Wednesday, January 20, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 5
Free agents find Bulls uninteresting
Team in disarray as training camp season approaches
The Associated Press
DEERFIELD, III. — Free agent Antonio McDyess won't be joining the post-Jordan, post-Pippen Chicago Bulls. Why? He wants to play for a winner.
"Houston and Chicago are out of the picture," McDyess' agent, James Bryant, told The Associated Press on Monday. "Tony has analyzed the situation carefully, and he's most at home with those two options: Phoenix is going to stay a winner, and Denver is going to be a winner."
The six-time champion Bulls, meanwhile, will trade Scottie Pippen to Houston, The Associated Press learned Monday. Also, Steve Kerr is headed to San Antonio, and Dennis Rodman and Luc Lon
gley also are apparently on their way out after Michael Jordan's retirement last week.
General Manager Jerry Krause did not comment Monday. But he said after the lockout ended that
the Bulls had three options:
bring everyone back if Jordan didn't
retire; sign
their own key
free agents
and mix them
with those
from other teams; or rebuild completely.
In addition to McDyess, the Bulls also are interested in free agent Brent Barry.
"I've also heard reports on those individuals," new Bulls coach Tim Floyd said Monday. "Jerry is going to target key free agents in terms of being as competitive as we can this year. If we are unable to get those guys, he will remain vigilant in his plans to bring it
back to the level where it's been.
But that could be a process."
Kerr, one of the best 3-point shooters in the league, will sign a five-year, $11 million deal with the Spurs once the lockout has ended, according to a source close to the Bulls.
The start of training camps and player signings was delayed again Monday as lawyers needed more time to work out details in the new collective bargaining agreement. Camps were supposed to open yesterday, but now it will be today at the earliest.
What is certain is that the Bulls will have only a handful of practices before their first scrimmage Friday and not much more time before an exhibition game Sunday against the Indiana Pacers, who have been working out together for months.
"I may have to have a roster in my hands to figure who is out there, and that isn't great," Floyd said. "I think everybody can envision the days of playing sandlot
football and drawing plays in the dirt. We could actually be moving Gatorade bottles around the sideline for the game Sunday."
And what will be his first words to his next team? "Hello, let's go practice." Flovd said.
Three players under contract to the Bulls - Tonl Kukoc, Randy Brown and Keith Booth - former Bulls and now free agents Kerr, Bill Wennington and Dickey Simpkins, ex-Bulls Pete Myers and Matt Steigenga, draft picks Corey Benjamin and Corey Carr and free agents Cornell David and Rob Werdann were among those working at the Berto Center on Monday.
While most participated together, running and shooting, Kerr went alone to the other end and worked with his personal coach, Chip Englund, almost symbolizing his detachment from the team with which he won three championships.
"I feel bad for Steve. He really likes it here, and it's really tough for him." Wennington said.
McDyess narrows signing options
Basketball player rejects Rockets, Bulls to choose between Suns, Nuggets
The Associated Press
PHOENIX — Still in contention to re-sign Antonio McDyess but not taking anything for granted, the Phoenix Suns were making
plans for life with or without the versatile free agent forward.
McDyess has narrowed his choices to the Suns and the Denver Nuggets, eliminating the Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls from consideration.
McDyess' decision will set off a chain reaction for the Suns, who have just five players with contracts and face a frenzy of activity to put together a team once the league gives the go-ahead to sign free agents and make trades.
Suns' owner Jerry Colangelo sounded aggravated as he took a break Monday from trying to work out contingency plans.
"Everyone is playing games," Colangelo said, "and there's a lot of information being spread around. We've heard a lot of information that would lead us to believe that he's leaning toward coming back, but I'm not buying that."
Under the new collective bargaining agreement, McDyess could make more money by signing with the Suns, his most
recent team.
However, last week, Tony Dutt, McDyess' agent, said there were factors that might outweigh the money.
McDyess played in Denver before he was traded to Phoenix in October of 1997. He likes the Denver area and Dan Issel, the former Nuggets coach hired as general manager in March. McDyess also is a good friend of newly acquired Denver guard Nick Van Exel.
Suns' point guard Jason Kidd wants McDyess to come back to Phoenix so the two of them can form the cornerstone of the franchise.
"When you have unlimited potential to grow like 'Dyess, the sky's the limit,' Kidd said. "For me, it would be a great honor to be like John Stockton and Karl Malone. You can see they've developed over 13 or 14 years of playing together, so hopefully we can have the chance to do that."
Kidd hasn't had a chance to lobby McDess.
"He hasn't returned anybody's phone calls," Kidd said. "But, hopefully, he will make the right decision and come back."
If McDyess does not sign with Phoenix, the Suns could shift their attention to Tom Gugliotta although there have been reports that he was set to re-sign with Minnesota.
Rex Chapman, who would like to re-sign with Phoenix, said he was playing the same waiting game that many other free agents were playing as Scottie Pipen, McDyess and Gugliotta were making their choices.
With Pippen headed to Houston in a trade, McDyess is the piece of the puzzle that needs to fall into place.
"It's going to be the domino effect once those guys decide where they're going to
"When you have unlimited potential to grow like 'Dyess,' the sky's the limit. For me, it would be a great honor to be like John Stockton and Karl Malone. You can see they've developed over 13 or 14 years of playing together, so hopefully we can have the chance to do that."
Suns point guard
Jason Kidd
go," Chapman said. "So everybody is just kind of in limbo."
Chapman said that several teams had shown interest in him but that he didn't really want to go elsewhere.
If McDyess doesn't return to the Suns, Phoenix might be more likely to re-sign another of its free agents, Clifford Robinson. Robinson also could be signed by the Suns and traded.
Free agent Luc Longley was reported Phoenix-bound a week ago, and newspaper reports from Chicago said yesterday that the center would sign a five-year, $30 million deal with the Bulls, who will then trade him to the Suns for Martin Muursepp, Mark Bryant and Bubba Wells.
Another name that surfaced as a possible future Sun was free agent Brent Barry, formerly of the Los Angeles Clippers and most recently Miami.
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