Wednesday Insider

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BOSTON -- The clock struck midnight and the free-agent drought of 2002 could officially get underway this morning. From the panhandling free agents outside the Shaw Summer League arena ("Brother, can you spare $4.5 million?") to the rows of general managers standing in a soup line reminiscing about the good old days when a million-dollar-a-year salary meant something, this summer's free-agent signing period has "Grapes of Wrath" written all over it.

While it's too early to declare anything in Biblical proportions, the signs are there. The league actually lowered the team salary-cap figure by $2 million to $40.271 million. Knicks GM Scott Layden stood on the sideline here in Boston and told the New York media now would be a good time to take a vacation. Jerry West revealed that his master plan in Memphis hinges on signing a 7-foot-1 center who isn't even in the league. And the Jazz, of all teams, are quietly positioning themselves to be major players in the free-agent market this summer.

"We've had problems recruiting people to come to Salt Lake in the past," one team official told Insider. "But this year is a little bit different. There isn't any money out there. Players will go where the money is."

One thing is for certain, the Jazz need players. The team has a whopping eight free agents this summer and most of them -- Bryon Russell, John Starks, Quincy Lewis, Scott Padgett, John Crotty, Rusty LaRue -- probably won't be back.

Over the last few weeks, Jazz officials have been working out of the spotlight trying to land a few young, athletic players who can step in when John Stockton and Karl Malone finally call it quits. On Tuesday, the Jazz flew in Laker free agent Devean George. The Jazz saw George as a player who could blossom into a star down the road. However, sources told Insider late Tuesday night that George and the Lakers had worked out a four-year, $21 million deal that could be signed as early as today (see below).

Insider has also learned that the team is also talking to the Raptors about a potential sign-and-trade that would send free agent Donyell Marshall to Toronto in return for Jerome Williams and Michael Bradley. The Jazz aren't opposed to bringing Marshall back, but the team wants to sign Marshall to no more than a three-year contract. The Raptors are believed to be offering a six-year deal. With George out of the picture, the Jazz may push for free agent Keon Clark to be part of any deal.

Factor in the additions of Spanish rookie point guard Raul Lopez, who could be signed as early as Thursday if he passes a physical, first-round pick Curtis Borchardt and maybe one smaller free-agent addition, someone like Celtics combo guard Erick Strickland, and the Jazz have quietly rebuilt this team without ever slipping out of the playoffs.

And what about Stockton to Malone? It's almost inconceivable to picture the Jazz without it. Most visions of the Jazz future have Stockton, 67 years old, tight shorts and all still running the pick-and-roll. Malone has a walker and an oxygen tank strapped to his back. Lopez to Kirilenko just doesn't have the same ring, does it?

The great thing for the Jazz is that with these moves the team can keep Stockton and Malone around as long as they want to mentor the new crew. The team can still remain competitive and, as long as Malone is reasonable with any contract extensions, fiscally responsible.

If Malone gets too impatient, the Jazz still have good offers for the 39-year-old-forward on the table, though they'd prefer that he retires in Jazz uniform when the time is right.

It's Time for Jazz to Add Fresh Faces

Gordon Monson / Salt Lake Tribune

Shooting to Start, Stevenson has open invitation

Phil Miller / Salt Lake Tribune

'Real' Deal Here Today

Phil Miller / Salt Lake Tribune

Free Agent Frenzy: George to re-up with Lakers

The Lakers just aren't losing anything these days.

After traveling to Washington, Chicago, Minnesota, New Jersey and Utah, Devean George finally decided to return home.

Several league sources told Insider late Tuesday night that the Lakers and George have come to terms on a deal that will pay George $21 million (the full mid-level exception) over the next four years.

George has spent the better part of the last two weeks trying to find a situation that would allow him to spread his wings a bit. Both the T-Wolves and the Jazz were willing to offer similar contracts to George, but in the end, sources say George felt that the situation in L.A. suited him the best.

Expect the Lakers' move to have several interesting ramifications on the free-agent market. The Lakers were also in a bidding war with the Sixers for Greg Buckner's services. With their mid-level exception gone, it's likely that Buckner will sign with Philly.

The move will also leave several other teams like the Nets, Jazz and Bulls, grasping for other athletic free agents. With Toronto still on the fence concerning Keon Clark, expect all three teams to make a strong run at the talented seven footer.

As of late Tuesday night there wasn't much more news to report. Sonics coach Nate McMillan told Insider that the team is still negotiating with Rashard Lewis. With the salary cap dipping by $2 million, the Bulls will no longer have the cap room to make a competitive offer to the Sonics, meaning Lewis' options are now strictly limited to re-signing with the Sonics, working out a sign-and-trade deal or just settling for a three-year, mid-level contract somewhere else.

