Cartwright In Contract Dispute With Sonics Over Retirement

Bill Cartwright, a 16-year veteran NBA center, who wound up with the Seattle Sonics after stints with the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls, is embroiled in a $976,000 contract dispute with team officials over his July retirement.

Cartwright withdrew his retirement Thursday, the day the Sonics filed a grievance with the NBA over his claim to this year’s salary under his two-year player’s contract.

Cartwright announced his retirement last summer after accepting a regional scouting job with the team. The team contends that move cost him the balance of his pay as a player.

The Utah Jazz signed 6-foot-8 free agent forward Chris Morris, who played for New Jersey last season, effectively ending the team’s pursuit of former Portland guard Terry Porter.

Magic Johnson’s proposed trip to Taiwan this month was uncertain because of the country’s concerns about his health.

The Taiwanese government denied that the former NBA star had received an invitation from the president to enter the country, a day after Johnson’s agent said the president had issued a statement saying Johnson was welcome.