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It's
Here!!!!. . . NBAtalk's
EXCLUSIVE Interview with NBA
Insider's Peter Vecsey (NY Post, TNT,
NBC), David Aldridge (ESPN) and
Mitch Lawrence (NY Daily News,
ESPN). They give us an in-depth inside look
at the life of an NBA insider, take some jabs at each
other, and give us their opinion on who will and who
won't be moved by the trade deadline. An
Absolute MUST READ for any serious NBA
fans.
The Celtics Blackmailed the
Raptors into Trading for Danny According to
the Toronto Sun Danny
Fortson's days as a Raptor may be numbered.
Apparently, the Celtics threatened to claim
Haywoode Workman off waivers if the
Raptors didn't trade Williams for Fortson. The
Raptors were welcome to oblige as they got the point
guard they wanted and could free up another $2 million
under the cap if they don't resign Fortson. 'The best
thing about it is that financially, we clear up $2
million (US) in salary-cap room for next summer,' said
Raptors coach Butch Carter, who was more enthusiastic
about getting Workman, suggesting Fortson could be moved
before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. For his part, Rick
Pitino was already backtracking. ``I know it's very
difficult,'' said Rick Pitino. ``People have a tendency
not to listen when sometimes you talk. I'll say it once
again. Ron Mercer, who people keep on
bringing up here, could not have been signed by us. It
was impossible. So we do the best we can. We got a
first-round draft pick, which is what we were after. And
that's the best we could get. ``Danny Fortson . . . we
did not feel we could sign him. And in this scenario we
feel we could not give him the minutes where it would be
worthwhile. So we're trying to get an asset, fulfill a
need of our basketball team and do the best we can with
the understanding of the luxury taxes that are coming in
to this league. And we are restricted by certain
boundaries, and we're doing the best to stay within our
boundaries and be able to field the best basketball
team. People just can't understand
that.'
Rice,
Kukoc Talks Getting Hot According to the
Chicago Tribune the Lakers
Just Added a Sweetner that May Get the Rice for Kukoc
Deal Done. Rice is sitting on the bench. Kukoc
is coming off it. Is something going on? The Lakers and
Bulls have been talking for some time about a Rice for
Kukoc trade, but it wasn't until the Lakers offered to
pick up Hersey Hawkins that talks have
gotten serious. Hawkins provides the Lakers with
another good spot up shooter and it gives the Bulls
another $4.6 million in cap room next year. So what's
the hold-up? The Bulls obviously won't keep Rice
and are shopping him around to see what they could get
in return. Think Larry Hughes
would like the spot light in
Chicago?
Warriors/Heat
Still Talking According to the San Jose
Mercury News the Warriors
and Heat are still talking about a possible John Stark
deal. ``One of the images in my mind is him
dribbling left off the pick and roll in Game 6,'' Riley
said of Starks' missed jumper in the 1995 NBA finals
that would have given the Knicks the championship. ``And
to this day every time I see John I (think), `John, why
couldn't (it go in and) you and I just sort of walked
off into the sunset?' '' Riley wouldn't talk directly
about potential trades but did say this about Starks'
game: ``I know that he's really competitive and if he
gets it going that you can't stop him,'' Riley said.
``It goes both ways with John. He's that kind of
player.'' While Gary St. Jean denied a published
three-way deal (Anthony Carter would be sent to Toronto,
Doug Christie and a Heat player would go to the Warriors
and John Starks would come to the Heat) he didn't rule
out a two-way trade with the Heat. ``You try to do the
right thing for the player, but the team comes first,''
St. Jean said.
Big trouble in Big D
According to the F-W Star Telegram Owners
giving Cuban a hard time. 'The sources said the
owners won't vote on Cuban's bid until March 1 at the
earliest. Cuban said he is aware the vote will not occur
this weekend, but declined further comment last night.
NBA owners have privately questioned Cuban's catering to
the Mavericks players.'
