Lakers send Payton, Fox to Celtics
“Kobe’s team” underwent still more changes Friday when the Los Angeles Lakers sent Gary Payton and Rick Fox to the Boston Celtics in a five-player deal.
The Lakers, putting perhaps the final touches on an extensive overhaul, got Chuck Atkins, Marcus Banks and Chris Mihm from Boston.
“We got a true backup center (Mihm) who can probably play a little bit of power forward, and we got much younger in the backcourt,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said.
The Celtics also received a conditional first-round draft pick and cash in the deal and sent a second-round pick to the Western Conference champions.
“As you know, we have made some dramatic changes,” Kupchak said in understatement.
Three days after the Lakers lost to the underdog Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals, the shakeup began. Coach Phil Jackson was let go and Shaquille O’Neal demanded a trade.
Rudy Tomjanovich was hired as coach; O’Neal was dealt to Miami for Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and Caron Butler; Derek Fisher left for Golden State; and free agent Kobe Bryant signed a seven-year, $136.4 million contract.
Later, Los Angeles signed free agent Vlade Divac, who was the Lakers’ center in the early 1990s.
“We’re hopeful, with the changes and the younger players, that we put ourselves in the position where we don’t have to experience four or five years of mediocrity,” Kupchak said. “Hopefully, we’ll be in a position to make the playoffs right away.”
Nets signs Williams
The New Jersey Nets started the process of replacing Kenyon Martin on the front line by signing Eric Williams to a three-year, $12 million contract.
Williams, 6-foot-8, has averaged 9.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in nine NBA seasons. He split last season between Boston and Cleveland, averaging 10 points and 4.0 rebounds in 71 games.
“He is a quality NBA veteran who can play both forward positions,” Nets president Rod Thorn said.
Williams is from New Jersey and still has a house in Newark, which is about 20 minutes from Continental Airlines Arena.
“It gives me a chance to come back home,” he said. “That’s always a dream.”
Thomas happy with newest Knicks
Isiah Thomas likes the versatility Jamal Crawford and Jerome Williams will bring to the New York Knicks.
Crawford can play both guard positions, and Williams is a rugged rebounder with playoff experience. Both were welcomed to the Knicks’ training facility, one day after a six-player deal with the Chicago Bulls.
“I definitely think (Crawford) is All-Star caliber,” the Knicks general manager said. “He and Steph (Marbury) and Allen (Houston), those three in the backcourt, if they’re all healthy, they’re just about as good as you can get.”
Crawford led Chicago in scoring last season with 17.3 points per game. Williams averaged 6.2 points and 7.0 rebounds for the Toronto Raptors and Bulls.
Heat land free agent
Free-agent point guard Damon Jones signed with the Miami Heat.
Jones, a six-year veteran, averaged 7 points and 5.8 assists per game for the Milwaukee Bucks last season. He averaged 10 points and 7.4 assists in the playoffs.