'It's looking doubtful'
Money may determine whether Rodman becomes a Laker
Posted: Saturday February 06, 1999 11:38 AM
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Rodman would make less than $1 million if he played for the Lakers AP |
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- Money may be the reason Dennis Rodman
doesn't play for the Los
Angeles Lakers.
The most the Lakers could offer Rodman is the prorated portion of the
veteran minimum of $1 million, well under the $18 million he earned the
last two seasons with Chicago.
"I just don't imagine Dennis playing for that kind of money," Lakers owner
Jerry Buss said Friday night. "But it's not over until the fat lady sings."
Buss said he last saw Rodman 10 days ago and the two talked.
"It's looking doubtful," Buss said. "How interested was I? I was very
interested. Dennis is someone that could give us rebounding like we have
never had, particularly at that position. He's a true talent. In a way, I
was just hoping somehow if he chose a team, it would be us. I know he wants
to play here."
Buss suggested Rodman and his well-known antics would be tolerated by Los
Angeles fans hungry for a championship, something the Lakers haven't won
since 1988.
"You can't please everybody. Some people don't even like the Laker Girls.
Dennis is a talent," Buss said. "...I think a lot of people would forgive
him as long as he tried to act somewhat normally."
He said the rest of the Lakers don't think Rodman would be a distraction.
"So it would remain to be seen," Buss said. "Dennis is Dennis. You're not
about to tell Dennis how to be someone else. You take him the way he is."
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