In the wake of the mass exodus going on in New Jersey, vacationing point guard Jason Kidd has let it be known through the grapevine that he'd have no problem with the Nets exiling him to the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs or Dallas Mavericks. The Nets, opting not to match the Denver Nuggets' massive offer to Kenyon Martin, are in a "re-loading" stage, also having jettisoned longtime starting shooting guard Kerry Kittles in a cap-cutting trade to the Los Angeles Clippers and reportedly asking injured center Alonzo Mourning to shelve any idea of a return.

The Spurs aren't expected to have the financial flexibility to trade for Kidd, who nearly signed outright with the club last summer as a free agent. New deals for forward Tim Duncan, guards Brent Barry and Manu Ginobili and center Rasho Nesterovic make money tough to come by.

The Lakers don't appear interested in taking on Kidd's contract, which would impair their cap for many more years when coupled with the contract Kobe Bryant just signed.

Kidd's best bet may be the Mavericks, where he started his career, but owner Mark Cuban's hesitancy to top incumbent Steve Nash's $36 million offer from the Phoenix Suns makes absorbing the five years and $90 million left owed Kidd, recovering from knee surgery, a long shot.

Slava Medvedenko is expected to re-sign with the Lakers early next week, his agent Marc Fleisher said.

Medvedenko averaged a career-high 8.3 points and 5.0 rebounds last season, starting 38 games and making $1.5 million.

"We've invested a lot of time in Slava and every year he's made improvements," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "He's a player that coaches like and he's still improving for how young he is."

Kupchak had said last week that negotiations with Medvedenko were not progressing as well as he would have liked. But Fleisher said there were no problems. The 25-year-old Medvedenko will sign a multiyear contract.

After being charged Thursday with taking part in a Rhode Island identity theft and embezzlement scheme that allegedly filed more than $160,000 in false car accident and slip-and-fall claims, making the Lakers roster is the least of Marcus Douthit?s worriers.

Douthit was alleged to have received $6,500 from faking a car accident in December 2001 and filing a false insurance claim. The money awarded then was deposited by Douthit in a Providence bank account, attorney general spokesman Michael Healey said.

But Douthit's agent, Charles Bonsignore, said the accused ringleaders of the scam, James Cook and Kristen Cook, obtained Douthit's social security number after befriending him and used it to file the claim without the 24-year-old's knowledge.

At 6-foot-11, Douthit made his presence known for the Lakers, averaging better than 13 points and seven rebounds.  If convicted he could face the maximum of 30 years in prison.

Douthit was taken in the second round.

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant's defense team has revealed that his accuser has received nearly $20,000 from a victim's compensation fund, creating a financial incentive to frame Bryant for rape, court transcripts say.

The accuser would only be eligible for $3,000 if she lied about being raped by Bryant.

Prosecutors called defense attorney Pamela Mackey's accusations of financial interest tabloid discussion.

Shaquille O'Neal won't mention Kobe Bryant by name.  But in a recent telephone interview, it wasn't too difficult to figure out to whom the big man was referring.

O'Neal said that he didn't think Bryant ever asked management to keep the team together.  And O'Neal told the media that he thinks Bryant wanted him out of LA.

"Be careful what you wish for, buddy," O'Neal said several times during the 15-minute interview.

The 32-year-old O'Neal said he may have "six dominant years" left in him, especially in the relatively weak Eastern Conference.

"The West is loaded," he said. "Denver's got Kenyon Martin and 'Melo (Carmelo Anthony). San Antonio's got "(Tim) Duncan and (Tony) Parker. Minnesota's got KG (Kevin Garnett). Sac's got (Chris) Webber and (Mike) Bibby. In the East, all they've got is the two O'Neal boys (himself and Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal)."

"We're gonna be straight," O'Neal said. "I was down here the other day working out with the kid from Vanderbilt we got (second-round pick Matt Freije), and I told him, 'I'm gonna come across the block, and if I get doubled, I'm gonna pass the ball to you and you're gonna have a wide-open jumper, or (forward) Udonis Haslem is gonna come down the lane and he's gonna get a dunk, and you're all gonna get big contracts.' He said, 'What do you mean?' I said, 'Just look at the history. Travis Knight. Horace Grant. A.C. Green.' He said, 'Shaq, you're one of the coolest guys I've met.'"

The judged handed down his rape shield ruling last week and immediately hours afterward Kobe Bryant's private investigators were busy handing out subpoenas to his alleged victim's college acquaintances. At least five UNC students were issued one Saturday and Monday.

Investigators on the University of Northern Colorado campus in Greeley delivered several subpoenas, ordering college students to be in Eagle between Sept. 10-17 for Bryant's rape trial.

"I thought I was done," said UNC student Johnray Strickland. "I don't know how much more do they want me to say, beyond repeating that I was not in that room."

Strickland was one of the alleged victim's college friends.

"I did my part for my friend, and I'll continue to," he said.

LOS ANGELES -- The big guy had a big-hearted message for Los Angeles Lakers' fans.

Shaquille O'Neal took out a full-page advertisement in the Los Angeles Times on Sunday to thank fans for their support during his eight years with the Lakers, when he helped the team win three NBA championships.

The 7-foot-1, 340-pound O'Neal was traded last week to the Miami Heat.

"I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your incredible support over the last eight years," O'Neal said in the ad, which included a picture of him smiling and gripping a basketball in one hand. "I am moving on to the next chapter in my career, but I will never forget the support that you gave me."

The Lakers are rebuilding their team around superstar guard Kobe Bryant, who signed a seven-year contract worth more than $136 million. Rudy Tomjanovich will replace Phil Jackson as coach, and former Laker Vlade Divac, who was traded in 1996, will return to replace O'Neal at center.

The Lakers have raised their tickets prices for the 2004-2005 season on nearly all levels.  This includes a $100 increase on courtside seats.

"What we've always tried to do is maintain a fair price structure," Black said. "Our high-priced tickets are reflective of what people are willing to pay, while still maintaining the lower-price tickets which make our games accessible for families and people of all economic levels."

Will Jack be able to afford the new pricing scheme?  And even if he can, will he attend with no Shaq?

Shaquille O'Neal put his controversial departure from the Los Angeles Lakers behind him on Tuesday as he embraced his new team, the Miami Heat, and promised them a championship.

Several thousand fans cheered as O'Neal pulled up to American Airlines Arena in a tractor trailer for his official introduction, where he picked up keys to the city and sprayed the crowd with a water cannon.

"I'm not angry but I'm very, very motivated," he said at his first Heat news conference.

O'Neal declared the Heat "Dwyane Wade's team," addressing the issue that echoed through his years in Los Angeles, where he shared the spotlight and leadership of the Lakers with guard Kobe Bryant, with whom he frequently feuded.

"It's Dwyane Wade's team. I'm just his big brother. I'm just here to back him up," he said, adding that he had been impressed with the Heat point guard during his rookie season.

In perhaps a backhanded swipe at Bryant, O'Neal said of Wade: "I've never really played with a guard that special."

"It was never about the money. I just want to be part of a team."

If Karl Malone's knee is fit to return to the NBA next season, he may just follow Shaq to Miami, as he continues his 20 season quest for a ring.

The Mailman's agent, Dwight Manley, has stated that he has spoken with Heat officials.

If another former O'Neal teammate, Robert Horry, also joins the team, the Heat will likely feature a starting five of four former Lakers, O'Neal, Malone, Horry and Eddie Jones, as well as rookie standout Dwayne Wade.  To even solidify Miami becoming L.A. East, Byron Russell is also considering signing with the Heat.