Western Conference

Sporting News, The, Feb 1, 1999

Dallas

Trent will provide team with needed muscle

Coach / G.M. Don Nelson filled his final roster spot when he signed forward Gary Trent to a one-year contract. The 6-8, 250-pound Trent, who can play both forward positions, provides inside muscle. He averaged 11.7 points and 6.3 rebounds for Portland and Toronto last season. ... The Mavericks were shocked to learn that free-agent power forward Kurt Thomas had backed out of an oral agreement with Nelson on a one-year contract, and instead would be joining the Knicks, who signed him to a three-year deal. ... The Mavericks turned to 36-year-old John "Hod Rod" Williams, giving Williams $5.775 million over three years. Williams is expected to split time with A.C. Green at the starting center position. Williams said "13 or 14" teams contacted him, but he was mainly interested in playing in Texas, near his Louisiana home. ... Also signed were free-agent forward Ace Custis and second-round draft picks Ansu Sesay (a small forward) and Grog Buckner (a guard). Custis was in camp as a rookie last season but tore up a knee in a preseason game. ... Nelson Says he's doing everything he can to trade guard Khalid Reeves, who finds little playing lime available. --Ken Sins

Denver

Van Exel gets the assist in signing of McDyess

Nick Van Exel was the key recruiter for Antonio McDyess to the end. The club pulled Van Exel early from the team's first training-camp practice. He, head coach Mike D'Antoni and assistant coach John Lucas drove the 65 miles to Denver in a snowstorm. They arrived just as McDyess was getting ready to leave for the night. G.M. Dan Issel said it was Van Exel who saved the deal. Two hours later, they had McDyess' signature on a contract. ... The club feels so comfortable at point guard--with Van Exel, Cory Alexander and Chauncey Billups--that Tyson Wheeler could have an impressive camp and still might not make the roster. Wheeler's small, but he's a gym rat and, at the least, a valuable practice player. ... The club's second-round draft pick, Tremaine Fowlkes, could make a bid to stick with the team at small forward. He reported to camp in good shape. The club, however, picked up veteran Monty Williams and it also has Johnny Taylor, acquired in a trade, to back up Eric Williams. ... The club signed free-agent center Loren Meyer for depth behind rookies Raef LaFrentz and Keon Clark. But Meyer still doesn't give the team the bulk it needs down low. --Vicki Michaelis

Golden State

Sprewell is gone; Caffey comes back

Last week, the Warriors last week traded Latrell Sprewell and resigned Jason Caffey. Sprewell went to the Knicks for John Stark, Chris Mills and Terry Cummings; Caffey signed a seven-year, $35 million deal. In addition, the team officially signed rookie Antawn Jamison, the No. 4 pick overall in the draft. ... Starks has to be the starter at shooting guard, with Tony Delk backing him up. Starks makes it easy to play three guards bemuse he can play the point for brief stretches; he thinks shoot first, but has shown a skill for penetrating and kicking the ball out, or working the pick-and-roll with Patrick Ewing in his Knicks days. ... Mills suffered a minor pull in his right hip in last Friday's morning practice and had to take it easier in the night practice. It isn't expected to be a problem, however. He can't afford for it to be, with the logjam at his small forward position. ... Bimbo Coles wants to be traded, but nevertheless showed up as one of the Warriors' best-conditioned players. ... Felton Spencer showed up in great shape and seems relatively agile at times. He is playing hard, knowing he'll be watched by other teams looking to deal. ... Guard Jimmy Jackson, a free agent, may just be let go. --David Steele

Houston

Pippen provides options, solutions

Scottie Pippen solves a lot of the team's problems. He can provide double figures in points, rebounds and assists. He can swing over to big guard in many of the team's sets, and he gives the Rockets a big guy to throw the entry passes into the post. He plays the passing lanes just as well, if not better, than Clyde Drexler. Pippen has been used to playing in a motion offense, but he has to get used to playing with a center who demands the ball. Hakeem Olajuwon also must get used to kicking the ball out so players like Pippen, Matt Maloney and the rookies (Michael Dickerson, Bryce Drew and Cuttino Mobley) can run the break. ... Rodrick Rhodes, who is on the injured list with a torn right pectoral tendon, was penciled in as a contributor at small forward, but the club now can groom him as a big guard. ... Although Pippen was the big addition, the dub also signed free agent Antoine Carr, who played for Utah last season. In Carr, the club gets a backup big man who can play both power spots down low. ... Power forward will be one of the team's strengths. Charles Barkley is back, and Carr, Othella Harrington and Pig Miller are all solid. --Michael Murphy

L.A. Clippers

Top-notch point guards tell club, `No thanks'

After vowing to "upgrade" at point guard, the club realized its limited options and re-signed Derrick Martin. The signing is proof of how hard it is for the club to sign any free agents--even with at least $5 million to spend. The Clippers tried to lure Kevin Johnson, Charlie Ward and Travis Best but came up empty. Judging by the current roster, the point guard dilemma may be solved with another trip to the lottery. UCLA sophomore Baron Davis is likely to turn pro, and the Clippers have seen plenty of him the past two seasons. ... The club hasn't really improved since last season, other than picking up Michael Olowokandi. With a short season, the Clippers could steal several wins and stay in playoff contention, especially with one more good veteran. Unless they sign a legitimate free agent--at any position, but preferably shooting guard--they appear to be telling their small, but loyal group of fans that it's business as usual. Perhaps they can swing a trade by sending one of their soon-to-be free-agent forwards (Lamond Murray, Rodney Rogers or Lorenzen Wright) to a team for a blue-chip point guard--possibly Terrell Brandon, who has the same agent as Olowokandi. --Scott Wolf