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Hill suitors put pressure on Pistons
Posted: Friday October 15, 1999 11:52 AM
Even though Grant Hill says he wants to stay in the Motor City, the Pistons know they must win now to keep their star away from the San Antonio Spurs and the Washington Wizards -- two teams Detroit fears will send out feelers to Hill this season. The Spurs will have enough cap room to go after Hill. And since Hill grew up in the Washington suburbs, he could be lured back to D.C. in a sign-and-trade deal.
Don't Listen to 'Em, KidDespite the $3.2 million deal he just signed with the Sacramento Kings, Corliss Williamson deserves our sympathy. Projected to be a top-three pick out of Arkansas in the 1994 draft, Williamson listened to his advisors and stayed in school -- a decision that cost him $50 million when he fell to 13th in the draft of '95, the first year of the rookie wage scale. Then after the 1996-97 season, the Kings offered him a six-year, $32 million extension, but he turned it down because his advisors told him he could get more. A year later, the Kings renounced their rights to Williamson to bring aboard Vlade Divac. Subsequently, Williamson had to settle for a one-year deal at $500,000. This past summer, both Indiana and Seattle were ready to make him offers in the $4 million range. But, again, Williamson's advisors told him to stick with Sacramento. No wonder Williamson hired a new agent over the summer!
Riley Wouldn't Mind Having Rice on the MenuSources tell me that if 37-year-old forward Otis Thorpe comes to play for his new team, the Miami Heat, there is a possibility that Pat Riley might offer P.J. Brown to the Lakers for Glen Rice. Here's how it could shape up: Riley has wanted Rice back ever since the Heat traded him to the Hornets for Alonzo Mourning in '95. The Lakers barely have enough basketballs for Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. They need a power forward and are not interested in giving Rice the $14 million he wants until they see what he does this season. Plus, Riley has not had a big-time outside player to complement Tim Hardaway since Riles arrived in Miami. So who knows what the future holds? Stephen A. Smith covers the NBA for the Philadelphia Inquirer and is a regular contributor to CNN/SI.
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