RE: Mitch Lawrence On The Prospective Free Agents

[Gregory Odegaard <grodeg@kalama.com>]

I was clearing out some old messages and found this one.  I would suggest we all save it as reference, but more importantly does anyone know if there are any other FA's available for sure this off season, big name or not?  Does P. Benders site list FA's or any other?  What I am getting at is even with our 2 exemptions who is available at all?  I thought maybe Alvin Williams or Yogi Stewart from Toronto, but maybe they have multi-year deals.

Quite a crop of stars.  My votes for Bo Outlaw, but seeing this list he will probably win the sweepstakes prize this year.   Like pitching in baseball the talent pool keeps getting thinner every year, this with a new generation of kids apparently growing up on these sports.

Happy hunting, and let's hope Brian and Karl can make nice tonight,
Greg



Mitch Lawrence - New York Daily News
            5/9/99

            Nothing's for Free 
            <snips>
            ATLANTA 

            ouble-dribbling while wondering what Michael Jordan will be doing 
            today at 5:30 p.m. And Dennis Rodman, too:
            Clip and save the following list of top free agents for this summer. 
            First, some points of interest:
            Three stars - Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson and Penny Hardaway - 
            have opt-out clauses in their contracts. A fourth big-name player, 
            Dikembe Mutombo, also can opt out if he chooses. But all four could 
            lose millions if they exercise their options.
            The Bulls, Clippers and Jazz will have the most money to spend, all 
            with the ability to be $20 million under the $34 million salary cap. 
            The Bulls and Clips are facing their own particular problems. All 
            the young players the Bulls covet - starting with Kevin Garnett and 
            continuing this past winter with Antonio McDyess, Antoine Walker and 
            Stephon Marbury - have gotten big deals and aren't on the market. As 
            for the Clippers, who would want to play for that franchise, even if 
            they're moving into the new Staples Arena? Half the Jazz, including 
            Karl Malone, John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek, are free. So expect 
            Utah to spend its money re-upping its own players.
            Teams can start negotiating with all free agents - their own or from 
            other teams - on July 1. But the formal signing period doesn't start 
            until Aug. 1, a month later than normal.
            Shandon Anderson ($1.3 million): Utah will re-sign.
            Vin Baker ($4.3 mil): Although Sonics have to revamp team, they gave 
            up too much (Shawn Kemp) to lose Baker.
            Charles Barkley ($1 mil): Already has wink-wink deal with Rockets.
            Terrell Brandon ($6.3 mil): Had a hand-shake deal when he came in 
            three-way trade, but T-wolves are down on defense and brittle body.
            Chuck Brown ($850,000): A Paul Silas favorite who could wind up in 
            Orlando if Magic lose Bo Outlaw.
            Calbert Cheaney ($4 mil): Wizards don't care if he leaves.
            Erick Dampier ($1.5 mil): Warriors looking to re-sign.
            Dale Davis ($4 mil): After the deal Jayson Williams got, Davis, with 
            opt out, probably thinks he can do better than the $4.9 mil he's 
            scheduled to make next season.
            Sherman Douglas ($2.5 mil): Clips and ex-Net agree on one thing: 
            He's leaving. 
            A.C. Green ($5.1 mil): If Pat Riley needs board/inside help, could 
            be Miami-bound.
            Penny Hardaway ($8.5 mil): Why do you think Jerry Krause will be 
            watching all the Magic playoff games on his dish?
            Ron Harper ($5.3 mil): He's gone, and he's not getting a night in 
            the United Center, either.
            Hersey Hawkins ($3.6 mil): Sonics want to get younger, will let 
            "Hawk" fly coop.
            Jeff Hornacek ($3.5): Staying put.
            Dan Majerle ($3.3 mil): Riley loves him because he always plays in 
            pain. 
            Karl Malone ($6.1 mil): Finally gets his money. Has agreed to 
            four-year extension worth $16 mil per. 
            Dikembe Mutombo ($11.2 mil): They can board up the new Philips Arena 
            if he leaves.
            Charles Oakley ($10 mil): Raptors will be $12 million under cap. You 
            can buy a lot of car-wash franchises with that much money.
            Shaquille O'Neal ($15 mil): Win-win situation: If he opts out, the 
            most he can re-sign for is $15.75 mil (105% of current salary). If 
            he stays, he gets $17.1 mil.
            Bo Outlaw ($1.15 mil): Already seen as hot commodity. Magic will 
            make major push to keep, since they believe his energy is a key. 
            J.R. Reid ($780,000): One scout's opinion: "He's the next Derrick 
            Coleman - he'll get overpaid by a bad team."
            Glen Rice ($5.4 mil): He's got a deal already in Laker-land, but 
            don't be surprised if he's signed and immediately traded.
            Mitch Richmond ($2.5 mil): Bought a house in Fort Lauderdale. 
            Renting in D.C. area. Golden State thinks it has a shot because of 
            friendship with Garry St. Jean.
            Rodney Rogers ($3 mil): Someone will take gamble that he'll play 
            better when he's with better players.
            David Robinson ($14.8 mil): The Alamo leaves San Antonio before he 
            does.
            Detlef Schrempf ($3.3 mil): It's time to go.
            Joe Smith ($1 mil): Has a deal in Minnesota which kicks in after 
            next season.
            John Stockton ($4 mil): What do you think?
            Otis Thorpe ($4.4 mil): Buyer beware.
            Nick Van Exel ($1.9 mil): Has same agent as McDyess. Deal for Van 
            Exel was made when McDyess signed on dotted line.