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Cassell bucking the trend
Posted: Thursday March 16, 2000 12:38 PM
It's bad enough that the Milwaukee Bucks have gotten no production from their frontline players, but now they're struggling with point guard Sam Cassell. Cassell spoke out publicly last week, saying he wasn't pleased with being the team's third offensive option behind Glenn Robinson and Ray Allen. "I've always been the man," he said. "I'm used to having the ball in my hands." That's one reason why Cassell was hoping to get traded before the February deadline -- preferably to a team under the cap that might rip up his present contract. But the Clippers, Magic, Bulls and Raptors -- all of whom have cap room after this season -- don't appear to be interested in Cassell. "He's a great big-game player," one Central division coach said. "But since Terrell Brandon signed for $58 million, you know Sam's going to want money in that ballpark. That's just not going to happen." Especially since Cassell is averaging less in every major statistical category since the trade deadline expired. Except turnovers.
Carter, Raptors box office smashVince Carter, the heir apparent to Michael Jordan, and his Raptors have won nine of their last 10 games So, naturally, everyone has taken notice. During their six-game road swing, five were sellouts. Even the Clippers had 18,176 in the building to watch Carter's heroics. Toronto still trails the Lakers, Knicks, Kings, Blazers, Suns, Rockets and Jazz as a road attraction, but who'd have thought Toronto would turn out to be a hot ticket?
Is this on?A compromise was reached this week between the NBA and its coaches on the miking issue. But the players had something to say about it too. When Toronto's Butch Carter and Seattle's Paul Westphal both refused to be miked for their game on March 12, what they didn't say was how vehemently opposed their players were too. Several sources confirmed that Raptors' veteran Charles Oakley vigorously spoke outagainst the issue to Carter. Players in Westphal's locker room felt the same as well."I was surprised by Carter and Westphal's reaction," NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said. So a compromise was reached. Coaches will allow a boom microphone to be placed near the bench. Still, the issue isn't over. Commissioner David Stern usually gets what he wants. So stay tuned. Stephen A. Smith covers the NBA for the Philadelphia Inquirer and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.
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