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Mutombo on the go? Hawks, on the road to nowhere, could unload star center
Knicks GM Scott Layden and Hawks GM Pete Babcock could be seen huddling in a Madison Square Garden hallway before Thursday night's Atlanta-New York clash. Unfortunately for many New York fans, they weren't putting the finishing touches on a trade involving free agent-to-be Dikembe Mutombo. "We've been friends for a long time. Our families know each other," said Babcock. "So it was mainly small talk." Babcock can afford to be patient. The Knicks are desperate to land a quality big man, and Mutombo is No. 1 on their wish list. New York reportedly has offered all-star shooting guard Allan Houston and forward Marcus Camby to the Hawks for their franchise center, but so far Atlanta has refused to bite. Here's my advice to Babcock (not that he's asking): Don't trade Mutombo. Not yet anyway. And certainly don't send him to the Knicks -- unless they offer Latrell Sprewell. Mutombo is a bonafide all-star 7-footer in a league devoid of talented big men. He defends. He rebounds. He intimidates. He will give any team that gets him a fighting chance against Shaq and the Lakers. Babcock should hold on to Mutombo for now and see what the market bears. The Suns, for example, are in dire need of a center and could offer a package that includes a combination of forwards Tom Gugliotta, Shawn Marion, Cliff Robinson and Rodney Rogers . Who knows what Phoenix -- and other playoff contenders -- will be offering by the Feb. 15 trade deadline? Or Atlanta could wait until after the season to deal Mutombo. Then the Hawks could do a sign-and-trade, possibly including a third team to sweeten the pot. Who would have guessed a year ago that P.J. Brown, Dale Davis, Brian Grant and Jamal Mashburn, among others, would become available in the offseason? Sure, Houston is an all-star and one of the game's better pure shooters. But he also can opt out of his contract after the season and become a free agent. Camby, meanwhile, is an injury risk. The rebuilding Hawks aren't going anywhere in 2000-01. Rather than rushing to help another Eastern Conference team, Babcock should wag his finger at offers and hold out for something better. Besides, the Hawks could use Mutombo's defense in the meantime. The other side of the Smith saga?Did he know or not? That's the question everybody's asking about Timberwolves VP Kevin McHale in light of the Joe Smith situation. McHale has remained mum on the subject, though Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor has steadfastly maintained that he alone -- not McHale or coach/GM Flip Saunders -- knew of the secret agreement between Smith, his agent and Taylor. One story going around the league is that McHale really didn't know of the deal until after it had been hammered out by Taylor and Smith's then-agent, Eric Fleisher. Apparently, McHale and Saunders had become so frustrated with Fleisher during previous contract negotiations over Kevin Garnett that neither wanted any part of dealing with him again. So when Smith became available, they told Taylor, in effect, "If you want to deal with [Fleisher], go ahead. We're staying out of it." The resulting illegal agreement was put in writing because Taylor was having heart problems and facing surgery in the near future. According to the account, Fleisher was afraid Taylor wouldn't be around in three years so he asked for the agreement to be written out. Taylor, desperate to sign Smith, agreed. True or not, the story likely won't sway the opinion of anyone at the NBA office. Though an arbitration hearing will be held soon to make a formal ruling, sources say McHale already has been told to expect a one-year suspension.
Pierce is Celtics' comeback kidNo NBA player was happier to tip off the 2000-01 season than Celtics swingman Paul Pierce -- and not just because he had 28 points, six rebounds and five assists Wednesday night in a 103-83 victory over the Pistons. Just five weeks ago, Pierce was lying in a pool of his own blood in a Boston night club, the victim of a brutal stabbing. If one of his nearly dozen stab wounds had been inches to one side, he could have died. Pierce, incredibly, not only survived the attack but has come back strong as ever. Still, he admits the incident haunts him at times. "I had one bad dream. I kind of jumped up in bed," Pierce told me recently. "I've been trying to put it out of my mind, but it's hard sometimes." Pierce, who has to wear a protective pad under his uniform until his chest wounds are fully healed, says the hardest part about getting back on the court was becoming used to contact. "I was hesitant at first, I didn't want to get hit," he says. "[But] the first play of practice, I went to do a backdoor cut, and on my way to the rim [Celtics forward] Jerome Moiso gave me a pretty good forearm to the ribs. After that, I knew I was going to be OK." Pierce now sometimes travels with a bodyguard. He also has become more appreciative of basketball and life. "My main concern after the incident was whether I would ever play again," he says. "It feels great to be back on the court. I feel so blessed to be here, just living and being able to play."
Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com. To send a question to Marty's mailbag click here.
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