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On the block? Minnesota may have shopped Brandon around
Posted: Thursday December 23, 1999 06:56 PM
Terrell Brandon is a low-key sort of guy, who often seems to lack enthusiasm on the floor. As a result, some in Minnesota were questioning his zest for the game. Sources say the T'wolves were putting out feelers nearly two weeks ago to see if there would be any takers for their recently signed $55 million point guard. Because of those numbers, there weren't any. Since then, they've suddenly been extremely happy with Brandon's play. Big presence on Sonics' wish listIn case anyone was wondering why Seattle's Gary Payton mumbled about moving elsewhere, consider this: Despite the Sonics' 18-8 start heading into Thursday night, seven of those losses came against foes with an inside presence, and four of those losses were in blowout fashion, mostly notably to L.A., Portland and Charlotte. One rival GM said, "The Sonics are a great Team, and there's no doubt that Wally Walker has done a tremendous job of revitalizing that franchise. But they need a big-man presence in the middle to get far, not two power forwards in Vin Baker and Horace Grant. Everyone knows this. Especially Gary Payton." That argument was strengthened by the Sonics, themselves, since Payton, Vernon Maxwell and Ruben Patterson were the guys who led them in scoring in each of those losses. Marbury and Van Horn may be stuck with each otherThere's been speculation out of New Jersey that both Stephon Marbury and Keith Van Horn -- unhappy with each other, by the way -- want to be traded and that the Nets' are actively shopping Van Horn. But believe the Nets' brass when they say there's no way that a trade is imminent. Both Marbury and Van Horn, who signed $70.9 million maximum extensions before this season, fall under the infamous category of base-year players. That means that whoever trades for them must have $9 million to dole out of their pockets, and can only give $4.5 million away. "That doesn't mean it's impossible," one Eastern Conference GM said. "Multi-team trades happen all the time. But it would be fair to say moving Van Horn or Marbury is unlikely. For now, anyway." Stephen A. Smith covers the NBA for the Philadelphia Inquirer and is a regular contributor to CNN/SI.
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