News from Infobeat

[Kevin.Lok@outokumpu.com]

Hi,

Thought you might enjoy this one!

Kevin/Singapore


The Pro Basketball Daily
Tuesday, November  3, 1998
Your personalized e-mail news, brought to you by InfoBeat
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News and Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------
HUNTER SAYS SEASON MIGHT NOT START UNTIL JANUARY
(AP) - On the day before the NBA season was supposed to begin,
union director Billy Hunter said it might be 1999 before it
actually does. "My gut tells me that in January we could be
playing. I would anticipate the season would start around the
first part of January," Hunter said Monday after representatives
of the owners and players met for about 2 1/2 hours at a
Manhattan law office. No more talks are scheduled until
Wednesday, and Hunter said the sides have retreated from an
earlier plan to have full negotiating teams present. Hunter's
pessimistic outlook was in response, he said, to a growing
misperception that a deal could be imminent.
"It has been reported that there's strong possibility an
agreement can be reached this week," Hunter said. "I don't know
where that information came from, but I can indicate that I don't
see any possibility at all of reaching an agreement this week and
I can't say how soon it will be. I want to get that message out
there." NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik responded: "We agree
with Mr. Hunter that we are not close." If Hunter's gut feeling
is correct and the lockout lasts at least another month, it will
cost the players about $400 million in lost salaries. Owners,
too, are losing money, and Hunter expects pressure to come from
the television networks, sponsors and some of the owners to cut
their losses and get a deal done before it's too late to have a
viable regular season.
*** For the full story, see
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2556905211-0f3

WHERE THE 29 TEAMS STAND ON OLD OPENING DAY
(AP) - A look at each of the 29 NBA teams as of Nov. 3, which was
supposed to be the start of the 1998-99 season:
ATLANTA HAWKS
-------------
Players under contract (4): Mookie Blaylock, Ed Gray, Dikembe
Mutombo, Steve Smith.
Unsigned rookies: Shammond Williams, Roshown McLeod.
Key free agents: Christian Laettner, Alan Henderson, Tyrone
Corbin, Eldridge Recasner.
When lockout ends: Must re-sign Henderson, who took over
Laettner's starting spot midway through last season and averaged
14.3 points and 6.4 rebounds.
Rumor mill says: Will go after Rick Fox on the free-agent market.

BOSTON CELTICS
--------------
Players under contract (11): Kenny Anderson, Dana Barros, Bruce
Bowen, Andrew DeClercq, Pervis Ellison, Travis Knight, Walter
McCarty, Ron Mercer, Greg Minor, Antoine Walker, Dontae' Jones.
Unsigned rookies: Paul Pierce.
Key free agents: Popeye Jones, Zan Tabak.
When lockout ends: If the new labor agreement makes Walker a free
agent at the end of the season, the Celtics won't want to pay him
$100 million and are expected to package him in a trade with two
or three high-contract players.
Rumor mill says: Pat Riley and the Miami Heat want Walker.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS
-----------------
Players under contract (6): B.J. Armstrong, Anthony Mason, Bobby
Phills, J.R. Reid, Glen Rice, David Wesley.
Unsigned rookies: Ricky Davis.
Key free agents: Vlade Divac, Matt Geiger, Dell Curry.
When lockout ends: Must re-sign one of its two free-agent centers
and reach an understanding with Mason about getting along with
the coach.
Rumor mill says: Divac stays, Geiger goes.

CHICAGO BULLS
-------------
Players under contract (4): Keith Booth, Randy Brown, Ron Harper,
Toni Kukoc,
Unsigned rookies: Maceo Baston, Corey Benjamin, Cory Carr.
Key free agents: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman,
Luc Longley, Steve Kerr, Scott Burrell, Jud Buechler, Dickey
Simpkins, Bill Wennington.
When lockout ends: The world breathlessly awaits to hear from
Jordan on whether he'll retire or return to go for a seventh
title. If Jordan comes back, then the question is whether Pippen
and Rodman will join him.
Rumor mill says: Other teams wary of Pippen's back surgery.
Charles Barkley could replace Rodman.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
-------------------
Players under contract (9): Derek Anderson, Danny Ferry, Cedric
Henderson, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Shawn Kemp, Brevin Knight, Wesley
Person, Vitaly Potapenko, Bob Sura.
Key free agents: Carl Thomas.
When lockout ends: Only need to fill out the final few spots on
the roster and see if this young team, with Derek Anderson and
Bob Sura healthy, can win.
Rumor mill says: Nothing about the Cavs.

