Inside NBA Hoops - Recent Happenings

Christian Laettner almost became a member of the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. But the Dallas Mavericks came out of nowhere, grabbed the Pistons, shook them around a bit, laid the verbal backhand across the mouth a few times, and helped convince them to back out of the big 4-team Ewing-Rice-Baker-Laettner-etc. deal.

Instead, the Pistons wind up sending Laettner and Terry Mills (eats a lot, can hit open threes) to the Mavericks in exchange for forwards Cedric Ceballos and John Wallace, guard Eric Murdock, some cash, and donuts. (Ok, no donuts.)

Laettner is expected to spend most of his time playing power forward, but he will back-up at center as well. While he's not a rebounding or defensive machine, he's got a really nice shot, and his offensive skills will greatly compliment those of upcoming star Dirk Nowitzki and current star Michael Finley.

The Pistons are just gathering as many players as possible with contracts that end in the next year or two, so while losing lots of games and getting high lottery draft picks they'll be clearing major cap room to do their best Orlando Magic impersonation and sign a bunch of top free agents.

Although, they better do a good job marketing the team and making their situation as appealing as possible, or they may make out like the Bulls instead of the Magic and get nothing but 2nd and 3rd tier free agents at way too much money.

Vince Carter and Ray Allen want everyone to know that they're friends. Ray considers everyone he plays against to be an enemy during game time, but despite these two battling each other as intensely as we've seen two East conference guys go at it, the two Olympians are buddies.

Or so they claim.

Shaquille O'Neal wasn't consulted in regard to the Lakers signing JR Rider. (I know his name is Isaiah now, but "JR Rider" just sounds cooler.) You'd think the league MVP would have input when a potential team-wrecker like Rider is being considered for a contract.

Shaq made it clear to friends that Rider better act properly and professionally. He isn't about to take any team-wrecking crap.

Tim Hardaway, while claiming to be 100% healthy and annoyed at the Miami Heat for wanting to see him play before offering him a new contract, is apparently limping all over the place at Olympic practices. We don't know if he suffered a new injury or if his old stuff is still not fully healed as he claimed, but as of a few days ago Tim had a distinct limp. And it wasn't a style thing.

Ewing is still being shopped. Originally the Knicks wanted the Wizards to take him along with a few other players New York wants to get rid of. Now, New York is willing to just deal Ewing, in return for one of the Wizards' big three players - probably Juwan Howard - plus perhaps a scrub or two.

The Heat could use another rebounder off the bench. A.C. Green is apparently being considered.

9/1/2000

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