(FC-Devel) News From The Commissioner

["Lavergne, Dean" <dean.lavergne@csfb.com>]

Here is player news and transactions for the last two weeks.

As a reminder, we draft tomorrow (time to be decided).  I need team names
for those of you who haven't selected on and entry fee ($25) for those who
haven't paid yet.


Tuesday, October 12, 1999 

News and Notes

Latrell Sprewell's teammates want an explanation, even though the fans seem
ready to forgive and forget. Sprewell was back on the court Monday for the
New York Knicks after his
unexcused, underexplained absence from the first week of training camp, but
the scars in the locker room were not yet healed.

Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone has been diagnosed with a lower back sprain
but isn't expected to miss Wednesday night's exhibition opener against
Vancouver. The 36-year-old Malone was hurt sometime during training camp
last week in Boise, Idaho, and the injury has persisted.

Brian Grant can only run at about half-speed, and you could barely slide an
envelope under his sneakers on a jump shot.  But, the Portland Trail Blazers
see that as significant progress for their power forward. Grant, recovering
from offseason surgery on his left knee, won't play in Tuesday's exhibition
game against the Seattle SuperSonics. He hopes to be in uniform when the
Blazers open the regular season at Vancouver on Nov. 2.

Transactions

SACRAMENTO KINGS - Waived C Malcolm Mackey, G Keith Veney and F Tywan
Sanford.


Wednesday, October 13, 1999 

News and Notes 

Kevin Johnson, one of the NBA's most prolific point guards, retired Tuesday
after an 11-year career.

Sacramento Kings point guard Tony Delk will be out 7-to-10 days because of
an injured foot. Delk was bothered by recurring soreness in his left foot. A
bone scan performed Tuesday showed that his foot was having a negative
reaction to physical stress.
  

Thursday, October 14, 1999 

News and Notes

Free-agent guard Ron Harper, a starter on three NBA championship teams in
Chicago, is rejoining coach Phil Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Harper, 35, signed a two-year, $4.2 million contract with the Lakers on
Wednesday.

Karl Malone and Jeff Hornacek were scratched from the lineup for Utah's
exhibition opener Wednesday night against the Vancouver Grizzlies. Malone,
who last season was named Most Valuable Player for the second time in his 14
years in the NBA, strained a muscle in his lower back last week at training
camp. Hornacek strained his right quadricep in practice earlier in the week.
The Jazz also scratched forward Pete Chilcutt, also suffering from a sore
lower back.

The Los Angeles Clippers trimmed their roster to 14 Wednesday by placing
second-round draft pick Rico Hill and two others on waivers. Hill, a
6-foot-6 forward who was the 31st overall selection in last summer's draft,
played in Spain last year, averaging 11.4 points in 24 games for Baloncesto
Fuenlabrada. He played college ball at Illinois State, averaging 15 points
in three seasons before leaving after his junior year.  The Clippers also
waived Terrell Bell and Rodney Elliott.

Transactions

LOS ANGELES LAKERS - Signed G Ron Harper to a two-year contract.

 
Friday, October 15, 1999 

News and Notes

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant will be sidelined at least six weeks
after breaking his right hand in the first quarter of the team's first
exhibition game. Bryant's hand was hit by an errant elbow as he went for a
rebound in Wednesday night's 88-84 loss to the Washington Wizards.

Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone, resting a strained lower back, didn't
practice Thursday or travel with the team to Boise, Idaho, for Friday
night's exhibition game against the Seattle Supersonics.

Indiana Pacers rookie Jonathan Bender broke his wrist in the team's
exhibition game Wednesday night and will be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks.

David Robinson's annual battle with back problems will limit his playing
time in the McDonald's Championship in Milan, Italy, San Antonio Spurs coach
Gregg Popovich said Thursday.

Jimmy Oliver, who has played with five NBA teams over eight seasons, was
signed Thursday to a non-guaranteed contract by the New York Knicks.

