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Los Angeles Lakers: Greatest free-agent signings in franchise history

By ANTHONY BISCIELLO

LeBron James responds to questions at his press conference on the Los Angeles Lakers' Media Day in Los Angeles, California, September 24, 2018. - The Lakers open their 2018 NBA season in Portland on October 18th. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
LeBron James responds to questions at his press conference on the Los Angeles Lakers' Media Day in Los Angeles, California, September 24, 2018. - The Lakers open their 2018 NBA season in Portland on October 18th. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) /
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(Photo credit should read TONY RANZE/AFP via Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo credit should read TONY RANZE/AFP via Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Greatest free agency signings in Los Angeles Lakers history: 1. Shaquille O’Neal

Easily the greatest free-agent signing the Lakers ever made. At the time, there was not a bigger and better player in the NBA than Shaq. He was everywhere. (He still is today!). Shaq had done his best to get the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals during his time with them.

They had put together a very nice team with Shaq along with Dennis Scott, Nick Anderson, Penny Hardaway, and Horace Grant. However, his time in Orlando was coming to an end as the free-agent period moved closer.

The bidding war was going hardcore for Shaq as every team involved knew that signing O’Neal would tilt the balance of power in the league easily. He was the ultimate powerful force that was destroying opposing centers and making quick work of other teams with his brute force and his backboard shattering dunks.

There was no player that could stop him. At the time, the Lakers were still trying to rise back to the top as Show Time had ended. On the Lakers roster was some very good talent like Nick Van Exel, Vlade Divac, Elden Campbell, and Eddie Jones. However, they needed a force. Someone that could change things for the team like they were so used to having in players like Magic Johnson, Kareem, James Worthy, and Jerry West.

Shaq would be the perfect fit for the team as he was a larger-than-life personality and he would fit in wonderfully. Jerry West pulled the trigger and signed O’Neal to a $120 million dollar contract for 7 years.

Next. 50 greatest Lakers of all-time. dark

The rest is all history.

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