Celtics Taking a Walk Around the Rumor Mill

[Vinny Natale <vnatale@map.com>]

Celtics Taking a Walk Around the Rumor Mill

NBAtalk Front | East Conf News | West Conf News | Injury Reports
Celtics Shopping Walker, Again. According to the Boston Globe, the Celtics 
Are Trying to Move Antoine Walker, and May Have a Buyer in Indiana. The 
Celtics are tiring of Antoine Walker's act and, at least according to one 
GM, he's back on the trading block. Walker, of course is difficult to move 
because he is a base year player. It will take a team under the cap, like 
Orlando or Chicago to get him. However, one team that might surface as a 
power broker is Indiana, which, you may recall, talked about a Walker- Dale 
Davis deal last summer. The Pacers have a $4.5 million trade exception, and 
a boatload of free agents including Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson, Austin 
Croshere, and Jalen Rose.
Missing Person According to the Morning Journal The Cavs Are Trying to Deal 
Wesley Person. The Cavs front office would like to make some moves to 
salvage the season. The question is, do they have a player anyone wants in 
return. They've shopped Wesley Person and Danny Ferry, but so far aren't 
getting even a nibble. Of course, Shawn Kemp has been shopped too, but a 
fat contract and fatter gut have scared away most. 'We didn't have blinders 
on. Even if we had Z, we thought we'd have some ups and downs. We're 
learning about the players we want long term and feel the will be a part of 
something going forward. You hope to get to the point of contending and 
being in an elite group.'
Wizards have Heard Enough according to the Washington Post, Michael Jordan 
dropped the ax on Gar Heard. It took 10 days for Michael Jordan to leave 
his mark. 10 days into his tenure he fired Gar Heard and will hire Ron 
Higgins (an assistant with the Warriors) as the new head coach of the 
Washington Wizards. 'I mentioned that when I became a member of the 
Washington Wizards that I would evaluate the team and the coaching staff,' 
Jordan said in the statement. 'I felt it was necessary to make a change at 
this time.' Wes Unseld was quick to point out that Jordan didn't make the 
decision alone, but the only decision Unseld made was to hire Heard in the 
first place. Heard, for his part was disappointed. 'It was a good ride,' 
Heard said. 'Unfortunately, I wasn't the guy that they wanted here. Michael 
had his own guy and that's how it goes. I hope the next guy that comes in 
here does a better job for them.' But that could just be the start of the 
changes the Wizards are about to undergo . . .
Strickland may be going, too according to the NY Post, Deal with Knicks is 
close. 'The Knicks and Wizards continue to discuss a trade that would 
return the native New Yorker to the team that drafted him later this week. 
As compensation, Washington would get Chris Childs, Kurt Thomas, John 
Wallace, Mirsad Turkcan and cash (as much as $3M) to help clear roster 
space by paying off people. Should the deal fall through, understand it 
won't be because the salaries involved are incompatible. Rather than 
subject you to the boring details, all you've got to know is that a third 
team is no longer required to make this work. Both the Knicks and Wizards, 
while conforming to league rules, would be able to absorb the obtained 
salaries on their respective caps.'
Handicapping Hughes According to the Philly Inquirer Don't Expect Larry 
Hughes to Be Moved After All Now that the Hughes for Mashburn fiasco has 
subsided the Sixers are contemplating keeping Hughes aboard, at least until 
this summer - or until the next flare up or decent offer. NBAtalk 
Interpretation: they could get more for him this summer and therefore they 
won't give him away, but he's gone if a decent deal comes along.