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All the marbles Sixers, Mavs go for broke in deadline day deals
Updated: Friday February 23, 2001 3:36 AM
So much for the theory that there wouldn't be any dealing at this year's trade deadline. All we had Thursday was one blockbuster involving the NBA's top team and three other moves that were interesting, to say the least. Guess all those GMs just couldn't sit still, after all. On paper, it appears that the Sixers and Mavericks both took big steps -- and expensive gambles -- in their quest to be NBA champions. Meanwhile, the Knicks brought home a savvy veteran to help them in their playoff push, while the Raptors and Hawks continued their transformations to faster, more youthful teams. Last but not least, Michael Jordan and Joe Dumars showed they could dump salaries with the best of 'em. Here's the inside dope on the day's deals: Despite Sixers coach Larry Brown's statements to the contrary, he clearly made this move to contend with the West in the NBA Finals. Otherwise, Brown would never risk disrupting his team's chemistry by giving up the popular Theo Ratliff and key reserve Toni Kukoc for Dikembe Mutombo. Brown and his staff feel the 7-foot-2 Mutombo gives them a legitimate center to match up with Shaq or the Twin Towers in the Finals. As a veteran All- Star, Mutombo will get more respect and leeway from referees. He's also a better offensive rebounder than Ratliff, something Brown knows the Sixers will need in the playoffs when opposing teams gang up on Allen Iverson and force him to take tougher shots. The real gamble for Philly is that in giving up Kukoc, they now have one fewer scorer for an already offensively challenged team. Brown can only hope that Eric Snow continues to shoot the ball as well as he did earlier this season. Also, Mutombo is a free agent after the season, but it's assumed the Sixers won't lose him since Mutombo's agent, David Falk, helped orchestrate this deal. As for the Hawks, they get a younger all-star center in Ratliff, as well as a starting-caliber small forward in Kukoc to plug in alongside Jason Terry. It was the best deal they had on the table, and they didn't want to risk losing Mutombo for nothing at the end of the season. As for the Mavericks, you didn't think owner Mark Cuban would let the trade deadline pass without doing something, did you? Whatever one might think of Juwan Howard, he's a definite upgrade at power forward over Christian Laettner. The Wizards, meanwhile, shed Howard's massive contract that runs through 2003 and pays him $18.75 million next year alone. Cuban will be glad to pony up the dough if Howard, who desperately needed a change of scenery, can play to his potential. Dallas's core now features Steve Nash, Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki, Howard and Shawn Bradley, with Gary Trent and Howard Eisley off the bench. Not too shabby -- and rather versatile. Meanwhile, in Washington, the Wizards can clear Laettner's $6.6 million salary off the books at the end of the season. They also get a decent reserve guard in Hubert Davis and some promising youngsters in Courtney Alexander and Etan Thomas. It has taken him a while, but Jordan has now cleared out two of the Wizards' four massive contracts (Howard and Ike Austin ), with Rod Strickland's to follow after the season. The additions of Chris Childs and Jerome Williams in Toronto continues the midseason reshaping of the new Go-Go Raptors. However, it remains to be seen if Williams, who has an opt-out after the season, will want to re-sign with Toronto at season's end. In addition, center Antonio Davis, who can become a free agent after the season, surely will not be thrilled to see his good pal Mark Jackson leave town. This move could come back to haunt GM Glen Grunwald if both players wind up walking. For the Pistons, the trade is all about clearing cap space for next summer, when they're expected to make a run at Chris Webber. Detroit loved Williams, whose tenacity and energy was one of their few bright spots the past two years, but they get three players in return who are in the final year of their contracts. In addition, they get rid of Eric Montross, whose deal runs through 2005. A no-brainer for Dumars.
Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com. Click here to send Marty
a question or comment.
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