It's Official: Rodman's A Laker
It's official -- The Worm is a Laker.
Dennis Rodman signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, The Associated Press learned, and will participate in a limited practice session Wednesday before attending the Grammy Awards with his wife, actress Carmen Electra.
A source close to Rodman said the seven-time rebounding champion spent much of Tuesday doing post-production services on the movie Simon Sez, to be released later this year, but took a break to sign the contract.
The Lakers are waiting to execute the contract until after their game at Vancouver, which began shortly after 10:30 p.m. EST, The AP learned.
Rodman's agent, Steve Chasman, would neither confirm nor deny the report. Lakers spokesman John Black had said late Tuesday afternoon the team hoped to have Rodman signed to a contract "by the end of the night."
Black also said Rodman would practice with several members of the team Wednesday afternoon, and be available to the media afterward.
Because they're over the salary cap, the Lakers can only pay Rodman the veterans' minimum of $1 million, pro-rated to under $500,000 because of the shortened season plus the games he's missed.
Among the players expected to practice Wednesday is forward Robert Horry, who was cleared to play Tuesday. Horry missed seven games after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat before a 101-99 loss to Indiana on Feb. 14.
Rodman, who turns 38 in May, is expected to begin his Lakers career Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Forum. The same teams also play Thursday night in Anaheim.
Meanwhile, former Lakers point guard Nick Van Exel believes his former team could be making a mistake by adding Rodman.
Of course, Van Exel, who was traded to the Denver Nuggets on draft day last summer after five controversial seasons with the Lakers, might not be the most objective observer.
"He (Lakers coach Del Harris) thought I was a problem? I want to see Dennis go over there, personally," Van Exel said after helping the Nuggets beat the Lakers 117-113 in overtime Monday night in Denver for only their second victory of the season.
 > |
| Dennis Rodman should give the Lakers some punch. (AP) |
"I want to see how Del handles it. ... My honest opinion is it depends on Dennis Rodman's attitude," Van Exel said. "If he comes in with his great rebounding, the intensity he always brings to the game, he's going to be great for that team. If he come in with all his antics and just thinking about Dennis Rodman the show, he's going to kill that team."
The Lakers responded by issuing a statement saying they hoped to have the eccentric forward signed and in uniform "sometime very soon."
"He's going to get some rebounds -- he's going to be a big help," Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal said.
The Lakers could use some help. Thought to be prime contenders for the NBA championship this year, they brought a 6-5 record into Tuesday night's game in Vancouver.
Rodman's announcement during a bizarre press conference met with mixed reaction among fans.
XTRA Radio in San Diego's afternoon show kept count among callers and the totals were 34 in favor of Rodman's addition to the Lakers and 28 against.
Among the comments:
"Let's get the player now and then get his (former) coach (Phil Jackson) next."
"Cross off the cross-dresser from this list."
"Have not won, will not win with Del Harris. Get Rodman."
Van Exel, who had a stormy relationship with Harris, said he wasn't the problem with the Lakers -- his coach was.
After the Nuggets rallied from a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Lakers, Van Exel said, "I wasn't the cancer. The cancer is still there. He has white hair. And until they get rid of him, they're going to keep having lapses like this."
The reference was obviously to Harris.
"I was loving it," said Van Exel, who scored seven of his 16 points in overtime and had 13 assists. "It was exciting, beating Del, beating their management. There was a lot of revenge in this room."
© 1999 SportsLine USA, Inc. All rights reserved