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No Brown out in Philly Rumors of Sixers' coach's departure prematurePosted: Friday January 04, 2002 7:04 PM
It's only fitting that Larry Brown would be a hot topic for the mailbag. After all, few NBA figures have made the rounds more than the itinerant Sixers' coach. With nine stops in his 29 coaching seasons, he probably knows more zip codes than many postal clerks. Maybe that's why the 'bag was overflowing with queries about whether Brown was truly considering bailing on the Sixers. Those rumors, to say the least, are premature. While it might be true that Brown loved living in Denver during his first stint coaching there, and that he remains close to Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe from his UCLA days, friends say he wouldn't pursue that job or any other while his focus is on the season. Brown is clearly growing frustrated by the Sixers' struggles however. It isn't far-fetched to see him walking away from it after the season, especially if Philly doesn't make it back to the Finals. Once a nomad, always a nomad.
Now onto the 'bag. Are the Nuggets truly considering trading Raef LaFrentz and Antonio McDyess to the Sixers for Dikembe Mutombo? If so, why would they want to get rid of two young talents? Especially when good young big men are hard to find? -- Karl Ihfe, Austin, Texas That trade rumor apparently was bogus, Karl. Both Sixers GM Billy King and Vandeweghe have denied it, and just about every GM and coach I've talked to about it said they would be shocked. Most said the rebuilding Nuggets would be foolish to give up two promising young big men like McDyess and LaFrentz for an offensively-limited player who is at least 35 years old. Mutombo is still an all-star, but he's not the kind of player around which you rebuild. Do you think Magic GM John Gabriel deserved his recent contract extension? His only real good moves were to sign Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill as free agents, and to draft Mike Miller. But I think the warm weather and Florida's lack of state tax had more to do with the free agent signings than anything, and I don't think Miller is that much better than Corey Maggette, a guy he traded. --David Tse, Palm Bay, Fla. Gabriel has done a good job, David. Though it might be true that McGrady and Hill wanted to play in Florida all along, the only reason Orlando had the salary cap space to sign them was because of Gabriel's moves in the seasons leading up to it. Yes, he traded Maggette, Bo Outlaw, Ben Wallace and Brendan Haywood. However, he did so to gain flexibility or clear cap space. Meanwhile, he helped discover Darrell Armstrong and Chucky Atkins while drafting Miller, Matt Harpring, Michael Doleac and Pat Garrity. Just as significant, he hired Doc Rivers as coach. Don't you think Sacramento should have the decency to give up the name "Kings" to Memphis, since Memphis is the home of the Three Kings: B.B., Martin Luther and Elvis. -- Archie Lee, Manila Sure, Archie, as soon as Los Angeles agrees to give up the name "Lakers" to that team that plays in Salt Lake City. In fact, maybe they should swap. After all, L.A. is located on an ocean and probably has more jazz clubs than any place west of New York City. Do you think that Toronto-Orlando has a chance to develop into the best rivalry in the East? If not, what would you say will be? -- John Adair, Toronto The Raptors-Magic rivalry is really getting spicy, thanks to Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter. Also, Milwaukee-Orlando has had some good battles of late, with former Marquette star Doc Rivers trading verbal jabs with Bucks coach George Karl. However, the East is clearly in transition after years of hated rivalries like the Celtics-Sixers, Bulls-Pistons, Pacers-Knicks, and Heat-Knicks. Real blood feuds are created in the playoffs, and until a new powerhouse team emerges in the East to replace the old Bulls dynasty there won't be any clear-cut best rivalry. Will Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O'Neal lose their "grandfather" status and be subjected to the league-imposed maximums when their current contracts expire and they become free agents? Will other teams be able to offer them any more or less? If not, what's to stop the T'wolves or the Lakers from saying, "No pay raise for you", and if the players don't like it they can go take a $20 million dollar pay cut from another team? --Mike, Minneapolis Under the collective bargaining agreement, Garnett and Shaq are "grandfathered" only with their current teams. Thus other teams would be limited to offering them maximum salaries based on years of service. In reality, however, it probably won't matter. The Lakers, in fact, already gave Shaq a three-year $88 million deal in Oct. 2000 even though no other team could have matched the figure. KG, whose deal runs through '03-04, will probably get similar treatment from the T'wolves. Minnesota owner Glen Taylor might have to call in a team of accountants, though. Garnett will be eligible to sign an extension up to seven years and more than $280 million. Any chance the Suns will land a decent low-post player anytime? In hindsight, that proposed Mike Bibby-Shareef Abdur-Rahim trade for Jason Kidd and Cliff Robinson could've been sweet, since Phoenix has struggled with consistency, especially in the fourth quarter. They just don't have a post guy from whom they can milk a sure two down the stretch. -- Don, Manila The Suns have been trying to land a low post player ever since Antonio McDyess left town. Unfortunately, big men who can put the ball in the basket aren't easy to find. As the Feb. 21 trade deadline gets closer, and teams start to drop out of the playoff race, it's possible Phoenix might be able to steal a low-post player. However, it would probably cost them Shawn Marion. More likely the Suns will wait and try to solve their long-standing weakness down low via free agency, the draft or -- if they really get desperate -- by convincing Charles Barkley to come out of retirement.
Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.
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