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Calling Atlanta Suns hope Mutombo wants no part of rebuilding
Posted: Monday February 21, 2000 04:52 PM
The Phoenix Suns have a star-studded roster, but they still want to make a move, which explains why they started calling the Atlanta Hawks last summer -- and haven't stopped. The Suns want to dump underachieving center Luc Longley and get a center in return. Phoenix is willing to pick up Hawks center Dikembe Mutombo's $14.4 million salary next season, hoping Atlanta will agree -- figuring Mutombo wants no part of a team that's expected to rebuild. "Hopefully, Mutombo will want a part of us," one Suns source said. "That's why we keep calling." Toni's summer vacationNo doubt, the acquisition of Toni Kukoc has made the Sixers an Eastern Conference threat. But several officials wonder what Kukoc will do when he becomes a free agent this summer.Will he re-sign with the Sixers or bolt for Europe? Did he want to come to Philadelphia, or did he want to play for Phil Jackson in L.A. all along? Did Bulls GM Jerry Krause give him up only after the Sixers assured him they wouldn't send Kukoc to L.A. with Jackson, Krause's nemesis? One thing is certain: The Sixers are in a good position. Only the Magic, the Clippers and Kukoc's former team have any cap room, and, at last check, neither the Magic nor the Clippers planned to pursue Toni. Which means if Kukoc wants to go anywhere other than Europe -- and get paid top money -- he'd have to go through Philadelphia. Advantage: Sixers! Winds of change blow through JerseyThere will probably be wholesale changes in lowly New Jersey after the season.Coach Don Casey's one-year deal isn't expected to be renewed. The Nets have approached NBA Senior VP Rod Thorn about their GM position, presently held by John Nash. Keith Van Horn's name appears in every trade rumor -- hardly indicative of a so-called franchise player. And new minority owner George Steinbrenner has someone traveling with the team for every game. Said one Nets official, "If we want to avoid changes, then we've got to produce." They haven't. So expect changes.
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