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Grant may excersise 'out' clause
Posted: Wednesday June 14, 2000 09:49 PM
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Portland Trail Blazers forward Brian Grant is leaning toward exercising an "out" clause in his contract and becoming a free agent, his agent said Wednesday. The decision would void the remaining four years and about $40 million from the deal Grant signed in 1997. He is due to make more than $8 million next season. "We'll probably exercise the 'out' clause," agent Mark Bartelstein said from Chicago on Wednesday. "It just gives him some flexibility. It just creates a few more options for him." Bartelstein emphasized that Grant wants to re-sign with the Blazers. "Just because he exercises his 'out' clause doesn't means he's not interested in going back to the Blazers," the agent said. "He loves the people in Portland. He has a great relationship with the people and the fans." Grant was not available for comment Wednesday. Bartelstein met with Blazers president and general manager Bob Whitsitt at the predraft mini-camp in Chicago last week. The agent said it was a productive meeting but would not give further details. On Wednesday, Whitsitt stuck by his policy of not discussing personnel matters, saying the decision whether to opt out was up to Grant. The 28-year-old Grant probably is the most popular Blazers player among fans, and he's known throughout the league for his community-service efforts. He earned the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1999 for his charitable work and twice in the past two years has befriended a young child with a terminal illness. The 6-foot-9, 260-pound Grant was a key reserve in Portland's playoff run, which ended in a seven-game series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. But his running and leaping ability were noticeably slowed by knee and foot injuries this season. He averaged 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds during the regular season, far below his averages of 11.5 and 9.8 last year. Grant, a starter at power forward for the Blazers during the 1997-98 season, also stepped aside to give Rasheed Wallace more time at the position. Wallace had his best season, making the All-Star game for the first time and averaging 17.9 points in the playoffs, while Grant missed 19 games with injuries and started just 14 times. While Grant did not complain publicly, he reportedly was frustrated about his dwindling role. His minutes dropped from a career-high 31.8 per game in 1999 to 21 this season. Grant, who went to Xavier University in his native Ohio, had a strong rookie season with Sacramento in 1994-95, averaging 13.2 points and 7.5 rebounds. He played just 24 games in 1996-97 because of a shoulder injury, but signed a seven-year, $56 million free-agent contract with the Blazers that summer.
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