Eastern Conference

Sporting News, The, May 21, 2001

ATLANTIC DIVISION

BOSTON CELTICS: The Celtics are leaving no option unexamined in their search for talent The team might not be opposed to drafting a high school player. There's a feeling that the team's nucleus of PF Antoine Walker and SF Paul Pierce has acquired enough experience to handle the addition of a teen-ager. The Celtics must firm up a strategy that strikes the right balance between short-term impact and long-term gain, because they don't want to make a mistake like they did in choosing underclassman PF Jerome Moiso in last year's draft. --Shira Springer

MIAMI HEAT: Yet another example of how much the Heat was hurting during its playoff disaster against the Hornets has come into focus. SG Eddie Jones--the team's most productive player in the postseason--has undergone successful shoulder surgery. Jones beat expectations when he returned from a dislocated shoulder five weeks after sustaining the injury. However, his comeback was accompanied by a 90 percent chance the shoulder would pop out of joint again. Counting the playoffs, the Heat went 4-5 alter Jones' return. His rehabilitation is expected to be completed long before training camp --Ira Winderman.

NEW JERSEY NETS: PF Kenyon Martin's quest for NBA Rookie of the Year honors ended just as his season did--badly. Martin, whose excellent rookie season was finished by a broken right leg, wound up a distant second to Magic G/F Mike Miller in voting. Coach Byron Scott is frustrated Martin didn't win the award. Despite the broken leg, Martin has visited the Nets' practice facility often since the regular season ended. Scott says Martin must not do too much too soon. Given his history of breaking the same leg twice in a 12-month span, the Nets are intent on erring on the side of caution. "We want to make sure this doesn't happen again next year," Scott says. --Don Burke

NEW YORK KNICKS: SG Allan Houston's opt-out dame leaves him with considerable clout this summer. The bottom line is that even if the Knicks can work out a trade to acquire a player such as Kings PF Chris Webber or Sonics PG Gary Payton, Houston doesn't have to go anywhere if he doesn't want to. Houston therefore would be an equal partner in what would have to be a sign-and-trade arrangement. The stakes in this game are remarkably high: If the Knicks don't treat Houston properly and pay him well, he has the power to leave them with no compensation, setting the franchise back for years. --John Brennan

ORLANDO MAGIC: Could G/F Mike Miller become the first player to win Rookie of the Year honors and get traded before playing a second season with his team? The Magic needs a low-post presence, and those don't come cheap. Package Miller with any of the Magic centers--Michael Doleac, Andrew DeClercq or John Amaechi--and another spare part and there might be enough in cumulative talent and salaries to make a deal. The problem with that scenario is losing Miller destroys the dream lineup of Grant Hill at point guard with Tracy McGrady and Miller on the wings. The guess is that for the right guy--Raptors C Antonio Davis seems like the best possibility--the team would deal. --Bill Fay

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: PG Eric Snow shot poorly in the first three games of the Raptors series, missing a number of open jump shots. Consequently, he was hesitating to pull the trigger, which further played into the Raptors' daws by giving SG Allen Iverson less room to operate. In addition, Snow's 16-to-7 assist-turnover ratio was well below his norm.... PF Tyrone Hill seems to have fallen under the spell of Raptors PF Charles Oakley. Oakley has been feuding with Hill all season, claiming Hill owes him money. Hill appears to be too focused on Oakley for his own good. --Jon Marks

WASHINGTON WIZARDS: If Michael Jordan returns, it is almost certain it will be with the Wizards. Why would he hire coach Doug Collins if he wanted to play elsewhere, and why would Collins take the job if he didn't have the assurance Jordan would be with the team in some capacity? As Jordan decides, there is debate about whether his return would be best for the league. Since Jordan left, attendance and television ratings have dropped. With several young stars stepping things up in the postseason, the league is starting to regain some of its luster. --Steve Wyche

CENTRAL DIVISION

ATLANTA HAWKS: Trading PF Alan Henderson and his hefty contract is unlikely, so the team hopes something clicks for him. How Henderson fell from a starter to coach Lon Kruger's doghouse is a mystery. Henderson vowed to be an aggressive leader. Instead, he often seemed lost on the court, wandering aimlessly on the perimeter and shooting badly.... SG Jason Terry is working hard to be a factor on the U.S. Goodwill Games team-and to be a force next season with the Hawks. He is trying to get stronger and smarter so he can perform at a high level without firing. --Curtis Bunn

CHARLOTTE HORNETS: The team swiped Game 3 from the Bucks by playing solid defense, rebounding, getting PG Baron Davis involved all over the court and getting 36 points from SF Jamal Mashburn. The Hornets outrebounded the Bucks by an average of 14 a game in four regular-season meetings, winning three. Charlotte barely won the rebounding baffle, 43-41, and lost Game 1, 104-92. The Hornets were outrebounded, 44-42, in a 91-90 loss in Game 2. But in Game 3, they piled up a 57-35 rebound edge-with PF P.J Brown pulling down 16-and won 102-92. --John Delong