DALLAS MAVERICKS
----------------
Players under contract (10): Chris Antsey, Shawn Bradley, Hubert
Davis, Michael Finley, A.C. Green, Steve Nash, Robert Pack,
Khalid Reeves, Erick Strickland, Samaki Walker.
Unsigned rookies: Dirk Nowitzki, Ansu Sesay.
Key free agents: Cedric Ceballos, Eric Riley, Kurt Thomas.
When lockout ends: Clear up the logjam at point guard by trying
to find takers for Pack and-or Reeves so that Nash can play most
of the minutes at that position.
Rumor mill says: Ceballos heading to Europe.

DENVER NUGGETS
--------------
Players under contract (7): Danny Fortson, Dean Garrett, Bobby
Jackson, Priest Lauderdale, Bryant Stith, Nick Van Exel, Eric
Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Raef LaFrentz, Ryan Bowen, Tremaine Folkes.
Key free agents: LaPhonso Ellis, Johnny Newman, Cory Alexander,
Eric Washington.
When the lockout ends: Introduce new coach Mike D'Antoni to a
group of players whose 11-71 record last season nearly broke the
NBA record for futility.
Rumor mill says: LaFrentz is already available to the highest
bidder (Rick Pitino?).

DETROIT PISTONS
---------------
Players under contract (8): Grant Hill, Lindsey Hunter, Eric
Montross, Charles O'Bannon, Scot Pollard, Don Reid, Brian
Williams, Jerome Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Bonzi Wells, Korleone Young.
Key free agents: Jerry Stackhouse, Malik Sealy, Grant Long.
When lockout ends: Figure out if Stackhouse is retainable, then
pick up a power forward such as Tom Gugliotta, Matt Geiger or
Derrick Coleman.
Rumor mills says: Pistons were intent on getting Laettner until
he blew out his Achilles tendon.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
---------------------
Players under contract (10): Muggsy Bogues, Bimbo Coles, Erick
Dampier, Tony Delk, Duane Ferrell, Adonal Foyle, Todd Fuller,
Donyell Marshall, Felton Spencer, Latrell Sprewell.
Unsigned rookies: Antawn Jamison.
Key free agents: Jim Jackson, Jason Caffey, Clarence
Weatherspoon.
When the lockout ends: Work out a trade of Sprewell before he
shows up to training camp to be coached by P.J. Carlesimo.
Rumor mill says: Pacers, Heat and Spurs the leading Sprewell
contenders.

HOUSTON ROCKETS
---------------
Players under contract (4): Hakeem Olajuwon, Brent Price, Rodrick
Rhodes, Roy Rogers.
Unsigned rookies: Michael Dickerson, Bryce Drew, Mirsad Turkcan,
Cuttino Mobley.
Key free agents: Charles Barkley, Mario Elie, Matt Maloney, Eddie
Johnson, Emanual Davis, Matt Bullard, Othella Harrington.
When the lockout ends: Start spending about $15 million in salary
cap room, making a heavy pitch to Antonio McDyess.
Rumor mill says: They have cooled on earlier plans to go after
Rod Strickland or Scottie Pippen.

INDIANA PACERS
--------------
Players under contract (9): Austin Croshere, Antonio Davis, Dale
Davis, Mark Jackson, Derrick McKey, Reggie Miller, Chris Mullin,
Jalen Rose, Haywoode Workman.
Unsigned rookies: Al Harrington.
Key free agents: Rik Smits, Travis Best, Mark West, Fred Hoiberg.
When lockout ends: Take care of Smits, who made $4 million last
season in the final year of a five-year contract.
Rumor mill says: Dale Davis will be traded almost immediately.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
--------------------
Players under contract (10): Keith Closs, Lamond Murray, Eric
Piatkowski, Pooh Richardson, James Robinson, Rodney Rogers,
Charles Smith, Maurice Taylor, Stojko Vrankovic, Lorenzen Wright.
Unsigned rookies: Michael Olowokandi, Brian Skinner.
Key free agents: Loy Vaught, Isaac Austin, Darrick Martin.
When the lockout ends: Hire a coach to replace the fired Bill
Fitch. The latest supposed leading contender is assistant coach
Jim Brewer.
Rumor mill says: Olowokandi considering $7 million offer to play
in Turkey.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS
------------------
Players under contract (9): Tony Battie, Corie Blount, Kobe
Bryant, Elden Campbell, Derek Fisher, Robert Horry, Eddie Jones,
Shaquille O'Neal, Sean Rooks.
Unsigned rookies: Sam Jacobsen, Tyronn Lue, Ruben Patterson.
Key free agents: Rick Fox, Mario Bennett.
When lockout ends: Try to find a taker for Campbell, whose
seven-year, $49 million contract has a kicker clause that makes
it go even higher if he is dealt.
Rumor mill says: Can't get Chris Webber, might try for Charles
Oakley.

