Trade Hill for Admiral? It could happen

Posted: Wed May 27, 1998 at 11:55 AM ET

The San Antonio Spurs insist that All-Star center David Robinson isn't on the trading block, but the word around the league is that the Spurs are listening to offers for him.

Robinson was replaced by rookie Tim Duncan this season as San Antonio's go-to player. Robinson's 32, with a history of knee and back problems, and he's the only player the Spurs have, besides the untouchable Duncan, who can bring the kind of perimeter players San Antonio needs in return.

Some of the rumored offers for Robinson include Orlando's Penny Hardaway and Nick Anderson, Washington's Juwan Howard and Calbert Cheaney, and Charlotte's Glen Rice and Anthony Mason.

It's unlikely that San Antonio GM Gregg Popovich would pull the trigger on any of those deals. But if Detroit, which has an interest in Robinson, is willing to make forward Grant Hill part of a package, the Spurs would be ready to have a serious discussion.

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Karl might taste the brats

Now that George Karl and the Seattle SuperSonics have officially parted ways, Karl could find his options for next season quite limited.

The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers are likely to go in other directions, and if the L.A. Lakers fire Del Harris, Karl's strained relationship with Laker center Shaquille O'Neal would probably take him out of the running for that job.

But Milwaukee is emerging as a possible next stop for Karl. Bucks owner Herbert Kohl isn't happy about his team missing the playoffs this season, and he has been non-committal about retaining coach Chris Ford.

Kohl and Utah coach Rick Majerus are close friends, and although Majerus isn't likely to leave the college ranks for the Bucks' job, he could recommend another of his good friends -- Karl.

Knicks looking to point toward KJ

The New York Knicks would love to upgrade their point guard position, where Chris Childs has been a disappointment and Charlie Ward was only adequate.

The Knicks want an experienced playmaker who can penetrate, and free agent Kevin Johnson, who was renounced by the Phoenix Suns, fits that description.

The problem for the Knicks is that they have no salary cap room. But look for New York to try to convince Johnson to play for the $1 million exemption in exchange for a chance to take one last shot at a championship.