X-Man Interested In Sonics Return Bought Out By Boston, Mcdaniel, 32, Needs Work

The “closed” sign currently is hanging on the NBA’s front door, but once its labor situation is resolved and the league is open for business again, Xavier McDaniel says he would like to talk with his former team, the Seattle SuperSonics.

McDaniel, 32, an unrestricted free agent, says he told his agent, David Falk, that Seattle and the Orlando Magic are on his priority list of potential new teams.

“I would love to play for Seattle again,” said McDaniel during a recent visit to the area. “I think we both have a lot to offer each other.”

Because the league has locked out its players, a moratorium is in effect against player signings and other deals. The Sonics’ ability to even make a pitch for McDaniel would depend on what type of rules emerge in a new collectivebargaining agreement.

The X-Man, who played for the Sonics from 1985 to 1990, recently had the option year of his contract bought out by Boston. The move was in accordance with a side deal McDaniel struck when he signed a free-agent contract with the Celtics in 1992.

After exercising a $1.5 million buyout, the Celtics said they were interested in signing McDaniel to another contract.

“That’s what they said,” said McDaniel, who makes it plain that he was unhappy with the way he was treated in Boston. “But sometimes you have to read through the fine (print).”

McDaniel still makes periodic visits to Seattle, the hometown of his girlfriend, Michelle Anderson, with whom he had a daughter last November. He averaged at least 20 points per game for four seasons before being traded to Phoenix for Eddie Johnson and two first-round picks on Dec. 7, 1990.

There has been some discussion of bringing the well-liked McDaniel back as a leader who once commanded the respect of then-Sonics youngsters Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton. McDaniel said he could fulfill such a role, if given the backing of Sonics management.

McDaniel played a career-low 68 games for the Celtics last year, missing most of them after having his right knee banged by teammate Dominique Wilkins. He said the knee is sound and believes he has another two or three productive seasons left.

“I don’t want to just be an average or mediocre player in this league,” McDaniel said. “I’ll retire before I reach that level.”

Sonics confident

After a trade with Charlotte and the NBA draft almost two weeks ago, general manager Wally Walker is confident the Sonics will be title contenders next season, because their 3-point shooting will be better.

“We think we’ve helped ourselves,” Walker said. “We really had a need to upgrade our shooting, particularly in the halfcourt situation.”

With the addition of Hersey Hawkins in the trade with the Hornets, the Sonics believe they’ve added a 3-point specialist they lacked against the Lakers in May. The Lakers took the Sonics in four games after Seattle posted 57 victories in the regular season.

After the series, Walker decided he had to make a big trade to improve outside shooting.

So the Sonics rid themselves of unhappy Kendall Gill the day before the draft, sending him back to Charlotte for Hawkins and David Wingate.

“In Hersey, we really have one of the premier shooters in the game,” he said. “What he does as well as anybody is spot up and hit that jump shot.”