Povtak: Penny Interest Soaring

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

Same stuff, except Walker mentioned...



            Penny Hardaway interest is soaring
            Tim Povtak 
            of The Orlando Sentinel Staff
            Published in The Orlando Sentinel on June 6, 1999.
            There hasn't been this much interest in Penny Hardaway since he came 
            out of Memphis State six years ago.
            Hardaway's pending free agency this summer -- and the Magic's 
            apparent willingness to part with him -- has teams throughout the 
            NBA quietly doing extensive research on his background.
            People like Brian Hill, Richie Adubato and Chuck Daly -- all former 
            coaches of his -- are getting numerous calls from other teams now 
            asking their opinions of Hardaway.
            Rarely does a player of his talent become available in the prime of 
            his career, and that availability has touched off some interesting 
            discussions as teams plot their off-season strategies.
            "Right now I have a book on [Hardaway]," said Boston Celtics Coach 
            Rick Pitino. "If there is ever any trade possibility, you want to be 
            able to weigh all the positives and negatives. But right now we're 
            not even at that stage."
            Pitino is like a lot of coaches in the NBA. He has heard all the 
            stories about the difficulties of coaching Hardaway, but he also has 
            seen the incredible talent he has. He is intrigued by the 
            possibility, but he also knows there are heavy costs involved, so 
            the more homework the better.
            Pitino wants to know more before he pulls the trigger on any 
            sign-and-trade deal that could involve losing either Ron Mercer or 
            Antoine Walker, two players he likes.
            During the recent ceremony in Boston honoring former Celtic great 
            Bill Russell, Magic Vice President Julius Erving was there. And 
            Pitino asked him a dozen questions about Hardaway.
            The Chicago Bulls, although saying they have very little interest, 
            have been making dozens of calls to people regarding Hardaway. They 
            are the only team in the league now with enough salary cap room to 
            sign him as a free agent. Most of the other interested teams would 
            have to trade for him after the Magic re-sign him.
            "If Orlando is going to let Hardaway go, then they would probably 
            call us," said Pitino. "They'd probably call 10 other teams, too."
            * * * 


          

                 © 1999 Orlando Sentinel Online