Transactions

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - Waived G Tony Smith.
PHOENIX SUNS - Waived G Jason Singleton and G LaMarcus Golden.

  
Saturday, October 16, 1999 

Chicago Bulls guard B.J. Armstrong will have surgery on his left knee and
could be sidelined 2-to-4 weeks. Armstrong, a member of the 1991-93
championship teams, signed with the Bulls as a free agent in August. An
11-year veteran, he has had operations on both knees.

Toronto Raptors guard Dee Brown, who led the NBA in 3-pointers last season,
underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday. Brown said he could
be sidelined for as long as two months or as little as two weeks, depending
on how rehab goes.

The Boston Celtics have signed forward Tony Battie to a multiyear contract
extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Transactions

BOSTON CELTICS - Signed F Tony Battie to a multiyear contract extension.
DALLAS MAVERICKS - Waived F Ben Davis and F Zendon Hamilton.

  
Sunday, October 17, 1999 

News and Notes

Minnesota Timberwolves center Dean Garrett will be out 3-to-5 weeks after
knee surgery. Garrett, a four-year veteran, is expected to return in
November.

  
Monday, October 18, 1999 

Transactions

UTAH JAZZ - Waived G Eddie Lucas and G Saddi Washington.

 
Tuesday, October 19, 1999 

News and Notes

Philadelphia 76ers power forward Theo Ratliff is out at least three weeks
with a stress fracture in his left leg after taking a nasty tumble in a
preseason game last week. Ratliff, who got tangled up with Charlie Ward of
the New York Knicks as both fell out of bounds last Tuesday, had the foot
immobilized in a boot Monday after an MRI revealed the stress fracture.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lamond Murray will be out of action indefinitely
with a sprained left knee. Murray was injured in the second quarter of
Saturday night's game as Cleveland played the New York Knicks in Syracuse,
N.Y. A medical examination Sunday at the Cleveland Clinic determined he had
a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Murray was
fitted with a splint and given medication to reduce the pain and swelling. A
time for his possible return has not been determined.

The Minnesota Timberwolves signed free agent forward Anthony Miller on
Monday. Terms were not disclosed.

Transactions

DENVER NUGGETS - Waived F Carlos Daniel.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES - Signed F Anthony Miller.
UTAH JAZZ - Waived C Julius Nwosu.

  
Wednesday, October 20, 1999 

News and Notes

Boston Celtics forward Danny Fortson has a stress fracture in his right foot
and will miss 8-to-12 weeks. The Celtics announced Fortson's injury in
Charlotte during the first half of their exhibition loss against the Hornets
on Tuesday night. The team said Fortson, hobbling on crutches before the
game, would return to Boston on Wednesday for further tests.

Charlotte Hornets reserve guard Ricky Davis, a first-round draft choice in
1998, could miss up to four months with torn cartilage in his right knee.
The injury occurred in Charlotte's exhibition game at Minnesota on Oct. 14.
The Hornets said Tuesday that surgery was scheduled for Thursday, when the
tear is to either be repaired or cut out, depending on the severity of the
injury. The team said Davis is expected to be sidelined for
6-to-16 weeks.

Often-injured center Stanley Roberts signed a $725,000, one-year contract
with the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Roberts worked out with the team
Monday and passed two physicals. He is expected to provide help inside,
where the Sixers are hindered by injuries to Matt Geiger, Theo Ratliff and
Tyrone Hill.

Sixteen-year NBA veteran Mark West signed on for a second tour of duty with
the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. The 6-foot-10 center's trademark is sure
shooting. He's second in NBA history to Artis Gilmore in field-goal
percentage (.581 to .599).

Transactions

LOS ANGELES LAKERS - Waived F Gerald Jordan and G Donald Williams.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS - Signed C Stanley Roberts. Waived G Rowan Barrett.
PHOENIX SUNS - Signed C Mark West.


Thursday, October 21, 1999 

News and Notes

Washington Wizards point guard Rod Strickland was fined for an unexcused
absence from practice Wednesday. Strickland also did not travel with the
Wizards to Cleveland, where they will play the Cavaliers in an exhibition
game Thursday night. 

