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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Report: Gill For Drexler Imminent

From Wire Reports

In a move to get to the NBA Finals this June, the Seattle SuperSonics are on the verge of acquiring Portland’s Clyde Drexler in a trade for Kendall Gill, according to several league sources.

The New York Daily News has learned that the deal involving the two unhappy starting shooting guards was tentatively agreed on last week and is “very close to being finalized,” said a source.

The reason for the delay, sources said, was that Seattle had to wait for team president and general manager Wally Walker to return from vacation, and that the issue of Drexler’s $8.75-million balloon payment for next season had to be resolved.

Walker arrived back in the office this week. As for the balloon payment, the teams will split it, but exactly how and the way in which it will count against each’s team salary cap was not known.

“I can’t comment on a specific trade,” said Walker on Wednesday night. “That one has been mentioned for a long time.”

That is because Drexler, who has played his entire 12-year career in Portland, has been unhappy with rookie coach P.J. Carlesimo since training camp. Drexler recently asked to be traded and reiterated his wish Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

While the eight-time All-Star turns 33 in June, the Sonics feel Drexler still has some big games left and that his leadership can stabilize a young, immature team. Seattle had the best record last season (63-19) but was ousted by Denver in the first round of the playoffs in the biggest upset in recent postseason history.

Gill has had a stormy relationship with Seattle coach George Karl, who has been pushing for a trade for several weeks because he feels he has his hands full with All-Stars Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton.

Gill, six years younger than Drexler, has asked for more playing time. Considered difficult to coach, he would be going to his third team the last two seasons. When he couldn’t accept that Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning were featured first in Charlotte’s offense, Gill forced his trade to Seattle in September 1993.

All that Jazz

Before you get too worked up over the Jazz, remember that 18 of their first 28 victories were accomplished against Eastern Conference teams. The Jazz won’t even play an Eastern team when it truly counts - in the NBA Finals until they show the same kind of dominance against Seattle, Houston and Phoenix.

And with center Felton Spencer gone for the year with a torn Achilles’ tendon, the Jazz would be wise to acquire a functional center before the Feb. 23 trading deadline.

Around the league

Some monster losing streaks have been broken against the Bulls in Chicago. The Nets had lost 19 straight in Chicago before winning at the United Center, followed by the Clippers (17 straight), Bucks (16), Bullets (15), Mavericks (12) and Pacers (eight). How bad have things gotten for the Bulls? Their coach, Phil Jackson, says: “There’s no such thing as teams the Bulls should beat. It’s a misnomer.”…

Two months after they gushed about his improved attitude and leaner body, the Bullets are trying to unload center Kevin Duckworth. Maybe, by talking him up, they were really trying to sell him to the league before he reverted back to form. …

Doc Rivers, the former Knick now with the Spurs, says New York is the team to beat in the East. “Call me crazy,” Rivers says, “but Orlando and Charlotte still don’t know how to make decisions with a few seconds left in a playoff game.”…

Dennis Rodman was wrong when he said Shaquille O’Neal, given his size and strength, should average more rebounds. Rodman conveniently forgot about the Horace Grant factor. “Me responding to Rodman is like talking to a Bugs Bunny doll,” Shaq says. “I don’t like to talk to Looney Tunes.”