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

Hawkins, Sonics Remain Far Apart In Contract Talks

From Wire Reports

Free-agent shooting guard Hersey Hawkins hopes to re-sign with the Seattle SuperSonics, but he said Thursday that he’s frustrated by the Sonics’ unwillingness to increase their initial monetary offer.

That offer is $3 million, according to league sources, a $500,000 increase over Hawkins’ 1995-96 salary.

John Caponigro, Hawkins’ agent, has asked for a reported $5.5 million deal.

“I think I’ve said from the beginning that I just want to be treated fair and I want to be appreciated as a part of the team,” Hawkins said by phone from his home in Charlotte.

“But at this point, we’re not making headway. They made an offer and they haven’t moved.”

Sonics president and general manager Wally Walker said Thursday that he has increased the length of the proposed contract, from four years to five years.

“We’re not being stubborn,” Walker said. “We’re saying, ‘Hey, this is where we are and what we can do.’ We’re being consistent.”

The stalemate has lessened Walker’s confidence in the Sonics’ ability to re-sign Hawkins.

“I’m not sure,” he said. “We all like Hersey a whole lot and we’d like for him to be here. What none of us knew was what would happen when this market place opened up.”

Hawkins said the Sonics’ refusal to increase their offer makes him more willing to listen to offers from other teams, including the Detroit Pistons, but he still wants to play in Seattle.

“The bottom line is, it puts me in a position to win a championship,” he said. “It’s a great city. The fan support is great. We have a good bunch of guys who get along well and play great together.”

The Sonics still appear to be close to signing free agent center Jim McIlvaine, although the Boston Celtics are also still in the running for the 7-foot-1 Marquette grad who turns 24 on July 30.

The Sonics have also put out feelers on several guards in case Hawkins signs elsewhere, including Dan Majerle. Majerle, however, is waiting for Cleveland, with whom he played last season, to make him an offer. The Cavs have been put on hold until the retirement of center Brad Daugherty becomes official, clearing up additional salary cap room.

Timberwolves sign Marbury

Stephon Marbury, acquired in a draft-day trade, signed a three-year contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Marbury, who left Georgia Tech after just one season, will be paid $5.67 million - $1.64 million in his rookie year, $1.89 million in his second year and $2.14 million in the third year.

The contract terms were set by the league’s rookie salary cap. Marbury will be paid according to where he was chosen in the draft, fourth overall. He was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for the Timberwolves’ original pick - Ray Allen at No. 5 - and center Andrew Lang.

Brown joins Heat

P.J. Brown signed with the Miami Heat, saying he wanted to play with a team “going in the right direction.”

Brown’s seven-year contract is worth a reported $36 million.

Coach Pat Riley called Brown a great defensive force who can play virtually any position.

“Whatever it takes to win, he’s always been ready to do that. He’s going to get up on the glass, he’s going to change shots,” Riley said of the forward.

Also, Riley said that Alonzo Mourning has not signed yet but has a verbal agreement with the Heat. Mourning reportedly will get between $105 million and $110 million for seven years.

Strickland deal on hold

Rod Strickland delayed the Portland Trail Blazers’ personnel plans by refusing to undergo a physical for the Washington Bullets, demanding more money from his new team.

Strickland, who had a long-running feud with Blazers head coach P.J. Carlesimo, was shipped to Washington on Monday along with forward Harvey Grant in exchange for forward Rasheed Wallace and guard Mitchell Butler.

Portland Assistant General Manager Jim Paxson commented on Strickland’s demands at a late-afternoon news conference, in which he introduced Wallace and Butler to the media.

“You mean he wants to come back and play for P.J.?” Paxson joked.

Wallace and Butler passed their physicals Thursday “with flying colors,” Paxson said, but the Strickland situation effectively puts the four-player deal on hold. The Blazers and Bullets have until Monday to wrap up the trade, but Paxson said the NBA has in the past granted extensions for teams to finalize negotiations.

Rodman, Bulls keep talking

Will “the Worm” return? That question won’t be answered until today. Dennis Rodman’s nine-month soap opera as a Bull took another turn when talks between Rodman’s agent, Dwight Manley, and Bulls general manager Jerry Krause ended for the night without an agreement.

Krause said he won’t comment about the negotiations until they’re over. The stumbling block is dollars, with the 35-year-old Rodman seeking at least $10 million from the Bulls for next season.

The Bulls are offering Rodman somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 million to $7 million for one season.