The latest team in the hunt for Shaquille O'Neal is the Los Angeles Clippers believe it or not.

"Several seasons ago, owner Donald Sterling preferred remaining coach-less during the summer simply to save salary. Now he's prepared to do whatever it takes, it appears, to acquire Shaq as well as extend his substantial salary several seasons in order to keep him beyond the next two."

Peter Vescey says, so put as much weight into it as you want, that the Clippers are ready to part with Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Melvin Ely, and Quentin Richardson.

"That shows they've got a serious thing for Shaq. But if they're dead serious about generating unprecedented overnight credibility, advertising revenue, season ticket holders and unearthly interest, as well as assembling a championship contender, it's probably going to cost them the fourth overall pick in the draft."

"The Charlotte Bobcats, in return for taking Sterling off the hook for Predrag Drobnjak's 2-year obligation ($2.55M/$2.7M) swapped Nos. 4 and 33 for No. 2; Shaun Livingston, a 6-7 prep point guard, is the object of Mike Dunleavy's desire should the Lakers fail to squeeze the Clips for the equally prime real estate."

"A Shaq-Kobe feud in the same town would be anything but petty. The likely stiff competition between the two teams would be watered down compared to their trash talking. Laker loyalty would be ripped apart like never before and everybody would profit as a result."

The Expansion Charlotte Bobcats have made their first trade. The Bobcats traded the No. 4 and No. 33 pick in the draft to the Los Angeles Clippers for the Clippers' No. 2 pick. As part of the trade, the Bobcats have agreed to select center Peja Drobjnak in Tuesday's expansion draft.

Drobjnak will become the first player on the Bobcats roster. "Peja is thrilled about being the first member of the Bobcats," Drobjnak's agent, David Bauman, told ESPN Insider.

The Bobcats are now in position to take either Emeka Okafor or Dwight Howard in Thursday's entry draft.

"We are extremely pleased to be able to move up into the No. 2 two spot in the draft," Bobcats general manager-coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. "We are trying to build our team with the best possible players and being able to pick second in the draft exemplifies our commitment to accomplishing that goal. This opportunity was available to us and we are happy to complete the deal."

The Clippers wanted to move down to draft a point guard. They like Ben Gordon, Devin Harris and Shaun Livingston, but one source said that Gordon would be their pick.

By dealing Drobjnak, the Clippers clear another $2.6 million from their cap. When factoring in the savings by moving down in the draft, ESPN calculates that the Clippers could have over $13 million to spend on free agents this summer.

Rumors continue to swirld about Laker star Kobe Bryant who has been eyeing the Knicks and Clippers as two teams he could possibly move onto next year.

Bryant, said again he intended to opt out of his contract. After that, with the Clippers and New York Knicks believed to be among his options, Bryant said he did not know.

"I love playing for Phil," he insisted. "I learned so much playing for Phil. Playing with Shaq, too, we got a lot of things accomplished, despite our differences.

"I wouldn't be opposed to playing with them forever. It's not up to me. It's not my decision."

Asked to clarify that, Bryant said, "It's going to be my decision where I play next year. It's their decision what they're going to do with this team."