Mavericks Acquire Montross
The Boston Celtics traded center Eric Montross and the ninth pick in the draft to Dallas on Friday for the No. 6 pick and the Mavericks’ first-round choice next year.
“We believe there’s a quantum leap from six to nine,” said M.L. Carr, Boston’s coach and director of player personnel.
In addition, Carr said he was eager to make another move up the order for Wednesday’s draft.
The Mavericks were badly in need of a center last season, primarily starting 6-foot-9, 213-pound Lorenzo Williams, who averaged three points and eight rebounds in 65 games.
Montross, from North Carolina, was the ninth pick in 1994 and started 75 games as a rookie, averaging 10 points and seven rebounds per game. Last season, he averaged seven points and nearly six rebounds before ending his season March 22 with a sprained ankle.
In addition to improving his draft position, Carr said unloading Montross’ salary gives the Celtics an extra $900,000 under the salary cap that can be used in the free-agent market. And having an extra pick in 1997 will help the team rebuild from what could be by then the longest championship drought in the history of the franchise.
Heat to low-ball Mourning
The Miami Heat will offer free-agent center Alonzo Mourning a $13 million annual contract for four or five years, the West Palm Beach (Fla.) Post said.
The Heat lowered its amount after Mourning’s poor performance in the playoffs against Chicago, the paper reported, quoting league sources.
The numbers being reported for Mourning are far below the $102 million, six-year deal rumored in April and denied by owner Micky Arison.
Mourning has been seeking a seven-year deal in the $15 million to $17 million-a-year range.
The Heat will use all of their salary cap space to sign other teams’ free agents before retaining Mourning, who then can be signed for an unlimited amount under terms of the collective bargaining contract.
Miami, according to one league coach, is attempting to persuade Denver’s Dikembe Mutombo to play power forward alongside Mourning.
Jordan tees off
After shooting a brutal 18-over-par 90 at a celebrity golf tournament in Chicago, Michael Jordan took a few shots at Bulls management.
It’s Jordan’s opinion Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf mishandled coach Phil Jackson’s contract negotiations.
“I was pretty unhappy they kept Phil on the brink of confusion,” Jordan said. “I’m not going to sit back, argue and debate with anyone. If the situation is not something I’m happy with, I’ll walk away in a heartbeat.”