000176.htm

[David A Wickerham <aw623@freenet.buffalo.edu>]

   Beacon Journal Online Story
   sports logo
   site index
   site search
   local news
   sports
   indians
   terry pluto
   cavs
   porter's people
   business
   feature stories
   fun / things to do
   commentary
   weather
   special reports
   library search
   classified ads
   obits
   
   Ohio.com home
   
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
                    Published Saturday, August 23, 1997,
                        in the Akron Beacon Journal.
                                      
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
                                  KR logo
                               Knight-Ridder
                                 newspapers
                                      
Cavs lose; Mills signs with Celtics

     Now Cleveland wants Rick Fox and Brian Grant
   
   BY CHRIS BROUSSARD
   Beacon Journal staff writer
   
   A year ago, the Cavaliers talked excitedly about their young nucleus
   of Terrell Brandon, Tyrone Hill, Chris Mills and Bobby Phills. In the
   last five days, however, that nucleus has been cut in half, making the
   Cavs a team that will be nearly unrecognizable to their fans next
   season.
   
   Mills, a Cavalier since being drafted out of Arizona four years ago,
   yesterday signed a long-term contract with the Boston Celtics believed
   to be be worth at least $26.1 million over six years.
   
   Mills' departure comes just four days after six-year Cavs guard Bobby
   Phills signed a seven-year, $33 million deal with the Charlotte
   Hornets. The two had started together on the Cavs' wings for the past
   three seasons.
   
   ``Obviously, I am sorry to see Chris move on,'' Cavs coach Mike
   Fratello said. ``He has been such a vital part of our program for the
   previous four years. This means that we will have to work at filling
   the spots on our roster that need to be filled.''
   
   With Mills gone, the Cavs have just one small forward, Donny Marshall,
   under contract. Unsigned second-round draft pick Cedric Henderson is a
   small forward who is expected to join the roster soon, but neither
   Marshall nor Henderson is viewed as an adequate replacement for Mills,
   who averaged 12.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 319 games as a Cavalier.
   
   As a result, the Cavs are one of many teams wooing Boston small
   forward Rick Fox, a six-year veteran who averaged 15.4 points, 5.2
   rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals last season.
   
   Fratello and general manager Wayne Embry had dinner with Fox Thursday
   night in Boston and are believed to have offered him a deal worth
   about $12.5 million over three years.
   
   New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Lakers are also
   interested in Fox, but those clubs can only offer him a two-year deal
   worth $2.15 million.
   
   Even with economics on their side, the Cavs will be hard pressed to
   get Fox. Expressing the desire to win now, Fox told The Boston Globe
   that his first two choices are New York and Los Angeles. The Cavs are
   third.
   
   The Cavs have also offered a contract to third-year Sacramento Kings
   forward Brian Grant. The 6-foot-9, 254-pound power forward recently
   turned down a seven-year, $48 million offer from Sacramento. In an
   attempt to outbid Portland and Detroit, the Cavs have offered Grant a
   seven-year deal thought to be worth at least $50 million.
   
   ``The Cavs have a great deal of interest in Brian,'' said Mark
   Bartelstein, Grant's agent. ``It's up to Brian to make a decision
   within the next couple of days as to what he'll do. I expect it to be
   done in the next day or so.''
   
   Grant, who played only 24 games last year because of a shoulder
   injury, averaged 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds. A former college
   teammate of Hill's at Xavier, Grant averaged 13.8 points and 7.2
   rebounds during his first two NBA seasons.
   
   Grant's Sacramento teammate, point guard Tyus Edney, joined Mills in
   becoming a Celtic yesterday, signing a two-year deal.
   
                          Go to Indians page logo
                                      
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
             This site and its contents are copyrighted © 1997
                    by the Beacon Journal Publishing Co.
                                      
                               Go to Ohio.com
                               Send us mail!
                                      
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
      site index | local news | sports | terry pluto | indians | cavs
    porter's people | feature stories | business | fun / things to do |
                                 commentary
    weather | special reports | library search | classified ads | obits