Teams also seem to be cooling just a bit on Sonics center Jerome James after the Sonics began insisting that they'd match. Knicks president Scott Layden said no offers were imminent from the Knicks, and Memphis president Jerry West insinuated that the Grizzlies may go in a different direction. Still, James' agent, Mark Fleisher, contends he has two offers for the full mid-level exception and expects a third one. None of them, though, is for the maximum six years.

"We're going full speed ahead," Fleisher told the N.Y. Post. "Clearly the number of years is the key because the longer it is, the less likely Seattle will match. But I know I'm going to get it [the full exception]."

Fleisher is also close to a deal that could bring his client, Stanislav Medvedenko, back to the Lakers.

The Fort Worth Star Telegram reported that the Mavs are close to signing Jazz swingman Bryon Russell to a multi-year contract. "I can't talk about contracts or specific players yet," owner Mark Cuban said. "But we have talked to his agent about several things."

A handful of signings, including Chauncey Billups with the Pistons, Raef LaFrentz with the Mavs and Malik Rose and Bruce Bowen with the Spurs, are expected to happen today.

By George, Let the Serious Bids Begin

Tim Brown / Los Angeles Times

Sonics focus on re-signing their own free agents

Percy Allen / Seattle Times

Grizzlies going shopping

Ronald Tillery / Memphis Commercial Appeal

Knicks In No Hurry To Sign New Center

Marc Berman / New York Post

Billups to join Pistons today

Chris McCosky / Detroit News

Mavs keep their big man

Dwain Price / Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Heat may lose Strickland to the Pacers

In somewhat of a surprise move, it looks like the Heat may lose out on the services of Rod Strickland.

Strickland's agent, Rock Newman, told the Miami Herald Tuesday that Strickland may sign a free-agent contract with a different team as early as today. According to the Herald, that team is believed to be the Pacers. The Pacers reportedly are willing to offer a two-year contract. The Heat, who are eyeing big cap room next season, only want to guarantee one year.

"There is a distinct possibility [strickland] could have a deal as early as [today]," Newman said. "I just won't go as far as to say where that greatest likelihood is. But he could sign [today]."

Pacers president Donnie Walsh has been looking for a veteran point guard all summer to spell second-year guard Jamaal Tinsley. He tried to pry away Boston's Kenny Anderson around the time of the draft but may have settled on Strickland as a cheaper alternative.

If the Heat lose Strickland, they'll be left with just Anthony Carter to run the point. Free agents Travis Best and Jeff McInnis have both been linked to Miami, and with Strickland out of the picture, the team may have to sweeten its offers. It may not matter in Best's case. His agent told the Herald that Best is close to signing with another team.

Strickland might sign with Pacers

Stephen F. Holder / Miami Herald

Heat still needs to fill point-guard void

Ira Winderman / South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Wally won't seek the max; Wolves want KG to take a pay cut

It's been a long summer for T-Wolves vice president Kevin McHale. His team was ousted in the first round of the playoffs and lost point guard Chauncey Billups to the Pistons. After a few weeks of terrible news, the T-Wolves got a small ray of light Tuesday amidst Kevin Garnett claiming he's underpaid.

Wally Szczerbiak's father, Walter, told the N.Y. Daily News that he didn't believe his son would demand the max from the Wolves but, like any player, "he wants the team to show appreciation for the fact he's been doing the right things."

Despite the revelations, the Wally-to-the-Knicks trade rumors continued to fly. The Daily News reported that the latest trade scenario was a complicated three-team deal that would send Latrell Sprewell to Detroit and Jerry Stackhouse to Minnesota while bringing Szczerbiak home to the Knicks.

"I think there is a small chance that he could be traded," Walter Szczerbiak said. "At least that is the speculation I get from [Timberwolves vice president] Kevin McHale. If they feel they're getting a player in return who fits into what they're trying to do, they won't hesitate to pull the trigger."

Still, there were more pressing things on the T-Wolves' minds Tuesday. McHale basically blew off a few inflammatory statements that Garnett made as part of an AND-1 commercial. ESPN the Magazine's Chris Palmer reported that Garnett's remarks, which criticized teammates and claimed he was underpaid, were Garnett's own words. Garnett claims they were part of a script and not his personal feelings.

McHale seemed to support Garnett, whatever the source of his criticism was.

