According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune the relationship between the Chicago Bulls and Eddie Robinson finally appears to be at an end.

According to two league sources, the Bulls and representatives for Eddie Robinson have reached an agreement on a buyout which will see the forgotten forward receive $10.2 million of the $14.05 million remaining on his five-year, $31.2 million contract that runs through 2005-06.

Neither Robinson, his agents nor Bulls general manager John Paxson would comment on the agreement, which will be announced Monday when final rosters are set.

A league source indicated Miami already has expressed interest in offering Robinson a non-guaranteed contract.

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.

Larry Brown remained back in Detroit yesterday as his champion Pistons faced a familiar foe, albeit in a new uniform, in Shaquille O'Neal as the Pistons took on the Miami Heat in preseason action yesterday.

Brown, who coached the Pistons to a title in his first year, skipped the trip to Arkansas because of illness. Pistons representative Kevin Grigg said Brown would return for today?s game at home against Minnesota.

?We felt we could come down here and take care of things ourselves,? said assistant coach Gar Heard, who took over for Brown.

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.

Qyntel Woods, who was suspended for his alleged involvement in dog fighting, is a talented young player that the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers appear willing to take a chance on him.

Trail Blazers General Manager John Nash told The Oregonian that the Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers have contacted him, but nothing is imminent.

It is thought that a Miami deal for Woods, a 2002 first-rounder who is set to make $1.172 million, would include center Wang Zhi-Zhi or power forward Jerome Beasley.

Heat GM Randy Pfund wouldn't confirm the report. Asked about the dog-fighting allegations, Pfund said: "I know it, but I haven't done any research on that. We're only at the point in talking to them about some interest in some of their guys, but I haven't done any added investigation into the world of dog fighting."

Portland GM John Nash believes that recent allegations against Blazer Qyntel Woods are hurting his tradability, according to the Oregon Live, but this is not preventing Woods? agent, Raymond Brothers, from trying.  Nash confirmed that potential deals have been discussed with both Miami and Cleveland, but both are lukewarm on acquiring Woods.

"I think it has already become an issue that people are a little wary of around the league, because they don't know the extent of the issue, much like ourselves," Nash said.

It is believed that the Miami deal could include Wang Zhizhi or Jerome Beasley, while Cleveland confirmed that Brothers tried to generate interest in a trade, perhaps for disgruntled guard Dajuan Wagner, but the Cavaliers said they are not biting.

"That's Raymond Brothers trying to draw up interest," Cleveland general manager Jim Paxson said over the weekend. "I'm not saying we're not interested, but we have just started training camp, and we want to focus on that. If they want to go up that road with us, it's the wrong road.

Bimbo Coles trained this offseason with the hope of making the Heat roster, but at the beginning of training camp, it appeared very likely that he would not make the squad and was therefore offered an opportunity to remain with the team as an assistant coach.

Coles will oversee a young core of guards, including Dwayne Wade.  Coles was one of the best defenders in the league for the duration of his career.

While he will be an assistant coach, he hasn't ruled out the possibility of returning to the floor.

"I?m in shape, if you need me later on to play, I?ll be there," Coles said.

The agents of several small forwards have been calling Pat Riley as that position remains a lean one on the Heat roster.

"If I was somebody competing for that spot, I would be damned if I would let me keep taking telephone calls from agents who are trying to ship me five or six small forwards who simply are defensive players, and I would take that personally," he said. "So we need toughness and we need somebody who can stop somebody. From what I've seen out here, we have players who, I think, have the ability to defend. So don't make me go out and get a defender. I have one here, but you're going to have to show it."

According to Peter Vescey of the New York Post, Peja  Stojakovic may still be traded away, most likely to either the Chicago Bulls or Indiana Pacers.  They have both the resources and available talent to complete a deal with the Sacramento Kings.

Stojakovic's first choice would likely be the Miami Heat, but their roster is already very thin, and it is highly unlikely that they could entice the Kings to bite.

What is more likely is for the Kings to shop Chris Webber.  Webber is plagued by that bad knee and has an albatross of a contract.

"Management is much more intent on trading Chris Webber but can't seem to drum up any interest."

In last year's baseball offseason the Boston Red Sox put Manny Ramirez on waivers and nobody claimed him, because of his excessive contract, and he is arguably the best right-handed hitter in the MLB, so on that paralell, the Kings who are essentially seeking somebody to take his contract and without a single morsel of interest, Webber will  likely be a fixed commodity with the Kings.