Wiz trade is brewin'

[peter delevett <pdelevett@amcity.com>]

Strickland pulled for undisclosed reasons
                          
Speaking of the Sonic, is it my imagination, or did I see them wearing red
uniforms on TV the other night?

                          
                          WASHINGTON -- Point guard Rod Strickland was yanked
from the Washington Wizards'
                          starting lineup for undisclosed reasons 45 minutes
before Wednesday night's game against
                          the Seattle Supersonics.

                          Earlier in the day, Washington announced that
shooting guard Mitch Richmond would miss
                          Wednesday's game because of a sore left knee.
Richmond is expected to be ready for
                          Friday's home game against Miami.

                          Rookie Richard Hamilton, the seventh overall pick in
June's NBA draft,
                          started in place of Richmond, while Chris Whitney
was inserted for
                          Strickland.

                          Wes Unseld, Washington's executive vice president
and general manager,
                          said Strickland was removed from the starting lineup
following a decision by
                          Wizards coach Gar Heard. Unseld would not elaborate
on the move.

                          Strickland was unavailable for comment. The decision
was announced after
                          the team's dressing room was closed to reporters
following pregame interviews.

                          Strickland and Richmond's struggles this season have
mirrored the Wizards' 1-3 start.
                          Strickland, who averaged 17.1 points per game
entering this season, is averaging only 12.3
                          through four games. Richmond, who is averaging 10.8
points per game, has connected only
                          37 percent of his field goal attempts.