It's All In The Cards

BUSTED
Seattle, L.A. Clippers, Chicago

These three teams have some new cards to play—but not the right ones.

At least there's one sure thing about playing the SEATTLE SUPERSONICS this year—it won't be any fun. Tough guys like the young Xavier McDaniel, the old Maurice Lucas and the in-between demon Johnson are the kind of players who can stir up trouble under the basket, particularly if things get frustrating, which they no doubt will.

There have already been frustrations for second-year coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who traded Jack Sikma for Alton Lister then fumed while Lister missed much of the preseason in a ploy to renegotiate his contract. "It was tough because Alton is our foundation," said Bickerstaff. Now there's a frightening thought.

Give the Sonics their due, though—during one four-day period they made four deals. And though they still came out with one of the NBA's worst teams, they also came out with six first-round picks over the next three seasons.

Player to watch: Tom Chambers. He didn't get along with Jack Sikma. Can he get along without him?

Without a draft pick in the first two rounds, the LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS changed their team primarily through a deal with Sacramento in which they acquired guards Larry Drew and Mike Woodson. But the Clippers still need backcourt help so badly that they've talked to the unregenerate Quintin Dailey. And while the Clips' hopes for improvement are slim, their second-year center, Benoit Benjamin, is not. He reported to camp weighing 278, more than 30 pounds heavier than last season.

Player to watch: Cedric Maxwell. Can he get it back, or has he Maxed out?

Wilt Chamberlain was the only player ever to average more than 40 points per game over an NBA season. One wonders if a healthy Michael Jordan of the CHICAGO BULLS will approach that mark this year. Jordan has the tools, and the Bulls have nowhere else to turn for points.

Rookie coach Doug Collins made some bold moves, unloading Orlando Woolridge and Sid Green, and openly challenging disenchanted center Jawann Oldham. It will take time for Collins to adapt this team to his own open-throttle style, though, and there will be no championship rap song being recorded in the Windy City for a while.