out for $2 million. The decision was due Friday, but the parties put it off until Oct. 21. The original deadline was July 1.

"He's still under contract and he's still on our roster, so obviously there's a chance he might play," Lakers spokesman John Black said. "As was the case earlier this summer, this gives both sides more time to analyze the situation and weigh our options."

Black said Divac would not be with the team when it leaves Monday for 10 days of training camp in Honolulu.

Marc Fleisher, Divac's representative, said his client hasn't decided what he wants to do. Divac has said repeatedly he will retire if he doesn't return to the Lakers.

"He goes from feeling like he wants to play one day to not being sure the next," Fleisher said. "His back sometimes feels good, sometimes it's stiffer than others. That's what makes him swing back and forth."

Although he likes Latrell Sprewell, Phil Jackson all but ruled out acquiring the free-agent guard.

Mitch Kupchak later said it was unlikely the Lakers would add a backcourt player.

The agent for Wolves free-agent swingman Latrell Sprewell said the Wolves and the Los Angeles Lakers are discussing a possible sign-and-trade deal.

Sprewell's agent, Bob Gist, said a third or fourth team probably would need to enter the trade discussions to complete a deal that would satisfy all parties.

"Kevin (McHale) and I are optimistic we can work it out," Gist said.

The agent for free-agent guard Latrell Sprewell said talks with the Lakers are ongoing. "We continue to talk and are looking at a number of options, the most important of which is a sign-and-trade," agent Robert Gist said.

The Lakers still have half of their $5 million midlevel exception after signing Aaron McKie. A sign-and-trade would bring Sprewell a larger payday, but the Lakers are unlikely to go that route.

Detroit also is interested, Gist said, but Sprewell wants a starting job.

"If Latrell is going anywhere, it's because he's comfortable there," Gist said. "He would love to play in the backcourt with Kobe Bryant and he would love to play for Phil Jackson."

Will Conroy, an undrafted guard from Washington, has signed a contract with the Lakers.

The 6-foot-2 Conroy played four years for the Huskies, averaging 9.2 points and 4.3 assists in 121 games. He finished his career as Washington's all-time leader in assists with 515 and is 21st on the school's scoring list with 1,113 points.

Conroy played for the Lakers' Summer League team, averaging 4.4 points and 2.4 assissts in seven games.

Los Angeles Lakers center Vlade Divac plans to retire as a player but will remain with the team as an assistant coach and scout, a Serbian newspaper reported Friday.

"It is enough," Divac told the Blic daily. "No, I won't play the next season. I'll work for the Lakers as an assistant coach and an international scout."

The 37-year-old Divac, who returned to the Lakers last season, underwent back surgery in January and played in only 15 games, averaging 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds. He averaged 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in 15 previous NBA seasons -- six with the Lakers, two with Charlotte and seven with Sacramento.

"The injury has only helped my decision to retire," Divac said. "I always gave 100 percent to the sport, and after so many years of playing, I can no longer do that. I'm ending my professional career as a player, but I will remain in basketball."

The Lakers and Divac had previously agreed to postpone a decision on his contract status.

Now it looks as if the Los Angeles Lakers will be the new home of Timberwolves free agent Latrell Sprewell, writes Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Walters doesn't divulge any terms or an indication that a league source informed him of an agreement, but popular deduction leads most to believe that Sprewell's last option has indeed been the Lakers.

Latrell Sprewell doesn't like the money the Lakers are offering, but he appears to be running out of options.

Sprewell, the talented but controversial free-agent guard who played last season in Minnesota, is seeking a deal starting at $5 million per season. He has spoken to the Lakers, which can offer only the $2.5 million remaining from its midlevel exception.

But lately, potential suitors San Antonio and Denver eliminated themselves from consideration by using their full $5 million midlevel exceptions to sign Michael Finley and Earl Watson, respectively.

That leaves only Miami, which has its full $5 million slot, and the Lakers as the remaining logical landing points for Sprewell.

Sprewell's agent, Robert Gist, confirmed Friday he hasn't been in contact with the Heat, but he has talked with the Lakers.

"When Latrell thinks about the Lakers, he gets a big smile on his face," said Gist. "Playing alongside a great player like Kobe Bryant and for a great coach like Phil Jackson is something he's very intrigued by."

He turned down $7 million from Minnesota heading into last season and didn't expect to sign for anything less than $5 million going heading into the upcoming season.

The only way the Lakers could meet Sprewell's demands is by orchestrating a sign-and-trade deal with the Timberwolves, although that appears unlikely.

Former Los Angeles Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a six-time NBA MVP and the leading career scorer in league history, has been hired by the team as a special assistant coach.

The 58-year-old Abdul-Jabbar played in the NBA for 20 seasons -- six with the Milwaukee Bucks and 14 with the Lakers. He scored 38,387 points before retiring in 1989.

"We are pleased to welcome Kareem back to the organization." general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement issued Friday. "Kareem was one of the best centers to ever play the game. His skills and talent on the court were truly remarkable and we look forward to having Kareem help our big men develop these skills and tutor them on what it takes to be a successful player in this league."