Shaquille O'Neal fired longtime agent Leonard Armato, who engineered deals totaling $250 million for the Los Angeles Lakers center.

O'Neal said the split Saturday had nothing to do with Armato spending more time recently trying to revive the ATV, a professional volleyball circuit. The two had been together for almost 10 years.

Armato put together deals totaling nearly $250 million for O'Neal -- including a three-year, $88.4 million contract extension with the Lakers last year -- and various endorsements.

O'Neal said his uncle, Mike Parris, will handle his business affairs.

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived two forwards: Dennis Scott and Paul Shirley.

Scott, an 11-year veteran made two points in seven minutes in one preseason contest. Shirley, an undrafted rookie free-agent out of Iowa State University also made two points in seven minutes during his only preseason game, October 9 vs. the Golden State Warriors.

The Lakers preseason roster is now at 18.

Shaquille O'Neal scored 17 points and got 10 rebounds in his preseason exhibition debut, and Kobe Bryant made 23 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 114-97 Tuesday night.

O'Neal, who had surgery Aug. 29 to alleviate an ache in his small left toe, was 8-for-14 from the field and blocked four shots in 20 minutes.

Slava Medvedenko added 13 points for the Lakers (1-2), who snapped a two-game losing streak. Samaki Walker scored 11 points, and Isaac Fontaine and Mitch Richmond each added 10.

Antawn Jamison scored 18 points, and Danny Fortson added 15 for Golden State (2-1), which had its two-game winning streak snapped.

The Lakers had a 50-43 lead by halftime and broke the game open by outscoring the Warriors 37-26 in the third quarter.

Tom Gugliotta scored 19 points and Stephon Marbury led a key fourth-quarter run as the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-101 in a preseason game Friday night.

Gugliotta scored 16 of his points on 8-of-9 shooting in the third quarter as Phoenix (3-1) took an 80-77 lead going into the final period.

Marbury, who finished with 14 points, had six points and two assists during a 14-3 run that gave the Suns a 102-90 lead with 4:17 left in the game.

Kobe Bryant scored 25 points and Shaquille O'Neal, playing in his second game since undergoing offseason toe surgery, added 17. O'Neal, who played 21 minutes, also had six rebounds.

Los Angeles (1-3) hit 11-of-20 from 3-point range. Rick Fox made 4 of 5 and Joe Crispin and Mike Penberthy each had three 3-pointers. Bryant also made 13 of 17 free throws.

The Suns, pulled away in the final seven minutes with the Lakers' regulars on the bench. Phoenix played without guard Penny Hardaway, who was in Memphis with his ailing grandmother.

Kobe Bryant had 24 points and nine assists and Rick Fox had 21 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 128-94 exhibition on Tuesday night.

Shaquille O'Neal added 19 points and seven rebounds for the two-time defending NBA champs, who rested all of their starters after building a 102-69 lead and forcing 17 turnovers through the first three quarters. Samaki Walker finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Jason Williams had 13 points and eight assists and rookie Shane Battier had nine points for the short-handed Grizzlies (4-2). Michael Dickerson sat out his second straight game because of a stomach virus, Nick Anderson missed his fourth game because of a strained right shoulder and Bryant Reeves was sidelined with back spasms.

Bryant, who has led the Lakers in scoring in five of their six preseason games, helped build a 68-45 halftime lead with 16 points, five assists and five rebounds. The Lakers trimmed their roster to 17 Tuesday by waiving center Peter Cornell, a 7-footer from nearby Loyola Marymount who averaged 0.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 9.0 minutes in his three preseason games.

Fri, Nov.16 at 3:00 PM --- Sun, Nov.18 at 8:00 AM --- Sun, Nov.18 at 6:30 PM ---