Heat Still Hope To Sign Harper

Free-agent guard Derek Harper could still join the cash-strapped Miami Heat.

Harper is willing to take less money to be a part of what the Heat are building, according to a story in the Palm Beach Post. The incentive appears to be that Harper is a West Palm Beach native - he would be coming home.

But with the Heat having about $500,000 remaining under the salary cap, coach and president Pat Riley would have to be creative to afford Harper.

Harper, according to sources, has received offers that would start him at more than $1 million next season. The teams most interested are Charlotte, Detroit and Dallas.

Mark Price, once one of the NBA’s best guards but limited to seven games last year because of an injured foot, signed with the Golden State Warriors.

Price, a 6-footer, was a free agent. Financial terms of the multiyear contract were not disclosed.

Portland Trail Blazer Rod Strickland has until today to report for a physical exam so the team can wrap up its four-way trade with the Washington Bullets, general manager Bob Whitsitt said.

Whitsitt said he finds it hard to believe Strickland would jeopardize the deal to get more money from the Bullets, considering the alternative is returning to Portland to play another two seasons for coach P.J. Carlesimo.

The Seattle SuperSonics re-signed free agent Steve Scheffler, a reserve center with them the past four seasons, to a two-year contract.

Scheffler, 28, averaged 1.7 points in 35 games for the Sonics last season.