Sam Smith On Upcoming Trades - Baker, Duncan

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

Sam's still thinking those grandiose thoughts - says the Bulls are
interested in signing Duncan and Grant Hill next season.  Of the
proposed Baker trade, he says Chicago would get more draft picks,
but Baker is leaning toward staying sleepless in Seattle, and Detroit
had a wee bit of a weed problem....


            Chicago Tribune
            Sam Smith/NBA Report
            Run for cover: Trade winds starting to blow



            July 25, 1999 
            SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- NBA teams once again can begin signing free 
            agents and making trades starting Aug. 1.
            Atlanta's Steve Smith, in Puerto Rico with the U.S. team for the 
            Olympic qualifying tournament, looks like he'll have a new address.
            "I don't know what's going on, but I've heard all the trade rumors," 
            Smith said.
            Smith, whose backcourt partner Mookie Blaylock was traded to Golden 
            State in June, has been rumored to be going to Portland for perhaps 
            Isaiah Rider and Kelvin Cato or Jim Jackson.
            Players here also have been gossiping about a Mitch Richmond 
            sign-and-trade deal to Seattle.
            "It's not a wild rumor," insisted Gary Payton, who has lobbied for 
            Richmond.
            But it seems unlikely since the Sonics don't want to give up Horace 
            Grant, whom the Wizards have talked about, and Seattle may sign 
            Vernon Maxwell.
            U.S. player Vin Baker of Seattle is a free agent and has talked 
            about going to Boston. There have been rumors of a deal for Antoine 
            Walker with a third team needed to facilitate the trade for salary 
            cap reasons. It has been said to be the Bulls, who would get more 
            draft picks. But Baker is believed to be leaning toward staying in 
            Seattle while another top free agent, Minnesota's Terrell Brandon, 
            has been negotiating with the Timberwolves to stay.
            Meanwhile, Charles Barkley, aware of the uncertainty in Houston 
            regarding Scottie Pippen and Hakeem Olajuwon, has contacted the 
            Lakers, SuperSonics and Jazz about perhaps signing for the $2 
            million salary cap exception.
            The consensus seemed to be free agent Charles Oakley would sign with 
            the Lakers, but the Hawks are making a big push after the one-time 
            Bull.
            The Hawks, through a trade with Detroit, have a $4.4 million salary 
            cap exception in addition to their $2 million exception. Meanwhile, 
            Nets forward Jayson Williams is lobbying Oakley to sign with the 
            Nets.
            Big men appear most in demand as the Rockets are going after the 
            Clippers' Rodney Rogers, and the Knicks are among several teams 
            pursuing Washington's Otis Thorpe.
            What about the Bulls? Chicago is pretty much out of the free agent 
            market for the coming season. Which is not as bad as it seems.
            The team won't be much better next season than it was last season. 
            But which free agent from this crop was going to turn the team 
            around? Baker, who couldn't make half his free throws last season? 
            Hardaway, who has clashed with management and coaches and been 
            injured in recent years? Brandon, injury-prone and less than 6 feet 
            tall?
            The Bulls would be better served to wait until next year when two 
            superstars may be looking to relocate.
            Detroit's Grant Hill has yet to get out of the first round of the 
            playoffs, and there are questions whether the Pistons can even make 
            the playoffs this season.
            Now a Detroit newspaper has quoted several anonymous sources on the 
            team saying a half-dozen Pistons used marijuana last season and four 
            players did so during the first-round playoff loss to the Hawks. 
            Team officials said they had no knowledge of drug use.
            And then there's Tim Duncan. He is generally regarded as the best 
            player in the NBA.
            But it appears Spurs teammate Sean Elliott's career is over because 
            of the need for a kidney transplant. David Robinson has had injury 
            problems, is 34 and his contract expires after the 2000-01 season. 
            He probably will retire then.
            Plus, there are questions about the fate of the Spurs franchise with 
            the need for a new arena and practice facility and suitors from 
            other cities trying to buy the team.
            All of that could send Duncan looking for a new team, and the 
            Bulls--and only the Bulls--could be in position after next season to 
            pay the maximum salary to both Hill and Duncan.
            Which would make any team a contender instantly. With Elton Brand on 
            board and another top draft pick after next season, the Bulls could 
            make an impressive pitch to both.