From Dallas Morning News

[Josh Ozersky <josh_ozersky@yahoo.com>]

 Mavs seeking deal for Celtics' Mercer 
Nelson floats exchange for Walker

07/30/99

By Marc Stein / The Dallas Morning News

Free-agent signings start Sunday in the NBA, and the
Mavericks' plans don't stop with retaining Gary Trent
and Cedric Ceballos.

Coach-general manager Don Nelson revealed Thursday
that he is also pursuing Boston's Ron Mercer in a
sign-and-trade deal that would send Samaki Walker to
the Celtics.

"There is some work that still needs to be done, but
we're looking at it," Nelson said. "If that's what
Samaki wants - which is what I think he wants - we'd
be willing to do that if it can be worked out."

Walker - who fell out of favor with Nelson after
rejecting a four-year, $20 million contract extension
- is one of Dallas' four free-agent forwards, along
with Trent, Ceballos and A.C. Green. Mercer,
ironically, was drafted by Boston in 1997 with the
unprotected lottery pick (No. 6) it received from the
Mavericks in a 1996 swap featuring Walker, Eric
Montross and the Celtics' Antoine Walker.

Nelson admits a sign-and-trade deal "can't be easily
done," because Samaki Walker would first have to agree
on contract terms with the Celtics and sign that deal
with the Mavericks. Boston, also expected to demand a
first-round draft pick in such an exchange, would then
have to offer a player (or players) with salary-cap
numbers matching Walker's new wage.

Boston has been openly shopping Mercer, the
ex-Kentucky standout whose negotiations for an
extension with the Celtics quickly got ugly. If the
trade can be completed, the Mavericks would inherit
Mercer's demands for new contract - reportedly more
than the $42 million over five years Michael Finley
received from Dallas.

Mercer, a 6-7 shooting guard, averaged 15.9 points on
44.3-percent shooting in his first two seasons and
will earn roughly $2.3 million in 1999-2000 before
becoming a free agent next summer. He would force the
Mavericks to shift Finley to small forward, with Dirk
Nowitzki backing up Mercer, Finley and - Nelson hopes
- a re-signed Trent. It's doubtful the Mavericks would
also have room for Ceballos.

The Celtics held a private workout with Walker
recently, and agent Norm Nixon said Monday that "it's
pretty certain Samaki's not going to be back" with the
Mavericks.
 

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