For a time, the entire league saw Phil Jackson as a hot commodity. The Lakers were no longer his only option.
Jerry Buss could no longer sit still.
He had originally thought that after the Knicks withdrew, he could take his time negotiating with Phil and perhaps even push the price down a little.
But with a few moves from Phil, what had been a two-man negotiation had been forcibly turned into an auction.
After another call with Todd Musburger, during which the other party hinted that "Philadelphia is very sincere and willing to grant Coach Phil full authority over basketball operations," Dr. Buss finally played his trump card.
A five-year, $75 million contract, along with the title of vice president of basketball operations.
That price was a full 1.5 times higher than the Knicks' initial offer!
It was practically a cost-be-damned declaration of the Lakers' determination to secure him.
When Phil Jackson heard the offer over the phone, his heart churned with emotion, but his face remained calm.
He merely told his agent, "Tell Jerry that I appreciate his sincerity. But I need a little more time to have a final conversation with myself."
After hanging up, he knew he had already won this game.
Yet his phrase, "a conversation with myself," left Jerry Buss on the other end of the line frantic with anxiety.
He had already offered everything he could. What was the Zen Master still hesitating over? Did he really want to go to Philadelphia and coach that bunch of greenhorns?
No, he could not let this drag on!
After pacing around his office for a long while, Dr. Buss picked up the phone and dialed two numbers. He had decided to add the final—and heaviest—weight to this recruitment effort.
Orlando, Shaq's neighborhood.
Shaquille O'Neal