The tough went shopping, as expected, but that was the only thing that turned out the way it was supposed to in 15 days of negotiations and creative messing with each other. Now as the free-agent period opens, a new colossus rises from the plain and it isn't the one people thought it would be.

The Lakers were going to get someone good with their $4.9-million exception. On the other hand, they needed help at several positions, which was why Coach Phil Jackson went to the Chicago pre-draft camp for the first time, looking for the rare rookie who might play for him right away.

Jackson had hoped Scottie Pippen might come for their next-biggest exception, $1.5 million, but now it was understood that wouldn't happen. Now the Lakers hoped to use that money for a player such as Lucious Harris.

Meanwhile, the champion Spurs, with what would become $17 million worth of cap space, were torn. Should they get the game's best point guard, Jason Kidd, or one of its best young big men, Jermaine O'Neal? How about Kidd and a veteran such as Karl Malone?

Then there were the East champion New Jersey Nets, who seemed about to be reduced to their constituent parts.

But that's not what happened.

In a string of surprises, Malone told the Lakers he'd take the $1.5 million if they could get Gary Payton, Payton agreed to come, Kidd opted to stay in New Jersey and O'Neal decided to remain in Indiana.