MIAMI HEAT
----------
Players under contract (8): P.J. Brown, Duane Causwell, Tim
Hardaway, Voshon Lenard, Dan Majerle, Jamal Mashburn, Terry
Mills, Alonzo Mourning.
Unsigned rookies: Corey Brewer.
Key free agents: Keith Askins, Brent Barry, Marty Conlon, Eric
Murdock, Mark Strickland.
When lockout ends: Before beginning Camp Riley, try to pull off a
trade to find another scorer.
Rumor mill says: Brown and Mashburn could be dealt to Golden
State for Sprewell or to Boston for Walker.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS
---------------
Players under contract (10): Ray Allen, Terrell Brandon, Michael
Curry, Armon Gilliam, Tyrone Hill, Jerald Honeycutt, Ervin
Johnson, Andrew Lang, Elliot Perry, Glenn Robinson.
Unsigned rookies: Robert Traylor, Rafer Alston.
Key free agents: None.
When lockout ends: Move into the George Karl era and play a
Sonics-type style, finally learning if Glenn Robinson will play
defense.
Rumor mill says: Brandon no longer wants to leave when his
contract expires at end of upcoming season.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
----------------------
Players under contract (7): Chris Carr, Bill Curley, Kevin
Garnett, Paul Grant, Stephon Marbury, Anthony Peeler, Micheal
Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Andrae Patterson, Radoslav Nesterovic.
Key free agents: Tom Gugliotta, Sam Mitchell, Tom Hammonds,
Cherokee Parks, Stanley Roberts, Terry Porter.
When lockout ends: If Marbury can be signed to a long-term
contract, if may preclude the Wolves from retaining Gugliotta.
Rumor mill says: Marbury fired agent Eric Fleisher and hired
David Falk because of a sneaker contract that fell through.

NEW JERSEY NETS
---------------
Players under contract (10): Michael Cage, Sam Cassell, Brian
Evans, Chris Gatling, Kendall Gill, Lucious Harris, Kerry
Kittles, Don MacLean, Rony Seikaly, Keith Van Horn.
Unsigned rookies: None.
Key free agents: Jayson Williams, Sherman Douglas.
When lockout ends: Come to Williams with a lucrative offer or
risk offending him and then losing him. Try to lock up Kittles.
Rumor mill says: Chances better than 50-50 that coach John
Calipari leaves after one more season.

NEW YORK KNICKS
---------------
Players under contract (10): Marcus Camby, Chris Childs, Terry
Cummings, Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, Chris
Mills, John Starks, Buck Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Demarco Johnson, Oded Kattash.
Key free agents: Charlie Ward, Chris Dudley, Herb Williams.
When lockout ends: Re-sign Ward, who could be courted by the
Toronto Raptors, or make a trade for another point guard.
Rumor mill says: Knicks will offer Ward less money than they are
paying Childs. Camby has added 20 pounds of muscle.

ORLANDO MAGIC
-------------
Players under contract (5): Nick Anderson, Horace Grant, Penny
Hardaway, Charles Outlaw, Johnny Taylor.
Unsigned rookies: Keon Clark, Michael Doleac, Matt Harpring,
Miles Simon.
Key free agents: Derek Strong, Gerald Wilkins, Darrell Armstrong,
David Benoit, Kevin Edwards, Derek Harper, Danny Schayes.
When lockout ends: Decide if Hardaway and coach Chuck Daly will
ever get along. If not, trade Hardaway.
Rumor mill says: Penny doesn't know what the Larry Bird exception
is.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
------------------
Players under contract (6): Allen Iverson, Aaron McKie, Anthony
Parker, Eric Snow, Tim Thomas, Scott Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Larry Hughes, Nazr Mohammed, Casey Shaw.
Key free agents: Derrick Coleman, Theo Ratliff, Joe Smith, Mark
Davis, Benoit Benjamin, Brian Shaw.
When lockout ends: Re-signing Ratliff is the first priority, and
chances of keeping Smith at an affordable price have increased.
Rumor mill says: Team president Pat Croce spent summer bungee
jumping.

PHOENIX SUNS
------------
Players under contract (5): Mark Bryant, Jason Kidd, Danny
Manning, Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells.
Unsigned rookies: Pat Garrity, Toby Bailey.
Key free agents: Antonio McDyess, Rex Chapman, Hot Rod Williams,
Cliff Robinson, Dennis Scott, George McCloud, Marko Milic.
When lockout ends: Find out a way to spend about $17 million in
cap room, including whether it's a good risk to sign Pippen after
he underwent back surgery.
Rumor mill says: Will be drawn into a bidding war with Rockets
for McDyess.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
----------------------
Players under contract (9): Stacey Augmon, Kelvin Cato, John
Crotty, Brian Grant, Jermaine O'Neal, Isaiah Rider, Carlos
Rogers, Rasheed Wallace, Walt Williams.
Unsigned rookies: None.
Key free agents: Damon Stoudamire, Arvydas Sabonis.
When lockout ends: Take care of both free agents and explore the
possibility of trading Grant since Wallace plays the same
position.
Rumor mill says: Grant could be going to Boston.