Toni Kukoc will miss the Chicago Bulls' exhibition game Thursday with
tendinitis in his right knee. 

Veteran point guard Sherman Douglas returned to the New Jersey Nets, signing
a multiyear deal Wednesday. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. 

Brian Shaw, a 10-year NBA veteran who was one of six players traded for
Scottie Pippen earlier this month, signed a contract with the Los Angeles
Lakers on Wednesday. Shaw, a 6-foot-6, 200-pound swing man, was traded by
Portland to Houston along with Kelvin Cato, Stacey Augmon, Walt Williams, Ed
Gray and Carlos Rogers for Pippen. Shaw was later released by the Rockets.

Transactions

CHICAGO BULLS - Waived F Brett Robisch and F Maceo Baston.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS - Signed G Brian Shaw.
NEW JERSEY NETS - Signed G Sherman Douglas to a multiyear contract.  Waived
G Rashid Bey.
  
  
Friday, October 22, 1999 

News and Notes

Michael Finley, the Dallas Mavericks' starting shooting guard and leading
scorer, is sidelined with a sore foot. Finley was examined Wednesday by Dr.
Jim Brodsky, who told him he will miss the Mavericks' remaining four
preseason games because of plantar fasciatis in his right heel. Finley was
scheduled to undergo a bone scan Thursday, which will determine if he has a
stress fracture.

Having enjoyed his first stay in New Jersey, Sherman Douglas had no qualms
about signing up for a second stint with the Nets. "I think the familiarity
sure had something to do with it," Douglas said Thursday, explaining why he
signed a multiyear contract with the Nets the day before. "Going to a place
you feel comfortable with and not so far (from home) had a lot to do with
it." The two-year deal will pay Douglas the 10-year veteran minimum of $1
million this season.

The Minnesota Timberwolves signed 18-year veteran center Danny Schayes on
Thursday and released Anthony "Pig" Miller, who was signed Monday. Schayes,
a 6-foot-11, 260-pound center, has played for Utah, Denver, the Los Angeles
Lakers, Phoenix, Miami and Orlando.

The Boston Celtics signed free-agent forward Marty Conlon on Thursday to
strengthen a frontcourt weakened by the loss of Danny Fortson. Fortson
underwent successful surgery Thursday to repair a stress fracture in his
right foot and is expected to beout 8-to-12 weeks, Celtics spokesman Jeff
Twiss said. Conlon, 31, played the last two seasons with the Miami Heat.
Conlon, a 6-foot-11, 235-pound forward, played for the Celtics in 1996-97,
averaging 7.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in 74 games.

The Portland Trail Blazers cut three players on Thursday, including former
UCLA star Charles O'Bannon. Also released were forward Jim Carruth and guard
Ira Bowman.

Guard Ricky Davis of the Charlotte Hornets underwent surgery on his right
knee and is expected to be out six weeks.  The Hornets said Thursday that
Davis tore cartilage on the left side of the knee in an Oct. 14 exhibition
game at Minnesota.

Transactions

BOSTON CELTICS - Signed F Marty Conlon.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES - Signed C Danny Schayes. Released F Anthony Miller.
NEW JERSEY NETS - Released F Robert Werdann.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS - Released G Ira Bowman, C Jim Carruth and G Charles
O'Bannon.
  
  
Saturday October 23, 1999  
  
The Detroit Pistons are thinking about placing center Bison Dele on the
suspended list rather than the retirement list, a spokesman said Friday. The
6-foot-11 Dele has filed retirement papers with the NBA office in New York,
fulfilling a promise he made last month. If he is placed on the suspended
list, the Pistons could reinstate him if he changes his mind -- or trade
him. If Dele goes on the retirement list, he will have to sit out the entire
season. 