"I agree with what Kevin says, mostly," McHale told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Everyone has to get better, Kevin included. If you don't care about something, it's always hard to get a change. But he cares; he cares a great deal."

But he clearly hedged when it came to the issue of whether Garnett was over or under paid.

"I think everyone is going to form their own opinion on that. Some guys are overpaid, some are underpaid," McHale said. "It's up to the market and it's up to the individuals to decide."

According to the Star Tribune, the Wolves have been floating extension numbers -- fours years, $75 million -- that would average a whooping $12 million less in the first year of his salary.

"If the house on this side of me sells for $100,000 and the house on that side of me sells for $100,000 but the only offers on my house are for $75,000, what's my house worth?" McHale said. "You have to gauge where you're at and what someone else can pay."

Wally in Knick world?

Frank Isola / New York Daily News

McHale reacts to Garnett's fiery ESPN article

Steve Aschburner / Minneapolis Star Tribune

Kevin Garnett: Pay raise or pay cut?

Steve Aschburner / Minneapolis Star Tribune

Summer League Update

The Shaw's Pro Summer League kept rolling Tuesday.

John Stockton would've been proud of Dan Dickau. Two games into his short NBA career, Dickau sent a message to the 27 NBA teams that passed him on draft day. With 2.9 seconds left in the third quarter, Dickau rushed to set a Stockton-esque hard pick on New Jersey's Richard Jefferson. Within seconds, both Dickau and Jefferson were on the floor in a rare summer league scuffle. "He's a tough kid who won't back down," Hawks assistant Eric Musselman said. "We talked about this before the games. Whatever reputation you have in the league is often born here."

That wasn't the only thing Dickau was doing right. He rebounded nicely from a miserable performance in the opening game, scoring 16 points in the Hawks' 80-78 victory. Dion Glover led the Hawks in scoring again with 21 points and five boards. The Nets were paced by second-round pick Tamar Slay, who dropped in 23 points on 10 of 16 shooting. Jefferson added 18 points and six boards for the Nets.

In game two, the Spurs' Stephen Jackson put on another fine performance with 18 points and seven boards but it wasn't enough to stop the Spurs from falling to the Magic, 70-66. Smush Parker led all Magic scorers with 13 points, and first-round pick Ryan Humphrey added 12 points. Last year's first-rounder, Steven Hunter, did not dress due to an ankle injury.

Former Jazz guard Quincy Lewis led the Timberwolves to a 94-87 victory over the Knicks in game three. Lewis scored 20 points and handed out six assists. Loren Woods (17 points, 9 rebounds) and Khalid El-Amin (16 points, 5 assists) also had big games for Minnesota. The Knicks were paced by first-round pick Frank Williams (18 points, 4 steals) and Lavor Postell (19 points, 4 assists).

In the nightcap, Kedrick Brown and Joe Forte helped the Celtics defeat the Wizards, 75-67. Brown scored 21 points and had six rebounds for the Celtics. Forte scored 17 points and dished out four assists. Juan Dixon led all Wizards scorers with 19 points and Etan Thomas poured in 11 points and 12 boards.

In L.A., the Lakers got another strong performance from undrafted JUCO star Kei Madison Tuesday. Madison scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds as the Lakers beat the Rockets, 98-92. Eddie Griffin scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Rockets.

Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas and Troy Murphy continued their impressive performances as the Warriors took down the Grizzlies 103-100. Richardson scored 19 points, Arenas had 18 points and six assists and Murphy chipped in 17 points and seven boards for the Warriors. Robert Archibald's 21 points and seven rebounds led the Grizzlies. Drew Gooden also continued his string of nice performances with 17 points and nine boards.

In the late night game, the Heat's Malik Allen scored 22 points and grabbed eight boards as the Heat burned the Mavs, 93-83. First-round pick Caron Butler made his debut for the Heat, but managed only two points on 1 of 6 shooting in 32 minutes. Jaren Jackson and Andy Ellis both had 16 points for Dallas.

Check out Insider's Pro Summer League , Shaw's Pro Summer League and Orlando Summer Pro League pages for rosters, leaders and box scores.

Jefferson Ejected For Wrestling Rookie

Marc Berman / New York Post

Writers Bloc: Iverson back where he started

"On the streets of West Philly, across from the Cobbs Creek Court apartments where Iverson and his sidekick Uncle Greg allegedly acted like common thugs in their search for Iverson's property — also known as his wife — and began this precipitous slide into the absurd, one phrase was bandied around, until it started to sound like something written in the Constitution. 'It's all about keepin' it real,' said a teenager named Teisha, as she mimicked Iverson's crossover dribble while wearing Iverson's No. 3 Sixers jersey. 'That's all A.I. doin'. Keepin' it real.' The juxtaposition of Iverson's two worlds could not be more jarring. Philadelphia's Main Line was originally developed by obscenely rich robber barons and Mayflower descendents whose lone contact with blacks was to show them how to dust the chandeliers."

