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Profile Of NBA Teams
The article is truncated for some reason; only twenty or so teams are
profile.
However, Raef LaFrentz and Rick Pitino are mentioned in the same
sentence.
Chris Sheridan
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:@
<p> 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 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:@
<p> 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.<