Aug. 1, 1999
The prospect of the funky basketball junkie sitting back in his chair, unshaven, frothing at the mouth over the end of the NBA moratorium on contracts isn't pretty. Nonetheless, open season to sign free agents and make trades began Sunday morning, so anything and everything is possible.
By Mike Kahn
SportsLine Executive Editor
THE MOST LIKELY TRADE OF MAGNITUDE WILL include the Portland Trail Blazers, who were overstocked with a vast array of talent and shaky chemistry last season, and the Atlanta Hawks, who are bound for an overhaul.
The Blazers will ship Isaiah Rider and Jim Jackson or Kelvin Cato to the Hawks for Steve Smith and Ed Gray. Or maybe that doesn't happen. The Blazers have every right to be concerned about the peanut-brittle knees of Smith, but he is a top-quality shooting guard and even better quality leader. Rider is a marvelous talent but a coaching nightmare with his off-court tendencies. Jackson -- a smooth talking back-stabber -- lost the explosiveness in his game several years ago. The Blazers can afford to gamble on Smith's knees because they adore young Bonzi Wells, who is entering just his second year.
The one trade that has already been agreed upon is the Pacers sending Antonio Davis to the Toronto Raptors for the rights to Jonathan Bender, the Mississippi high school prodigy and fifth overall pick of the 1999 NBA Draft.
But the plethora of free agents ponder their future, deciding whether they want the most money they can get or a legitimate shot at winning a title. The team with the most money under the salary cap is the Chicago Bulls, with $20 million to spare, but they're hoping to land Tim Duncan or Grant Hill next season. The chance of Keith Van Horn joining that group evaporated Sunday with word he had signed a six-year, $74 million contract to stay in New Jersey. Duncan will stay with the Spurs if they get a new arena, but if they don't, they will move, and he might choose to play elsewhere. Hill will continue to be coddled by new Pistons vice president Joe Dumars, so he'll stick around, too. That's why the Bulls need to act now to a certain extent.
The rest of the possible deals before October training camps will require the signing of free agents first, and here is a list of the top 10 most intriguing ones:
Penny Hardaway, Orlando: The Magic will sign Hardaway and most likely trade him. The Blazers were more interested in him than Smith early on with Rider and Cato as the bait, while the Suns have offered Danny Manning, Pat Garrity and top draft choice Shawn Marion. A late rumble of Charles Oakley and Tracy McGrady from the Raptors won't happen ... Toronto would be nuts to deal McGrady considering he has the potential of a younger Hardaway with none of the mental and physical baggage Hardaway has today.
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| Volatile Isaiah Rider might be headed to Atlanta in the Steve Smith deal.(Allsport) |
Mitch Richmond, Washington: The Wizards still might have an outside shot at retaining him, if they come up with $11 million-$12 million a year. Otherwise, he might go to Golden State beginning at $7 million a year or get a trade to his hometown of Miami for Jamal Mashburn and Voshon Lenard, landing him about the same money as the Warriors. The other possibility is to go to Seattle for Hersey Hawkins and earn about $8 million to start.
Vin Baker, Seattle: The Sonics will sign Baker to the maximum seven-year, $87 million contract and most likely will keep him. His horrid physical condition led to an awful performance last season and those who saw him with Team USA in Puerto Rico say he doesn't look much better. He has expressed some interest in heading closer to his home of Hartford and the Boston Celtics (coach Rick Pitino would love him), but Antonio Walker just isn't going to make the Sonics any happier. Besides, it appears Gary Payton is now calling all the shots for the Sonics, and he says he wants Baker and Richmond. If not Richmond, then Vernon Maxwell (would you want Payton to be your GM?).
Terrell Brandon, Minnesota: It appears the Timberwolves will re-sign Brandon for about $10 million a year. There had been talk long ago of the Blazers trading Damon Stoudmire for him, or the Knicks offering Allan Houston, but neither deal appears solid. Expect Brandon to stay put.
Charles Oakley, Toronto: Since Oakley isn't going in that sign-and-trade deal with Orlando, he probably will stay in Toronto for about $8 million to start, unless he opts to play for Pat Riley in Miami or Phil Jackson with the Lakers. The problem is, he could only get the $2 million a year exception from those two teams. Oakley stands to lose the most money by leaving because there is little interest in a trade.
Gary Trent, Dallas: Trent is adored by some, but the two-year, $4 million-plus maximum the Mavs can sign him to might be enough. This former "Shaq of the MAC" is the tough undersized scorer/rebounder of the Charles Barkley-Larry Johnson mold, but his personality has proven to be questionable to chemistry. Seattle showed some interest in him, but the Sonics re-signing Baker and looking for a shooting guard have knocked him out of the picture. The Pacers are in the hunt for him and need him.
Ron Mercer, Boston: The big rumble has him going to Dallas for a re-signed Samaki Walker and a first-round pick. The funny thing is, Pitino might ultimately be unable to deal Mercer, Walker or Kenny Anderson -- the three guys who were dying to leave by the end of last season. The Blazers also find him appealing if the Smith deal falls through.
Detlef Schrempf, Seattle: The Sonics insulted him right out of town with a $1 million exception offer, and the Blazers are offering him the $2 million exception. Although the 36-year-old would prefer to stay close to his family in Seattle, the Spurs are also throwing the $2.75M they have from Sean Elliott's (kidney failure) exception. The Jazz also are reportedly interested in him at the $2 million.
Lorenzen Wright, Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers tried to re-sign him, but he has no interest in staying. At 6-11, 260 pounds, he has touch, agility and is only 23. The Pacers and Bucks have shown interest, but the Bulls are the team with the most money available and would be wise to lock him up.
Jermaine O'Neal, Portland: The Blazers have made strong strides toward keeping their 20-year-old prodigy. At 6-11, 240 pounds, he has loads of talent. His name has been brought up in trade rumors, but Portland figures he's the center of its future and is expected to re-sign the league's youngest free agent. The deal, which could be announced Monday, is believed to be $25 million over three years.
Also free agents, but with little or no chance to go anywhere are: Joe Smith (Minnesota), Bo Outlaw (Orlando), Erick Dampier (Golden State), Nick Van Exel (Denver) and Jalen Rose (Indiana).
Utah will re-sign Karl Malone, John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek, while contrary to the typical bluster, Charles Barkley will return to the Houston Rockets. One big name on the trading block is Milwaukee's Glenn Robinson, but the Big Dog probably will stick with the Bucks.
Remember, this is only Day One. The craziness hasn't even begun.