Krause Trying to
Save Sinking Bulls According to the Daily Southtown,
Bulls operations chief Jerry
Krause has had serious talks with several teams, including Detroit,
Philadelphia and Vancouver, in an effort to acquire a proven scorer and a mobile
big man before next month's NBA trade deadline. The principal names in the
discussions with Detroit were Chucky Atkins and Joe
Smith of the Pistons, and Ron Artest, Corey
Benjamin, Marcus Fizer and Brad Miller
of the Bulls. The Grizzlies would like to acquire a first-round draft
pick in a deal that includes center Bryant Reeves and his six-year, $65 million
contract. The Bulls are one of the few teams that could meet their demands. Bulls
Rant | Pistons
Rant | Bulls
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Wolves Would Love to Get Claws on
Payton According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Flip Saunders remains
an unabashed fan of Gary Payton and the Wolves
may just try to put something together to go after Payton. Still at this
point it remains only speculation.'I never comment when I make calls, who I call
or when I call. I can't comment on guys who are under contract with somebody,'
Wolves coach Flip Saunders said Friday.'But if you're asking me if I
talked to Wally Walker or called him, no.' A Terrell
Brandon-for-Payton swap would work financially, if Minnesota included
another player or two. Under the collective bargaining agreement, if teams are
over the salary cap -- which both are -- the salary for one team can't be more
than 115 percent, plus $100,000, of what it gets in return. Brandon is making
$8.3 million this season. Payton is making $12.2 million. However, a source within the Sonics told NBAtalk yesterday that
there was NO WAY the Sonics would trade Payton for
Brandon. The source said that IF the Sonics decided to
trade Payton, and they are no where close to making that decision, it wouldn't
be for an overpaid point guard who, unlike Payton who missed only the third game
of his career with the suspension, is hurt all of the time. Meanwhile, according
to the Seattle Times, Gary Payton's public remarks yesterday conveying
contrition convinced the Sonics to limit his suspension to one game, but Sonic
Coach Nate
McMillan turned down the player's request to address the team before last
night's game. McMillan saw Payton's gesture as a positive sign and strongly
considered the request. 'I understood where he was coming from,' McMillan said.
'I felt that it was probably some good if I was to allow that to happen. But ...
as I thought about it, I felt that we had to keep the suspension the way it was.
He will be at practice tomorrow (Saturday), and he can address the team
then. I expect things to be back to normal tomorrow.' Sonics
Rant | T-Wolves
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Olowkandi
Drawing Interest According to the LA Daily News, the Clippers are
receiving a ton of trade calls. 'A lot of teams are interested in (center)
Michael (Olowokandi),' Elgin Baylor said. 'A lot of teams would
like to have Michael as well as our rookies and other players on this team, too.
There are a lot of players on this team that other teams would like to have but
what are we going to get in return? Is it going to be beneficial to us? Is it
going to make us better? Is it a better player? All these things come into
play.' Then Baylor rambled on asking and answering his own questions. 'Are we
interested in trading Michael?' Baylor asked. 'Are they going to give us Shaq
(O'Neal) for him? Why are we interested in trading Michael? No, we're not
interested in trading Michael.' Clippers
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Jackson a Restricted Free
Agent According to the SF Chronicle, the league ended
the confusion surrounding Marc Jackson yesterday, ruling that the Warriors'
center is eligible to become a restricted free agent July . he will be a
restricted free agent as long as the Warriors make him a qualifying offer at any
time from the day after the season to June 30. Once the Warriors extend such an
offer, they secure the right to match another team's offer sheet up to the
league's average salary, which is expected to increase from the current figure
of $3.92 million Warriors
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