Burning up the phone lines
Raptors open bidding for No. 4 pick in Thursday's draft
Posted: Monday June 23, 2003 2:41 PM
Updated: Monday June 23, 2003 3:01 PM
Could Latrell Sprewell soon be joining Vince Carter in Toronto? If not, how about Rasheed Wallace?
Sprewell and Wallace are two big names being mentioned as possibly bound for Canada, now that Raptors GM Glen Grunwald has opened the bidding for the No. 4 pick in Thursday’s draft.
Though Grunwald insists he’s not desperate to move the pick, several league sources say the Raptors have been burning the phone lines. In the final year of his contract, Grunwald can ill afford to wait on Chris Bosh or Maciej Lampe to develop into an NBA star.
The Raptors have talked about sending Jerome Williams, Lamond Murray and the fourth pick to the Knicks for Sprewell and the No. 9 pick, with other players possibly thrown in for salary-cap purposes.
The Knicks presumably would then use the No. 4 pick to draft Texas point guard T.J. Ford, whom they fear will be snatched up by the Clippers with the sixth pick.
Toronto, meanwhile, would get a much-needed second scoring option to pair with Carter and the chance to draft either Kansas point guard Kirk Hinrich or Georgetown center Mike Sweetney at No. 9.
Why New York GM Scott Layden would add more perimeter players to his undersized roster is a mystery, but -- like Grunwald -- he no doubt feels the need to do something.
The two teams also talked about a Sprewell deal for Antonio Davis and Morris Peterson at last February’s trade deadline, but that deal fell through. At least that move would have made some sense for New York, which needs a big man in the worst way.
A bigger coup for the Raptors would be to pry Wallace away from Portland and place him with his fellow Tar Heel Carter and Philly chum Alvin Williams. Toronto has been trying to land Wallace for two years, but the Blazers have never been willing to bite.
With new president Steve Patterson being brought in to clean up the Jail Blazers image, the Raptors are hoping the door might be re-opened.
In return for giving up a talent like Wallace, the Blazers reportedly would get back Antonio Davis, the No. 4 pick and the retired Hakeem Olajuwon, whose remaining $4.5 million contract is soon to come off the books.
The Blazers could then pair Antonio Davis and Dale Davis in a frontcourt remake of the late 1990s Pacers while adding Bosh or Lampe to developing talents Zach Randolph and Qyntel Woods.
The drawback for Portland, of course, is that Wallace is an All-Star talent, and he’s also entering the final year of his contract ($17 million), which means he could be used in a sign-and-trade after next season.
With a motivated Wallace joining a healthy Carter, new Toronto coach Kevin O’Neill could get his team right back in the Eastern Conference title chase. The Raptors aren’t getting their hopes too high, however.
Several other clubs, including the Sonics, have been trying to land Wallace for years only to learn that for as much as the Blazers talk about changing their image, they just can’t seem to give up on his immense talent.
Williams' accident has Bulls scrambling
The Bulls are rethinking their draft strategy now that point guard Jay Williams probably will miss next season while recuperating from a motorcycle accident.
Chicago GM John Paxson had said he would probably use the No. 7 pick on an athletic perimeter wing scorer. Marquette’s Dwyane Wade, Georgia’s Jarvis Hayes or French star Mickael Pietrus were considered the likeliest candidates.
With Williams’ career possibly in jeopardy, however, Paxson admits he might have to select a point guard. Hinrich could move up into that spot, or Paxson could decide to wait and see if the team can add a point guard later through free agency. Either way, it appears any thoughts of moving Jamal Crawford have been tabled.
Williams’ injury also kills any chance of a deal later with the Warriors for small forward Mike Dunleavy or of a draft-night deal with the Nuggets for the No. 3 pick. As for the latter, the Nuggets were dismissing the rumors even before Williams got hurt.
One Nuggets official said the team was set on drafting Carmelo Anthony and would consider giving him up only for a blockbuster deal involving an established NBA star.
Heat might be in Wallace stakes as well
Wallace’s name also has come up in trade rumors involving the Heat, with Miami reportedly offering Brian Grant, Anthony Carter and the No. 5 pick.
While Grant remains a popular figure in Portland from his earlier Blazers days, his remaining contract is an albatross. Heat coach/president Pat Riley no doubt would love to have ‘Sheed, though he might have to settle for stealing Portland’s style of play.
According to one league source, Riley was overheard at Chicago’s pre-draft camp saying he’d like to emulate the Blazers by instilling a more perimeter-based attack next season. It’s one reason he is said to be enamored of Wade, who surely will be available at the fifth pick. Riley believes the 6-foot-4 Wade could join Caron Butler and Eddie Jones in giving Miami three outside scorers.
Marty Burns covers pro basketball for SI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.
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