By Simon Fishler
SportsLine NBA Editor
July 28, 1999

With the free-agent market about to open on Aug. 1, here's a look at some of the hot gossip floating around the NBA.

Vancouver

Grizzlies' larger concern than free agency is seeing that a smile gets planted on the face of petulant rookie guard Steve Francis. Francis was in town last week, trying to mend the image of his bratty display of displeasure after he was drafted No. 2 by Vancouver in last month's draft.

Seems the Griz will have one of the best young backcourts in the league next season, but the interior doesn't appear like it's going to be upgraded unless the Vancouver can lure a free agent to town. Mavs forward Samaki Walker, who Dallas has little desire to keep, might be a guy in their sights.

Dallas

The cash-strapped Mavs are desperately trying to keep forward Gary Trent but can only offer him roughly $4.2 million over two years.

Earlier in the summer, coach/GM Don Nelson put Trent and his family up in his Maui digs -- a decision that ended up getting the Mavs fined by the league and still may not have won over Trent.

The salary doesn't come close to the market value for the forward who averaged 16 ppg and 7.8 rpg. It also looks like two other Dallas free agent forwards -- A.C. Green and Samaki Walker -- are out the door, too. Green likely will go to a contender, and Walker -- deep in Nelson's doghouse -- is rumored to be going to Boston in a sign-and-trade deal.

Denver

Nuggets are looking to find a consistent outside shooter, and Mavs free agent George McCloud might be their man. McCloud has been in Denver to talk to the team and he could sign for the $2-million exception.

It appears the deal with Nick Van Exel is all but complete. The Nuggets free-agent point guard and his agent have strongly intoned that he will stick around, and Van Exel's buddy, forward Antonio McDyess, likely will make sure of that. Besides that, there are very few teams beyond the Clippers, Toronto and Chicago that can offer Van Exel more than $5 million a year.

Minnesota

The team's No. 1 priority is bringing back point guard Terrell Brandon, and speculation is that the free agent and the Wolves have gotten closer to agreeing to a suitable deal that could be signed on or after Aug. 1.

There really is no better option available to the Wolves at this point than Brandon, and there are not a lot of teams that could afford what he wants. So the deal seems mutually beneficial for each.

A tougher signing may be forward Joe Smith. Kevin Garnett is trying to talk Smith into coming back for the $2 million exception and that remains a possibility, though he could get much more on the open market.

Another forward, Tom Hammonds, one of the Wolves' most physical players, also is a free agent and could be gone. If he gets away, the Wolves could go after the Clippers' Lorenzen Wright or the Mavs' Samaki Walker.

Houston

With Charles Barkley apparently thumbing his way to a destination closer to winning an NBA title -- Utah, Los Angeles Lakers, even Seattle -- and Hakeem Olajuwon on his last legs, and Scottie Pippen involved in trade talk, the Houston Rockets could get extremely young extremely fast.

The raging rumor is Pippen going to the Lakers, where he would be reunited with his former coach, Phil Jackson. But the Rockets might not be sold on Glen Rice, who they likely would end up getting in the deal.

Barkley pondered retirement for a while but decided he wanted to make one last go at a ring. He has been contacted by the Lakers, Jazz and Sonics. He could help each team out: the Sonics if they lose Detlef Schrempf to free agency, the Jazz if they end up dealing Bryon Russell and losing Shandon Anderson to free agency, and the Lakers who could lose J.R. Reid and were a weak-rebounding team last year.

Meanwhile, Houston is thought to be in the running for Clippers free-agent forward Rodney Rogers. And shooter Sam Mack could be dispensable as last year's crop of rookie guards Michael Dickerson and Cuttino Mobley proved they could hit the outside shot.

San Antonio

With Sean Elliott out for the season and his career perhaps over, the Spurs are shopping for a small forward.

The Nets' Scott Burrell is one guy they've called, and he could be brought in with the $2-million exception.

The allure of a potential NBA title could attract veteran free agents who are on their last legs.

However, Spurs free agent Will Perdue is as good as gone. Talk is Toronto is hot after him, though it's hard to believe any team would be eager to make a move for this 7-foot space-filler. Spurs free agent Jaren Jackson probably earned himself a contract with the Spurs with some big games in the postseason.

Utah

The Big Three -- free agents Karl Malone, John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek -- all are expected to re-sign soon after the Aug. 1 deadline permits.

That action and Utah's talk of adding veterans such as Charles Barkley or Detlef Schrempf hint that the Jazz aren't about to go to a youth movement. Rather, they are charging on with the old bulls they have.

Barkley has said he would like to come to Utah, as has Schrempf. The Jazz have indicated they are interested in bringing in the Wizards' Otis Thorpe if one of those players don't sign on.

Also, with another disappointing year from center Greg Ostertag in the books, the Jazz have ignited talks with the Nets' Gheorghe Muresan.

The team would like to re-sign swingman

Shandon Anderson, but Anderson's agent has said its "50-50" whether he'll be back with the club. Utah doesn't appear to give a rip about their other free agents: Todd Fuller, Greg Foster and Thurl Bailey.