Washington Wizards point guard Rod Strickland, fined and suspended for an
exhibition game this week over an unexcused absence, was not at practice
again Friday. "I thought until he got his head squared, I didn't want him to
be out there," said coach Gar Heard, who spoke to Strickland by phone
Friday. Heard said he didn't know where Strickland was and didn't ask.

The Dallas Mavericks said Friday that forward Gary Trent will miss 2-to-4
weeks with a torn left hamstring, an injury sustained in the final minute of
a 95-93 exhibition victory over the Toronto Raptors.
  

Sunday, October 24, 1999 

News and Notes

After weeks of shopping Latrell Sprewell around the league, the New York
Knicks have decided to keep their controversial star after all. The Knicks
made Sprewell an offer Saturday. The offer was not disclosed but Sprewell's
agent, Robert Gist, had said he would ask for the maximum allowable under
the collective bargaining agreement -- six years and $78 million. 

The big man with the mean jump hook, killer bank shot and deadly serious
stare is back to try and lead the San Antonio Spurs to a second straight NBA
championship. But even if Tim Duncan reaches that goal, there's no guarantee
he'll return for a shot at a third ring. After this season, Duncan could be
done in San Antonio. "I'm keeping my options open," said Duncan, in the
final season of his three-year contract. "At the end of the year, I'll
figure out if I'm going to be here or somewhere else."

Miami Heat forward Otis Thorpe may miss the next six weeks after fracturing
his right thumb Friday night in an exhibition game against Golden State. The
37-year-old Thorpe, an offseason acquisition from Washington, could miss 20
regular season games, the team announced Saturday. 


Monday, October 25, 1999 

News and Notes 

This time he means it. No joke. Houston's Charles Barkley even had a
halftime ceremony at Sunday night's Rockets-Detroit Pistons exhibition game
in Birmingham, Ala., to prove it. This season, his 16th in the NBA, will be
his last. 

After being fined for being a no-show, Washington Wizards point guard Rod
Strickland apparently has patched matters up with the team. Strickland
attributed his unexcused absence from a practice Wednesday to "personal
things that I had to resolve." He did not explain but said he was
"definitely sorry."

Transactions

WASHINGTON WIZARDS - Waived C Jason Lawson and C Jonathan Kerner.


Tuesday, October 26, 1999 

News and Notes

The Mailman's back. Karl Malone returned to Utah's lineup on Monday night.
Malone, 36, missed six exhibition games after straining his lower back
during training camp. He played 24 minutes and had 10 rebounds, five assists
and two steals, and got called for a technical foul.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lamond Murray is expected to miss four weeks
with a sprained left knee. He was injured during an Oct. 16 exhibition game
against the New York Knicks. Murray had a second scan of his knee Monday at
the Cleveland Clinic, and  doctors didn't find any additional damage. He has
started a rehabilitation program for his knee. 

Transactions

NEW JERSEY NETS - Waived G Howard Brown, F Peter Cornell, F JR Koch and G
Shawnta Rogers.

  
Wednesday, October 27, 1999 

News and Notes

Philadelphia 76ers center Matt Geiger needs knee surgery and will be out
4-to-6 weeks. Geiger, who will have arthroscopic surgery Wednesday, is the
latest 76er to go down with a significant injury before the start of the
season. Return to Top | News and Notes Index Colangelo pushing to keep
Grizzlies in Vancouver

After a visit to his ailing father and flirting with retirement, Michael
Cage returned to the New Jersey Nets Tuesday and said he was ready to play.
The 37-year-old Cage was signed to a one-year, $1 million deal before
training camp.

Precautionary X-rays of Scottie Pippen's injured left index finger revealed
no fracture, but the Portland Trail Blazers forward is wearing a splint and
will miss the last two exhibition games. Pippen injured the finger in Monday
night's victory overthe Los Angeles Lakers at Albuquerque, N.M. Magic
Johnson scores 14 points for Swedish team

Transactions

NEW YORK KNICKS - Waived C-F Ivano Newbill and F Antonio Smith.
VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES - Signed C Robert Werdann.