Kobe Bryant should thank Shaquille O'Neal; the Shaq Sweepstakes are obscuring Bryant's court sessions.

Just guessing, but he probably won't thank him.

A source from one superstar's entourage said Chris Webber has hinted to Kings management he'd go to Los Angeles.

They've discussed Webber and former Laker Vlade Divac for Shaq. But any deal with Sacramento should include Mike Bibby, just as any deal with Dallas -- the odds-on favorite -- should include Dirk Nowitzki.

"They're trying to make a killer deal for him," Nets GM Rod Thorn said of the Lakers. "Even for a player of his stature, it's tough to make a killer deal."

Shaq's already eliminated the Clippers, who offered Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Chris Wilcox and a draft choice. No reason to play for Donald Sterling, who patterned his team after himself: Both are moneymaking losers.

As for the Nets, Shaq's true hometown team, Thorn said he believes it would take Richard Jefferson, Kenyon Martin "and something else."

We recommend offering Martin and Jason Kidd (a year younger than Shaq at 31 and a prima donna, even by NBA standards) instead.

"I don't know," Thorn said about our suggestion. "If we did that, we'd need a point guard and a power forward, which is where the Lakers are now."

It used to be that teams wanted to be where the Lakers are. Not now. Not only has GM Mitch Kupchak lost Phil Jackson, and perhaps Shaq and Kobe, but even worse, he has to keep Gary Payton. Payton and Karl Malone can't even successfully ride coattails anymore.

Making Magic on draft day

Magic president Pat Williams said the franchise is "still digging out" from letting Shaq leave via free agency eight years ago. That explains the Magic's efforts to trade Tracy McGrady -- although that deal for Steve Francis might not happen soon. "We don't know where it's all headed," Williams said. "We've got to address it at some point."

The Magic was a winner on a deadly-dull draft day, getting the best college player (Jameer Nelson) and prep player (Dwight Howard).

Regarding the choice of Howard over Emeka Okafor, Williams said, "We didn't want to take the chance on looking back, years from now, and saying, 'How in the world did we ever pass on that kid?' "

Potential is great. But how does Portland take Sebastian Telfair seven spots ahead of Nelson?

Telfair worries me. He's having trouble filling the last couple of spots in his entourage.

Let's usher out the Dolans

For the Dolans' next trick: union-busting. They've reduced MSG ushers by half, and now they're positioning to phase them all out. That would do three things: reduce fan comfort, remove money from working men ($49 a game) and further line the pockets of the two billionaire stooges.

It's bad enough they've ruined our teams. If they go through with this, let's picket Madison Square Garden.

And Marv Albert can announce the proceedings.

Justice delayed

It took three months to figure out Todd Bertuzzi should be charged with assault?

Braves shopping superstars

The Braves, winners of a remarkable 12 straight division titles, are close to giving up. Russ Ortiz will be available, and one source said even Andruw Jones might hit the trade market.

The Mets and Cardinals like Kris Benson, though not enough to pay the haul Pittsburgh currently seeks. Benson's no Freddy Garcia, but the Pirates have supply and demand going for them.

If the Mets fall out of it, Tom Glavine would consider accepting a trade. "I enjoy being here and I don't want to go anywhere. But you never say never," Glavine said. He never would say never to Boston, his hometown team. "That's one of the few I'd have to consider," he said.

One GM said Arizona should trade Randy Johnson. "They're terrible," the GM said. If things keep going like this, maybe Johnson begs his way out.

If Jimy Williams isn't in trouble, he should be. Gerry Hunsicker keeps getting Williams good players, yet the Astros can't separate themselves from the Brewers. Word is out that Hunsicker might take the hit instead, and if that's true, that's just wrong.

Barry Bonds fired agent Scott Boras this week, only days after Boras got into Bonds' face over Bonds' assertion that Boston is a "racist city." Boras wanted the focus on Bonds the great hitter and Boras thought remarks like those divert it elsewhere. Now Bonds himself is elsewhere, with the Beverly Hills Sports Council.

Should have been a Dodger

Before the freeway rival Angels swooped in, the Dodgers had a tentative agreement with Vladimir Guerrero, also for $70 million over five years. Guerrero wanted to stay in the National League but the team was in ownership limbo then.

"We made a deal with Guerrero. It was done, everything but the signature," former Dodgers chairman Bob Daly said.

Dodgers people even had the clubhouse man reserve No. 27.

Zimmer's false image

Any way to muzzle Don Zimmer? If this keeps up, people will realize he's not the lovable coot he plays on TV.

Zimmer's new story is he attacked Pedro Martinez because Pedro insulted Jorge Posada. That's funny, because in closed-door meetings, nobody attacked Posada like Zimmer.

A-Rod: No token superstar

The Subway Series may be old hat to some Yankees, but Alex Rodriguez loves every minute. Heck, A-Rod even loves the subway, which he occasionally rides to work. Naturally, he is mobbed. "The people are very nice," A-Rod said.

He sure doesn't act like a $25-million superstar, does he?