As Lisa Olson of the New York Daily News begins to explain, this is not the beginning of the story. Allen Iverson did turn himself into authorities Tuesday at 5:30 am. He did plead not guilty. And experts believe that, even if convicted, he will not serve any time.

New York Times writer William C. Rhoden explains . . .

"You couldn't make this story up: an African-American high school football and basketball star is convicted of a crime, sentenced to five years in prison. As his final act in office, the nation's first black governor steps in and grants him clemency. The athlete sits out sports for a year as a condition of clemency and receives a scholarship to play basketball at a prestigious university. He becomes an All-American, leaves college after his second season, becomes the first player taken in the NBA draft, is voted rookie of the year and earns millions of dollars. But here's the killer: Ten years after clemency is granted, the player ends up back where he began: behind bars, in police custody. Sadly, this story is real; it is the story of Allen Iverson."

In between 50-point games, Allen Iverson has been charged with fighting, possession of controlled substances, carrying a gun and, now, domestic abuse. The ongoing saga of The Answer, Jewelz, AI, NBA MVP, etcetera, continues. It has, is and always will be bigger than even the biggest of stars. Good vs. Bad. Right vs. Wrong. Black vs. White. Everyone weighs in. No one gets away unscathed. Is he misunderstood, miseducated or just amiss? This, of course, is not the end of the story, either. Johnette Howard of Newsday writes . . .

"In many ways, Iverson is another conspicuous notch on a sports timeline that started with Mike Tyson's and Simpson's troubles, moved on through Dennis Rodman's late-career insubordination, Latrell Sprewell's choking incident with P.J. Carlesimo, Jim Brown's decision to do jail time for his latest domestic violence charge, and now Iverson. . . . In such an overheated atmosphere, there's no point in harping that this incident — like Iverson's rambling, often pained, 35-minute news conference in May, after the 76ers' early elimination from the playoffs sparked rumors he might be traded — has again revealed Iverson to be an emotionally arrested man of 27 who struggles with marriage and kids and the requirements of his high-profile job. The struggle does make Iverson similar to the rest of us. But packing a gun as he angrily looks for his wife? No way. "

Jefferson Ejected For Wrestling Rookie

Marc Berman / New York Post

Allen Iverson: A case of arrested development

William Rhoden / New York Times

With black star's arrest comes racial polarization

Johnette Howard / Newsday

Peep Show

Spurs: Italian two guard Emmanuel Ginobili is expected to arrive in the U.S. today and sign a two-year, $2.9 million contract with the Spurs . . . Danny Ferry has also agreed to a two-year contract with the club, the San Antonio Express News reported.

Nuggets: Free-agent forward Ryan Bowen, undrafted guard Predrag Savovic and rookie Nikoloz Tskitishvili are expected to sign contracts with the Nuggets today. There also is a possibility the Nuggets could finalize a contract with second-round pick Vincent Yarbrough, the Rocky Mountain News reported.

Magic: The Magic have said publicly that they want free-agent point guard Troy Hudson back. But the two sides are miles apart in initial negotiations, Hudson's agent, Bill Neff told the Orlando Sentinel. Hudson is seeking a contract comparable to the ones signed in recent years by Detroit guard Chucky Atkins, an Orlando native, and Houston's Moochie Norris. Hudson has said that he would sign for less to play with the Magic, and Neff reiterated that Tuesday. Hudson would probably settle for a deal that averages about $3 million annually, but the Magic are believed to have offered less than $1 million annually in early conversations."I think they want him," Neff said of the Magic. "But they're trying not to spend a lot of money. It's not going to go that way."

Warriors: It looks like Atlanta assistant Eric Musselman may be at the head of the pack for the team's head coaching job, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. "This could be one of [the Warriors'] brighter moments organizationally for finding a guy who is overlooked," Magic GM John Gabriel said.

Celtics: The C's will sign the 6-foot-2 point guard J.R. Bremer and offer him guarantees that will get him into the regular training camp, the Boston Herald reported. "I'm definitely happy," said Bremer. "That's what you want to do - get somebody to keep you. Luckily it's here. It's a great situation. I have a chance to come in and get some minutes and help the team as much as I can."