Article about the GM's meeting

[RAMANI_R@bentley.edu]

GMs just talking


(c) 1997 Copyright Nando.net
(c) 1997 Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. (Sep 20, 1997 - 23:21 EDT) -- The NBA meetings have featured
get-togethers,
golf outings, speeches, caucuses and everything else -- Goofy or not -- that is
standard fare for a
three-day convention at Disney World.

But as the meetings went through their final full day Saturday, everybody was
still waiting for the first
official trade.

A deal that would have sent Dennis Scott from the Orlando Magic to Dallas for
Derek Harper and
Ed O'Bannon was squashed at the last minute by Mavericks ownership, sources
told the
Associated Press.

Another deal that would send oft-injured swingman Scott Burrell from Golden
State to Chicago for
Dickey Simpkins was expected to be finalized early next week.

Perhaps the biggest prize in all the trade talks -- Shawn Kemp of Seattle --
was still a member of
SuperSonics by the time general manager Wally Walker departed the meetings
Saturday afternoon.

"I'm a popular guy, but we're in no hurry to do anything," Walker said.

Still, Walker conceded that he is talking to several teams and would like to
trade Kemp to the
Eastern Conference.

"We'd much rather see him two times a year that four times," Walker said.

One general manager and one coach -- not from the same team -- said they had
heard that the
Chicago Bulls were again floating the idea of trading Scottie Pippen.

"I'm not going to comment on that," Bulls general manager Jerry Krause said
early Saturday
evening.

Pippen, who was nearly dealt to Boston on the night of the draft for three No.
1 picks and Antoine
Walker, did not play in his All-Star exhibition game at the United Center in
Chicago on Saturday
night.

Pippen, still bothered by a bone spur in his left foot, had said he would use
the charity game to test
his injury, then decide whether to have surgery that would sideline him for
about two months.

"I don't think I'll be playing, guys. Sorry to disappoint you. It's no test at
all," Pippen said. "I find I'm
not going to push myself. We'll just have to wait and see."

Other teams active in trade talks are the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State
Warriors, Cleveland
Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks.

The Bucks, still thought to be pondering a Vin Baker-for-Kemp offer, were said
to be shopping
Elliot Perry, Andrew Lang and Armon Gilliam. One rumor had Milwaukee sending
Lang to the
New Jersey Nets, who are desperate for a center, in exchange for Jayson
Williams.

Gilliam was rumored to be headed to Golden State for B.J. Armstrong.

Other teams were checking with the Warriors on the availability of Joe Smith,
one of the marquee
members of the draft class of 1995 who is slated to become a free agent next
summer.

Also in that category is Antonio McDyess of Denver, who met -- along with his
agent, Arn Tellem
- -- with Nuggets executives and ownership last Thursday. Tellem said no
financial issues were
discussed.

There were rumors last week that the Lakers were considering an offer of Eddie
Jones for
McDyess. And another Jones rumor -- to Sacramento for disgruntled Mitch
Richmond -- made its
way through the lobby at the Dolphin Hotel.

But Sal DeFazio, the agent for Jones, said he had spoken with Los Angeles
general manager Jerry
West on Friday and was assured that the Lakers were not shopping his client.

Cleveland and Atlanta are both looking for a starting small forward, and both
made offers to
Phoenix for Cedric Ceballos that were turned down.

San Antonio was said to be getting several offers for backup center Will
Perdue, and the Suns were
hearing from teams interested in third-string point guard Steve Nash.

"There are a lot of people talking, but there are still 1 1/2 weeks until
training camp," Pacers general
manager Donnie Walsh said. "Things get talked about here, then the GMs go home
and talk it over
with their owners. Something could happen here (at the league meetings), but it
usually doesn't."