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Penny traded from Orlando to Phoenix

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Posted: Friday August 06, 1999 12:55 PM

Hardaway will be paid $86 million over the next seven years. AP

PHOENIX (AP) -- Admitting he made mistakes in Orlando, Penny Hardaway is looking forward to a new beginning with the Phoenix Suns as part of a backcourt that might rival the best ever in the NBA.

"I did some things in Orlando that were out of character for me," Hardaway said Thursday night. "I just want to move on from that and get better as a person and as a player, and I think I can do that here."

The Orlando Magic gave their reluctant approval Thursday to the sign-and-trade deal that sent Hardaway to the Suns for Danny Manning, Pat Garrity and two first-round draft picks.

Among those lobbying the hardest for the Hardaway trade was Jason Kidd, who sees the two of them forming a backcourt that will be a nightmare for opposing teams.

"I'm really excited to have Penny for the coming season as the best backcourt in 2000, and the best backcourt in NBA history," Kidd said. "That's what we're going to try to do, and have fun doing it."

Kidd lobbied hard to persuade Hardaway to come to Phoenix, calling him twice a week, even from Puerto Rico, where the Suns' playmaker was part of the U.S. team that steamrolled through the Tournament of the Americas Olympic qualifying event.

The Suns sent Hardaway a copy of a team magazine with Hardaway's head superimposed over an old photo of Kidd and ex-Sun Antonio McDyess. "Backcourt 2000," the headline read.

For the 28-year-old Hardaway, the challenge is to shake off the controversy and injuries of the past few seasons and return to the level of play that made him first-team all-NBA in 1995 and 1996.

"I'm fighting for that. That's what I think about every day," Hardaway said. "I want to get back to first-team NBA. Injuries hampered that for a year and a half. Last year, I didn't play as well. But I'm healthier than I've ever been. The Phoenix Suns are going to get a healthy Penny Hardaway, and hopefully that means a lot. I still have a lot of basketball left."

Coach Danny Ainge called Hardaway "the most skilled all-around player in the game."

"All of a sudden I really believe this puts us as one of the elite teams in the NBA."

It was a major coup for the Suns, who had no room under the salary cap to go after free agents, let alone one the stature of Hardaway.

Suns president Jerry Colangelo said the deal "ranks right up there with any acquisition we've ever made."

Hardaway will get $86 million for seven years and can opt out of the contract after five seasons.

For the Magic, it was the end of what once looked like a dynasty. Just a few years ago, the team looked like it would be an enduring Eastern Conference powerhouse when its roster included Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal.

Instead, the Magic will plunge into a massive rebuilding without a single star left. Orlando has 10 first-round draft picks the next five years.

The years of the two picks from Phoenix could range from 2000 to 2006, depending on various contingencies.

"Clearly the goal for the franchise is to win a world championship, even though this might not happen next year," Magic general manager John Gabriel said. "The trade of Penny Hardaway sets us for the launch of a new era and a new team."

Hardaway was grateful to the Magic, not critical.

"I have nothing against Orlando. I came to Phoenix and fell in love with Phoenix," Hardaway said. "I thank the Magic for going through with the deal because they didn't have to. They saw the same thing I saw; it's time for me to just move on and start a new career. I wanted to do it here in Phoenix."

Hardaway opted out of the final three years of his contract and became a free agent this summer, but only Chicago, the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto had anywhere near the money available to land him. He made it clear to Magic officials over the past few days that he did not want to return as Orlando -- especially new coach Doc Rivers -- tried in vain to get him to change his mind.

Hardaway had a rocky relationship with former Magic coach Chuck Daly, but he insisted Ainge had nothing to fear.

"Coach Ainge and I are going to be super," Hardaway said. "You won't hear a peep out of me. Honestly, you won't."

Hardaway averaged 19 points in his six seasons in Orlando, but nagging injuries severely cut into his playing time the last three seasons. Last season, he averaged a career-low 15.8 points.

Manning, 33, is the only NBA player to come back from three major knee surgeries. He won the NBA Sixth Man award in 1998, just before he went down with his third major knee injury. He came back last season to average 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds for Phoenix.

Manning, the college player of the year when he led Kansas to the NCAA championship in 1988, has averaged of 16.6 points in 11 NBA seasons.

Garrity, from Notre Dame, averaged 5.6 points as a rookie last season.

 

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