3-way deal - **IDEA**

[Warwick <giants@eisa.net.au>]

TRADE IDEA - NOT RUMOR - read on if interested....

Popeye Jones will be a sign-and-trade player. The Celtics will work a
three-team deal.

Celtics trade Popeye Jones (3 years, $8 mil) to the Dallas Mavericks who
then inturn trade Samaki Walker and Khalid Reeves to the Sacramento
Kings who then inturn sign-and-trade Michael Stewart to the Celtics.

Why does each team do this.

Celtics - They want Michael Stewart, but the Kings can sign him for as
much as he wants (cba rules  permitting). Stewart wants to play for the
Celtics, but realises that he is slightly out of his price range.

Dallas - They have made no secret that they want Popeye Jones. They also
have made no bones about trading one of their myriad of small guards
with Khalid Reeves being the most likely to go ($2.02 mil). Popeye is
out of their price range (they basically have no cap room). Samaki
Walker is a good player, but Popeye is more rounded off than him and can
contribute more. They also want to re-sign Kurt Thomas meaning that with
Green, Thomas and still wanting Jones the Mavs would have no playing
time for Walker.

Kings - Must get something that will help them in the future. With
Stewart possibly taking less than what it would take from the Celtics
(they must be thinking that) they want to upgrade their front court.
They also need a backup 4/5 and some help at guard. Walker would provide
solid backup to Webber and Divac (whose likely to sign with the Kings)
while Reeves would give them some of the help they require at guard.

Salary cap economics

Celtics lose - Popeye Jones $2.35 mil(??)
Celtics get - Michael Stewart $3 mil (??)

Mavericks lose - Khalid Reeves ($2 mil), Samaki Walker ($1.6mil) - $3.6
mil
Mavericks get - Popeye Jones (2.35 mil)

Kings lose - Michael Stewart $3.5 mil
Kings get - Khalid Reeves, Samaki Walker - $3.6 mil

It works out by the cap rules.

Celtics roster after both trades (Battie for Knight)

C - Stewart / DeClercq / Battie
PF - Walker / Battie / McCarty / DeClercq
SF - Pierce / McCarty / Bowen / Minor
SG - Mercer / Bowen / Minor
PG - Anderson / Barros

Warwick