The NBA's top young talent continued a rapid and intriguing Florida migration Monday, potentially presaging a marked shift in league power.
Thirty-one days of wining, dining, leaks, declarations, flip-flops and jolting momentum changes--but no concrete deals--climaxed with a wild nine-player sign-and-trade agreement that will send former Laker guard Eddie Jones from the Charlotte Hornets to the Miami Heat.
Earlier this month, Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady agreed to free-agent contracts with the Orlando Magic, immediately raising the Magic to contender status; Orlando, though, failed in its bid to land the biggest attraction, Tim Duncan, who will sign a three-year deal to stay with the San Antonio Spurs.
Now, the Heat picks up Jones, a native of Pompano Beach, Fla., giving Miami the athletic, full-court player Coach Pat Riley has lacked for so long.
According to several sources, Charlotte agreed to trade Jones, Anthony Mason (who flourished with Riley in New York), Dale Ellis and Ricky Davis in exchange for five players, including much-sought-after power forward P.J. Brown and Jamal Mashburn.
Jones, a free agent whom the Lakers apparently considered trying to reacquire, will reportedly receive a maximum-salary deal (starting at about $9.2 million) with the Heat and fulfill his wish to play for Riley on a team that suddenly has almost no forwards but seems to have significantly increased its title chances.
Also being shipped to the Hornets are Otis Thorpe, Tim James and Rodney Buford.
The Heat-Hornet bombshell was only the latest splashy deal to leak out since July 1, when players and teams could start to negotiate--but not officially finalize or announce--free-agent deals and trades.
An NBA player-movement reset, with the flood of deals and trades about to flow:
* Laker Executive Vice President Jerry West has made no move to halt speculation about his planned retirement/leave of absence, which could be announced this week.
But, given the Lakers' normal slow pace of public discourse and owner Jerry Buss' planned vacation starting today and his desire to change West's mind, the announcement could be withheld for weeks.
Several sources said that West's departure will be described as taking a break from the Lakers' daily stress points and pressure, with the door remaining open for a return at some undetermined date, if West chooses.
