2004 Clippers deal collapsed as Lakers paid $136 million

The rival offer added one year and roughly $36 million.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 61 min read

What happened: The 25-year-old free agent had verbally accepted a six-year package worth more than $100 million. The reversal came one day after a major Lakers trade and about a month into a coaching change.

Why it matters: The decision kept the free agent with the Lakers through his 2016 retirement, with two more NBA titles following the deal. It was the Clippers’ second missed chance to acquire him after the 1996 draft.

By the numbers: The Lakers’ seven-year contract guaranteed roughly $36 million more than the Clippers’ six-year offer. Its average annual value was about $19.4 million, compared with at least $16.7 million.

What to watch: The decision reaches its 25th anniversary in July 2029.

Sources

latimes.com 2026-09-06T18:45:07.467631+00:00

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