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Celtics Aren't Getting Mark Strickland
Apparently both Brent Barry and Strickland are re-signing with Miami...
Published Tuesday, January 12, 1999, in the Miami
Herald
HEAT
Free agent wants
to remain in
Miami
By STEVE WYCHE
Herald Sports
Writer
At least
publicly,
free-agent guard
Brent Barry
wants to re-sign
with the Heat
and Miami wants
him on its
roster, not as a
pawn to make a
trade.
``We are not looking to sign and trade him,'' Heat
coach Pat Riley said. ``In all my conversations
with Brent, he has let me know he would be more
than willing, if we strike the right deal, to play
here. That's what we're going to be pursuing.''
Added Barry's agent, Arn Tellem: ``We've talked a
number of times recently, and the focus has been on
just signing Brent, not signing him for the
purposes of trading him.
``The ball's in Miami's court. We're waiting for
more specifics as far as contract numbers. When
that happens, we'll deal with what occurs next. If
they have plans to trade him, I'm sure [Heat
general manager] Randy Pfund would tell me. He has
not.''
Under the terms of the new collective bargaining
agreement, Barry could be paid as much as $9
million in the first year of his contract, with
annual raises of 12.5 percent. Tellem said he does
not expect his client to land such a lucrative
contract.
Although Riley says he wants Barry on the roster,
the Heat may still be working on deals that include
moving Barry, one of four Heat free agents not
working out at Miami's training facility Monday.
Barry could be trade bait in a deal to pick up
Golden State's Latrell Sprewell, Bimbo Coles or
Clarence Weatherspoon. The Warriors are trying to
acquire Barry.
To move Barry, Miami would have to sign him for at
least three years, based on the new collective
bargaining agreement.
Miami may not approach Tellem with the idea of a
sign-and-trade until it has assurances from another
team that a deal could be reached. The benefits of
such a move are twofold:
+ Barry could sign for more with the Heat than with
any other team because of the Larry Bird rule that
allows teams to exceed the salary cap to re-sign
their own free agents.
+ Miami could land a needed player in exchange for
Barry, who is desired by several teams.
Barry has told several players, some Heat teammates
and members of the media he did not expect to
re-sign with the Heat because he would rather play
in the more open-court style of many Western
Conference teams.
Tellem said Barry's true feelings are quite the
contrary. ``Brent was very happy in Miami, and he
would be delighted to stay in Miami,'' Tellem said.
``With Brent, some of the things he said, a lot of
it was his sense of humor. But Brent has
communicated to Randy Pfund what his true feelings
were. The organization is well aware that he would
be happy to return.''
Should the Heat keep Barry, he would compete with
incumbent shooting guard Voshon Lenard for the
starting spot and possibly be used as Tim
Hardaway's backup at point guard.
In other personnel moves, the Heat likely will
agree to terms with free-agent forward Mark
Strickland this week. Strickland's agent will be in
town Wednesday, and Riley said bringing back
Strickland is a priority.
``We value Mark,'' Riley said. ``He's a dedicated
worker, he has grown and we feel like he can really
help our team.''
Teams are allowed to reach deals in principle but
cannot make them official until the lockout
officially is lifted on or around Jan. 18.
The Heat also plans to come to terms with
free-agent forwards Keith Askins and Marty Conlon
in the next few days. Free-agent guard Rex Walters
is working out with the team and is expected to be
invited to training camp.
Riley said the Heat wants to retain backup point
guard Eric Murdock, but Murdock said he would
rather not play for the $662,000 minimum salary
Miami likely will offer him. Should the Heat extend
him its $1.75 million exception, he will return, he
said.
Murdock is working out at the Nets training
facility near his home in New Jersey. The Nets are
said to have Murdock as Plan B should they not be
able to re-sign free agent guard Sherman Douglas,
formerly of the Heat.
Miami also is talking with draft pick Corey Brewer,
who has spent the past few months playing with the
Grand Rapids Hoops of the Continental Basketball
Association. The Heat will tender him a one-year,
$287,000 contract -- the only deal allowed for
second-round draft picks -- in the next few days.
Brewer can either join the Heat and compete for the
backup point guard spot, or stay in the CBA and
become a free agent next season.
Riley also said he may bring in up to six free
agents -- either undrafted rookies, former CBA
players or European league refugees -- into
training camp, which will begin no later than
Jan. 18.
Herald sports writer Steve Wyche can be reached by
e-mail at swyche@herald.com
Copyright © 1999 The Miami Herald