With the end of the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers' '01-'02 season officially came to a close.
The team was on break, and the players could officially start their vacations, but the front office's work was far from over.
In a villa in the Los Angeles suburbs, Phil Jackson climbed onto his beloved Harley early in the morning. He had just pulled out of the garage when he was swarmed by a mob of reporters.
"Phil, is Shaq really leaving the Lakers?"
"Have the Lakers and Shaq reached an extension? There are media reports saying you offered Shaq a four-year, $90 million contract, and O'Neal's team rejected it. Is that true?"
"Shaq has made it clear he wants to go to Phoenix. If Phoenix offers the number one pick, would you consider a trade with the Suns?"
A barrage of questions, camera flashes, and video lenses nearly overwhelmed Jackson.
This was Los Angeles. Every move the Lakers made was under the media's spotlight, to say nothing of a superstar like O'Neal.
