Smith Smith mentions Mercer

[DJessen33@aol.com]

Why trade Mercer for Mashburn or Stackhouse when Acie Earl is available?

DJessen33

NBA REPORT/SAM SMITH
Penny-pinching Bulls could afford Hardaway
June 20, 1999 
Does the fact that the Knicks made the NBA Finals change the Bulls' 
plans about rebuilding?

You know, if they could get there, why can't we?

With Miami beaten early and Indiana looking old and tired, there are 
about a dozen teams in the Eastern Conference now believing they can get 
to the Finals, that it doesn't take much amid pathetically weak 
competition. And the Knicks have done most of it without Patrick Ewing. 
Two off-season deals and they're a contender.

So do the Bulls make a pitch for Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway?

Hardaway is out in Orlando. Forget what new coach Doc Rivers says, 
management has had it with him. But he's still a talent and could return 
to full health next season after his first injury-free season since 
1995-96. Back then, who ever would have thought the Bulls could get 
Hardaway.

Now they can. Along with the Clippers and Toronto, the Bulls will be far 
enough under the salary cap to offer Hardaway a maximum $68 million deal 
over six years.

Hardaway could earn $85 million over seven if he re-signs with the Magic 
and then is traded. He has made that more difficult by officially opting 
out of his contract, meaning teams cannot negotiate with him until July 
1.

The Suns have substantial interest and reportedly want to deal their 
first-round pick (No. 9), plus Danny Manning and Pat Garrity, but not 
Tom Gugliotta. Now there's talk Hardaway wants to go to Toronto to play 
with buddy Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter. The Raptors have the No. 5 
pick, which Orlando wants, and Toronto could absorb most of Hardaway's 
salary and give up only Doug Christie.

But maybe the Bulls should make a run to competitiveness now instead of 
waiting for a shot at Grant Hill after next season.

With the No. 1 pick, the Bulls take, say, Elton Brand or Wally 
Szczerbiak, add Hardaway, sign center/power forward Dragan Tarlac, with 
whom they've been negotiating, keep Toni Kukoc, who would be more 
valuable with a good team, and also have the No. 16 pick.

It's certainly a risk because Hardaway did not handle being the No. 1 
star in Orlando after Shaquille O'Neal left. But he is talented, and the 
East is not. Remember, with Hardaway and spare pieces like Darrell 
Armstrong, the Magic tied for the best record in the East this season.

Size matters: The Bulls may have moved a step closer to taking Brand 
with the No. 1 pick after Brand measured 6 feet 8 inches in bare feet at 
the Chicago draft camp last week. With a 7-5 horizontal reach and a 
vertical reach of more than 9 feet, Brand ranked with the 7-footers.

Northwestern's Evan Eschmeyer measured 6-11 1/2 without shoes, and his 
vertical reach was the same as Brand's. Steve Francis was 6-2 1/2, 
slightly smaller than advertised, and Szczerbiak was 6-7 without shoes, 
good size for a small forward who can shoot.

Over there: King High School product Rashard Griffith showed up at the 
Bucks' mini-camp last week and may finally come to the NBA. Drafted in 
the second round in 1995, the 6-11, 24-year-old center has played 
overseas, starring on championship teams in Israel and Turkey, where he 
was a two-time league MVP. "I want to be here. There's no doubt about 
that," Griffith said. "It would be a perfect situation."

For the Bucks as well; they're desperate for a post presence. But coach 
George Karl warns, "I don't think he's a starting center tomorrow. If he 
committed himself to being an NBA player, then there's a good chance he 
could be an NBA player."

Griffith says he has grown comfortable overseas. His father, Clinton, 
lives with him, and he has American food shipped over and drives a Ford 
Expedition.

Over Heard: Maybe what Washington needs is a boring guy. The Wizards 
weren't thrilled about Gar Heard being named coach--Rod Strickland and 
Juwan Howard lobbied for Isiah Thomas. But Heard, who joked about being 
a candidate in the newspapers for years without ever getting called by 
teams, said it's not about being well-known. "A bigger-name coach comes 
in and sells tickets for 10 games, then goes 0-10, then what?"

A former interim coach in Dallas, Heard was an assistant in Detroit, 
Indiana and most recently Philadelphia. His playing career included one 
season with the Bulls (1972-73).

"If I were a coach or general manager and I wanted to pick a guy to 
play, I'd pick Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) or Isiah Thomas instead of Gar 
Heard," he said. "But we're talking about a coach. I've been around long 
enough to know if you win, (fans) come out."

Heard said he'll ask management to re-sign Mitch Richmond, who Heard 
acknowledges is "aging a little bit," but is probably the best free 
agent on the market.

Do as I . . . Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, presiding over his own 
potentially volatile group, had to laugh at how the Trail Blazers, 
praised for their depth and unselfishness all season, disintegrated once 
they started losing. We'll see about the Knicks.

Van Gundy said: "All those 'team' guys giving up their minutes, 'Boy, I 
love this team,' and then they lose two in a row and it's '(forget) the 
team, I want my minutes, give me shots, trade my butt . . . I'm 
leaving.' Come on. Unselfishness is always tested in adversity. 
Portland, you look at that and it's like, 'I'm all for sacrifice unless 
it's me.' "

Gather no Moss: Lamar Odom's return to the draft poses a dilemma for the 
Bulls, because VP Jerry Krause emphasized "character" when the Bulls won 
the top pick. Charlotte General Manager Bob Bass suggests he'll take 
Odom if the 6-10 forward falls to No. 3.

"We've got to remember Randy Moss," Bass said. "Everyone missed on him, 
and he turned out to be a great player."

We're No. 2: Rumors continue to circulate about Vancouver dealing its 
No. 2 pick, perhaps to the 76ers for Theo Ratliff. Philadelphia coach 
Larry Brown said he also is interested in reacquiring Derrick Coleman 
from Charlotte. Senior management voted to buy out Coleman's contract 
last year, and Brown is not about to change their opinion.

Fast breaks: Dennis Rodman's Hollywood agent has been sending letters to 
teams saying Rodman wants to play next season, but in a warm climate. . 
. . Close call for Magic forward Derek Strong, who went in for "routine" 
surgery to repair a broken nose last week. He developed a hyperthermia 
condition from the anesthesia and nearly died, doctors said. His 
temperature went to 107, and he was wrapped in ice and given 
body-cooling drugs to save his life. He is reported doing well and 
expected to make a full recovery. . . . Ron Mercer continues to be one 
of the most available players. There has been talk the Celtics would 
take Jerry Stackhouse from Detroit or Jamal Mashburn from Miami for him.