SACRAMENTO KINGS
----------------
Players under contract (6): Tariq Abdul-Wahad, Terry Dehere,
Lawrence Funderburke, Chris Robinson, Predrag Stojakovic, Chris
Webber.
Unsigned rookies: Jason Williams, Jerome James.
Key free agents: Corliss Williamson, Michael Stewart, Billy
Owens, Olden Polynice, Anthony Johnson.
When lockout ends: Webber's old college coach, Steve Fisher, will
be an assistant coach. Many curious to see a Williams-Stojakovic
backcourt as the post-Richmond era begins.
Rumor mill says: Teams clamoring for Williams, a rookie from
Florida.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS
-----------------
Players under contract (7): Antonio Daniels, Tim Duncan, Sean
Elliott, Avery Johnson, Will Perdue, Chuck Person, David
Robinson.
Unsigned rookies: Derrick Dial.
Key free agents: Vinny Del Negro, Jaren Jackson, Malik Rose,
Monty Williams, Willie Burton.
When lockout ends: Try again to make the Latrell Sprewell trade
that was nearly consummated last season before Sprewell was
suspended.
Rumor mill says: Elliott a goner.

SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
-------------------
Players under contract (6): Vin Baker, Hersey Hawkins, Jim
McIlvaine, Gary Payton, Detlef Schrempf, Aaron Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Vladimir Stepania, Rashard Lewis, Jelani McCoy.
Key free agents: Dale Ellis, Sam Perkins, Greg Anthony, Jerome
Kersey.
When lockout ends: Begin the post-Karl era, with Paul Westphal
stepping in as coach to replace a former coach who was popular
with the players and fans.
Rumor mill says: Westphal had to OK Payton missing practices
before Payton gave him the thumbs-up.

TORONTO RAPTORS
---------------
Players under contract (10): Chauncey Billups, Dee Brown, Doug
Christie, Tracy McGrady, Charles Oakley, Reggie Slater, John
Thomas, John Wallace, Kevin Willis, Sharone Wright.
Unsigned rookies: Vince Carter, Sean Marks, Tyson Wheeler.
Key free agents: Gary Trent, Oliver Miller, Alvin Williams.
When lockout ends: Decide if they want to trade Oakley and
Christie immediately or wait until the deadline, whenever that
may be.
Rumor mill says: Heavy interest in Oakley from Western Conference
teams.

UTAH JAZZ
---------
Players under contract (10): Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley,
Greg Foster, Jeff Hornacek, Adam Keefe, Karl Malone, Greg
Ostertag, Bryon Russell, John Stockton, Jacque Vaughn.
Unsigned rookies: Torraye Braggs.
Key free agents: Chris Morris, Antoine Carr.
When lockout ends: Go back to being the team to beat in the West,
try to summon some heart if they make it to the Finals again.
Rumor mill says: Malone has promised to boycott Salt Lake City
media.

VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES
-------------------
Players under contract (10): Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Pete Chilcutt,
Carl Herrera, Bobby Hurley, Sam Mack, Tony Massenburg, Lee
Mayberry, Bryant Reeves, Michael Smith, Doug West.
Unsigned rookies: Mike Bibby, Felipe Lopez, J.R. Henderson.
Key free agents: George Lynch, Larry Robinson.
When lockout ends: Try to soothe the feelings of Bibby, who did
not want to be sent north of the border. Use cap room to entice
someone, anyone, to the league's most remote outpost.
Rumor mill says: Michael Jordan says Bibby is "Jason Kidd with a
jump shot."

WASHINGTON WIZARDS
------------------
Players under contract (8): Calbert Cheaney, Juwan Howard, Tim
Legler, Tracy Murray, Mitch Richmond, Otis Thorpe, Chris Whitney,
Lorenzo Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Jahidi White.
Key free agents: Rod Strickland, Gheorghe Muresan, Darvin Ham,
Harvey Grant, Ben Wallace, God Shammgod, Terry Davis.
When lockout ends: If rumors are true that Strickland has fallen
off of other teams' wish lists, he can be re-signed at a
reasonable cost. Figure out who plays the pivot.
Rumor mill says: Ham showed major improvement in so-called
"lockout League" in Houston.