Original trade rumor article from Sacramento Bee

[Chris Littlefield <chris@mjr.com>]

Happy New Year, C's fans!

I just got done going over the last few days digests, and looked up the the
original referenced article regarding this whole Austin and Mashburn for
the Rookies trade possibility:

Personally, I think it would suck, but I'm just reporting the facts:

Chris

PS. 16-14?  Wow...Kawabunga baby!  Ever the pessimist, I will hold my
breath until this 4 game in 5 day stretch; at Chicago, at Washington, home
against Seattle, and at Orlando, is over.  If we're .500 or better at the
end of that I will be psyched!







 If the Kings had their druthers, they would have begun the new year with a
new backcourt.

       Over the past few weeks, the Kings, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat
worked on a three-way deal that could have brought Celtics rookies
       Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer to Sacramento. The Heat and coach
Pat Riley, who long has coveted Mitch Richmond, would have
       received the Kings' five-time All-Star.

       The Celtics would have received forward Jamal Mashburn, who played
at Kentucky under current Boston coach Rick Pitino, and former Las
       Plumas High School star Isaac Austin, the 1996-97 NBA Comeback
Player of the Year, from Miami.

       However, the deal broke down in the last week. According to NBA
sources, the Celtics backed out because they were unsure of their ability to
       re-sign Austin. The 6-foot-10 forward-center has played consistently
well this season, especially while All-Star Alonzo Mourning was out
       with a knee injury.

       But Austin will be a free agent at the end of this summer and likely
will command huge dollars.

       The Celtics also wanted the Kings to take on the long-term contracts
of either or both Dana Barros or Dee Brown and send another Sacramento
       player, possibly Billy Owens, to Boston.

       The Kings could be more than $10 million under the salary cap this
summer -- and finally to compete in the free-agent market -- a situation
       they were unwilling to jeopardize.

       Kings coach Eddie Jordan said he knew the teams had been talking
trade. The Kings probably will entertain trade offers for Richmond as the
       Feb. 19 trade deadline approaches.

       "I've heard the rumors like I've heard other rumors, but I'm not
very close to the situation," Jordan said. "You have to ask Geoff."

       Kings vice president Geoff Petrie was unavailable for comment
Thursday but rarely comments specifically about trade talks.

       Jordan was asked how he could be the team's coach and not be close
to the situation.

       "Because it's probably not that serious," he said. "If it was
serious, I would know."