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Peter Vecsey: Knicks Want Sprewell; Agents Don't Want Owners' Plan
Vecsey makes a good point about why the agents so detest the owners
plan.
He also notes that Denver is after Gugliotta...
[New York Post]
SPORTS
KNICKS WANT SPREWELL
By PETER VECSEY
------------------------------------------------------
IT'S astonishing how nasty and negative NBA
negotiations and the entangling mob turned this week.
And that's even before I had a chance to write.
Before squaring up the computer to take my customary
allotment of potshots, though, Knick fans might be
surprised to learn how eager management is to obtain
All Defendant First Team Latrell Sprewell from the
Warriors; a controversial move I unconditionally
endorse.
The thought of pairing the versatility of polished
Allan Houston and the energized Sprewell in the
backcourt invokes courtly visions of Walt Frazier and
Earl Monroe; neither a pure playmaker, but both able
to handle the ball and manhandle the defense.
For good measure, Sprewell's supernatural skills
include the capacity to body-up and sweat official
scorers. Of course, his attitude, off-beat approach
toward coaches, delusions of being victimized and
bent for filing frivolous law suits leaves a bit to
be desired.
Then again, from what I understand, David Stern has
joined forces with Sprewell in his litigation against
agent Arn Tellem.
Still, once he's back on the job, I'm convinced the
only ones Sprewell will terrorize again are
opponents. Now that he's been shocked into
remembering how tough life can be (as a have-not
growing up in Milwaukee) far away from the sounds of
cash registers, team charters and camaraderie,
they'll be no back talk from the backcourt, it says
here. Latrell's days of being a certified crimespree
- at least outside his car - are over.
If I were in charge of a playoff team (as long as
Chris Webber wasn't a member), you'd better believe
acquiring Sprewell would be a top priority. He's
loaded with every factory feature, he's just turned
28 and is utterly available.
Furthermore, who else can you name who's been able to
make such a smooth transition from lock-up to
lockout?
But enough of this giddiness. As every Knick fan can
testify, it's not as if New York has the resources to
box out the Spurs (Will Perdue and Sean Elliott),
Heat (Jamal Mashburn and Vashon Leonard) and probably
the Pacers (Dale Davis) for Sprewell's services.
That doesn't make it an impossibility; it just means
team president Ernie Grunfeld has to become
especially creative; somehow use a third team to get
the Warriors a couple goodies or that special someone
who's more appealing than what the Knicks have and
the competition is offering.
Face it, acquiring Terrell Brandon from the Bucks
doesn't look promising. Neither does figuring out a
way to make salary-cap room for free agent Rod
Strickland or sufficiently compensate the Wizards or
another team that signs him. Where else are the
capped-out Knicks going to find someone as succulent
as Sprewell?
OK, other than Rucker or Rikers?
Hey, and if things happen to unravel a tad at times
for Sprewell, think of how Cablevision could jack up
its rates by showcasing him on both Madison Square
Garden Network and Court TV. Think of the cross
promotion.
PHIL JACKSON tells me, despite Michael Jordan's vocal
union activity of late, he still thinks His Airness
plans to retire.
I don't know anything for sure, Jackson said. It's
nothing he's told me. It's an unspoken feeling I get
from talking with him. The only way I can see him
returning is if the schedule is reduced to 50-to-60
games. Other than that, I can't see him putting his
mind and body through the grind again.
Word up from LA: Kobe Bryant and Grant Hill, hanging
out together for much of the summer, played
one-on-one recently. First to 21. Hill notched six
... Look for the Hawks, $3 or $4 million under the
cap, to make a big push to sign free agent Rick Fox.
Although he loves the Lakers, they don't have the
money to satisfy him. The shift to Turner and Time
Warner certainly won't stunt Fox's movie career ...
No way Elden Campbell isn't traded before season
starts.
Antonio McDyess might've gotten as much as a $90M,
six-year extension from the Nuggets. Instead, he
forced a trade to the Suns and took a chance they'd
take of him this past summer. Now, no matter how the
new collective bargaining agreement plays out,
McDyess, said to have hired Master P as his agent to
replace Tellem, may well have blown a fortune. The
Suns can't pay him enough. Look for the Rockets to
try.
Why shouldn't we be surprised agents are opposed to
any deal that would limit salaries in any shape or
form? After all, why would the players, say Tim
Duncan, need an agent if he knew the maximum amount
of money he could earn on his next deal would be $7M
with 10 percent ($12M average) annual raises over six
years? Why would Scottie Pippen need an agent if he
knew the maximum he could get is $12M (and a $15M
average) using the same procedure?
Agents would become as extraneous as they are in
negotiating rookie contracts governed by a three-year
pay scale.
Fact is, all the players would really need in both
cases is a lawyer (paid by the hour vs. four percent
of the pact pocketed by the agent) to make sure his
client is completely protected.
Which reminds me, how come the union and the agents
are incontrovertibly against a hard salary, but they
have no problem with a maximum four percent charge
for negotiating players contracts? I thought the idea
is to make as much as you can?
Look for the Nuggets to make a strong bid for Tom
Gugliotta. After what he encountered the grief he
encountered during brief stay with the Warriors, I
can't see the free-agent forward joining another
losing team. Gugliotta is the kind of guy who'd take
less to stay in Minnesota if that would make him
happy. The thing is, I'm not so sure he's happy
playing with Stephon Marbury, no lock to stay put,
either.
Just about everybody I've talked to within the last
few days is disgusted and depressed regarding the
sharp turn downward that the CBA talks have taken.
What does the suddenly rigid stand by both parties
actually mean? Probably that they'll reach an
agreement when we least expect it.
How does Stern get it done? Simple. Offer Patrick
Union a championship ring.