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Free agents next year...
Thought everybody may want to see the
free agents next year...
[Image] [Image]
Never too early to jump in free-agent pool
By Mitch Lawrence
Special to ESPN SportsZone
-------------------------------------------------------------
[Image] MARCH 2, 1998
NEW YORK -- It's never too early to look ahead to the summer
ARCHIVE and the free-agent field that totals close to 200 players,
according to the master list obtained recently by The New
York Daily News.
Here's a look at who we think the top 10 free agents are at
each position. Of course, if there's a lockout July 1, as
everyone expects, everything gets pushed back.
Some points to remember: The Bulls [Scottie Pippen]
are committed to only $12 million
worth of contracts for 1998-99, so Scottie Pippen may be
they've got the most money to watching the beautiful
spend. Denver is second at $15 mil sunsets in Phoenix
and Phoenix is next at only $16 mil during the twilight of
-- and don't think Scottie Pippen his career.
doesn't know this. ----------------------
Among the teams who will be sitting out this summer's
free-agent market, the Knicks already are tapped out, having
committed $61 mil to salaries for next season. New York's
front line by itself will be pulling down a whopping $38.7
mil. That's more than every team in the league, except one
(the Spurs, $40 mil).
Point guards
1. Damon Stoudamire -- He wants to run, but Mike Dunleavy
has never been one to do anything but walk. Makes for an
interesting fit.
2. Rod Strickland -- Another big salary for Abe Pollin to
shell out. Maybe his team will win a playoff game one of
these decades.
3. Kevin Johnson -- On way out. Best thing about retirement?
No pulled hamstrings.
4. Sherman Douglas -- Oh, so this is why he's having such a
good season for John Calipari and the Nets.
5. Travis Best -- Waiting for Mark Jackson to retire.
6. Charlie Ward -- Anybody need a backup?
7. Darrick Martin -- Never heard of him, either.
8. Eric Murdock -- Backup material.
9. Matt Maloney -- More backup material.
10. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf -- Will demand an "out'' clause --
sitting out the national anthem.
Others: Greg Anthony, Derek Harper, Doug Overton, Alvin
Williams.
Shooting guards
1. Michael Jordan -- Goodbye, big orange ball. Hello, little
white, dimpled ball.
2. Latrell Sprewell -- See Vinny Del Negro.
3. Rex Chapman -- Staying in Phoenix.
4. Clyde Drexler -- Will sign anywhere Charles Barkley
doesn't.
5. Brent Barry -- He's all Pat Riley got for Ike Austin?
Whatever happened to "rebounds get you rings?"
6. Vinny Del Negro -- "Now starting for the Spurs at
shooting guard, Latrell Sprewell.''
7. Jimmy Jackson -- Doesn't have a deal with his new team,
Golden State.
8. Jerry Stackhouse -- When they said "the next Michael
Jordan,'' they must have meant the guy at CBS.
9. Dell Curry -- Have gun, will travel. Stock is way down.
10. Brian Shaw -- Sixers want his money to knock off cap, so
he's being rented.
Others: Terry Dehere, Dale Ellis, Rex Walters, Vincent
Askew, Gerald Wilkins.
Small forwards
1. Scottie Pippen -- Finally, a Jerry he likes. "...And it's
a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Colangelo.''
2. Rick Fox -- Done deal with Lakers.
3. Corliss Williamson -- Big dropoff after Fox. Even bigger
after Pippen.
4. LaPhonso Ellis -- He's about due for another major
injury.
5. Mario Elie -- Counting the days until he can get out of
Houston.
6. Gary Trent -- Let's see how much he likes that 54 percent
tax rate in Canada.
7. Cedric Ceballos -- Money secondary. Team in city with
best nightlife is No. 1 consideration.
8. Dennis Scott -- "Yo, Shaq. Any roster openings out your
way?''
9. David Benoit -- Well, you can cross Jersey off the list.
10. Harvey Grant -- Knicks wouldn't bid for him now, even if
they could.
Others: Clarence Weatherspoon, Billy Owens, Chucky Brown,
David Wingate, Scott Burrell.
Power forwards
1. Tom Gugliotta -- Free agent most likely to move on. With
Pistons, Celtics and Rockets planning to get into bidding,
has good shot of getting into the exclusive $100-mil club.
2. Jayson Williams -- Will ask Nets for $65 mil. Will settle
for $55 mil. Look at the competition at this position, and
he should get more.
3. Antonio McDyess -- Once wanted $20 mil per, but not even
Timberwolves would pay him that much. If he doesn't take $7
mil per from Suns, he can always go back to Nuggets.
4. Joe Smith -- Plans to stay on East Coast, but might not
be in Philly.
5. Christian Laettner -- Alan Henderson comes cheaper for
Hawks, which is why they were talking deal with Nets.
6. Charles Barkley -- Signs with Bud Lite Daredevils for the
minimum -- one case a day.
7. Loy Vaught -- Bad time to be coming off major back
surgery.
8. Dennis Rodman -- Next move to Ringling Bros.
9. Popeye Jones -- How'd he ever get to Boston? Not a David
Falk client.
10. Derrick Coleman -- Sixers can't wait to buy him out.
Others: Theo Ratliff, A.C. Green, Jason Caffey, Carl
Herrera, Derek Strong.
Centers
1. Rik Smits -- Pacers re-sign over objections of Larry
Bird, who thinks Robert Parish is the smart move.
2. Isaac Austin -- Bad news for Clippers: Has decided to
rent in L.A. Already house-hunting in Salt Lake City.
3. Vlade Divac -- Hornets have to decide between Divac and
Matt Geiger.
4. Matt Geiger -- If Nets don't keep Rony Seikaly, Geiger
could be coming to Meadowlands.
5. Olden Polynice -- You know the center crop is weak if
he's No. 5.
6. Chris Dudley -- Not as free as you think. Came to Knicks
with a deal after turning down $16 mil from Pistons.
7. Michael Stewart -- If you've seen him play a lot for the
Kings, you don't have a life.
8. Gheorghe Muresan -- Only Billy Crystal and Jerry Krause
love him more than the Nets' John Nash.
9. Bill Wennington -- Has to unlearn the triangle offense.
10. Cherokee Parks -- Duke called to say it has no interest.
Others: Sam Perkins, Oliver Miller.
Mitch Lawrence, who covers the NBA for the New York Daily
News, writes an NBA column each Monday for ESPN SportsZone.
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