Heat - Warriors Discussing Mashburn - Sprewell Six Player Deal

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

I'm looking forward to seeing Monster Mash on the C's which should
occur sometime after the completion of the Golden State - Miami trade...

         Published Thursday, January 14, 1999, in the Miami
                              Herald
         HEAT
         HEAT NOTEBOOK
        ----------------
                                              
        Sprewell deal
        could net Coles                      
                                            
        6-player trade                     
        among                                
        possibilities                       
                        
                                            
        By STEVE WYCHE
        Herald Sports                        
        Writer                               
                                            
        The Heat remains                    
        in the hunt to                     
        acquire Golden                    
        State guard
        Latrell
        Sprewell, and the teams may exchange a total of six
        players to make it happen, a source said Wednesday.

        Although nothing has been confirmed, the Warriors
        may be willing to send Sprewell, guard Bimbo Coles
        and forward Clarence Weatherspoon to the Heat for
        forwards Jamal Mashburn and Dan Majerle and guard
        Brent Barry.

        Should that deal materialize, Miami would acquire
        two starters -- a needed third scorer and a
        bruising rebounder -- and a high-quality backup in
        Coles, a former Heat player. (It's also possible
        Coles would not be included in the deal.) The
        Warriors would get potential starters in Barry and
        Mashburn and a quality backup in Majerle.

        Golden State also would be ridding itself of
        Sprewell, the talented but troubled guard who was
        suspended last season for attacking coach P.J.
        Carlesimo at practice.

        Barry and Weatherspoon are free agents and would
        have to be signed for at least three years for a
        trade to be possible.

        Weatherspoon's agent, Jimmy Sexton, said he has
        been in discussions with the Warriors about
        re-signing Weatherspoon, but the topic of a
        follow-up trade has ``not really'' been broached.

        ``We have let the Heat know that's where Clarence
        wants to be and where he wants to play,'' Sexton
        said. ``He's always liked Miami. He's a no-nonsense
        type worker. We're not sure what's going to take
        place, but I think we have to see what happens with
        Sprewell.''

        Warriors general manager Garry St. Jean has said he
        thinks he will have a trade for Sprewell set in the
        next few days. The Knicks, Heat, Pacers and Spurs
        are among the teams talking to Golden State about
        Sprewell.

        Deals can be reached in principle but not
        consummated. Teams are allowed to communicate with
        other teams and agents, but most conversations are
        preliminary because several fine points in the new
        collective bargaining agreement are still being
        finalized.

        Heat coach Pat Riley will not comment on the
        specifics of any deal.

        Camps, schedule delayed

        NBA training camps likely will not open until
        Tuesday, according to a league spokesman. Camps
        were expected to open Monday, but the new
        collective bargaining agreement may not be
        finalized by then. Also, the league may allow for
        the observance of Martin Luther King Day, which
        falls on Monday.

        The schedule likely won't be announced until three
        to four days after the lockout is fully lifted.

        <snip>

         

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