Washington Bullets Basketball Team

A three-way NBA deal Monday began with the Washington Bullets trading guard Jeff Malone and a draft pick to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for center Pervis Ellison. The Kings then traded Malone and a draft pick to the Utah Jazz for Bobby Hansen, Eric Leckner and two draft picks. The Kings received a second-round pick in 1991 from the Bullets and the two choices from the Jazz are in Wednesday's draft--the 23rd, a first-rounder, and 49th.

It's an important time for basketball in Washington, where after this season the Bullets are shot. You already may know that Washington's NBA franchise is changing its nickname from the Bullets after 34 years, just don't go ballistic over it. Next season, the Bullets become the Wizards, a name the fans chose in a close vote over Sea Dogs and Dragons.

The Washington Bullets lost all-star forward Juwan Howard Saturday when the free agent reached an agreement in principle to play for the Miami Heat, according to his agent, David Falk. Falk declined to disclose details, but sources said the agreement involves a seven-year contract worth at least $98 million. Reached Saturday night, Bullet owner Abe Pollin said, "I don't know anything about it, and the only one you can talk to is Wes," referring to Wes Unseld, the team's general manager.

Pat Riley, suggesting a vendetta against the Miami Heat, accused the NBA on Monday of breaking its own rules in allowing Juwan Howard to return to the Washington Bullets. Riley, speaking by conference call in his first public comments on the dispute, said the league went behind the Heat's back to broker a deal with Howard, the players' union and the Bullets. "We were treated totally unfairly in this whole process," Riley said. "They made up the rules as they went along."

Pat Riley, suggesting a vendetta against the Miami Heat, accused the NBA on Monday of breaking its own rules in allowing Juwan Howard to return to the Washington Bullets. Riley, speaking by conference call in his first public comments on the dispute, said the league went behind the Heat's back to broker a deal with Howard, the players' union and the Bullets. "We were treated totally unfairly in this whole process," Riley said. "They made up the rules as they went along."

The Washington Bullets matched a $17-million six-year contract offer to keep Harvey Grant from going to the New York Knicks, but Grant probably won't stay with the Bullets. "The money's good, don't get me wrong," said Grant, who signed an offer sheet on July 1. "But this goes beyond money. They insulted me, they insulted my integrity, me as a person, my character."

The Washington Bullets have accused the New York Knicks of tampering with forward Harvey Grant, a violation of NBA rules. The Bullets say the Knicks negotiated with Grant before July 1, the day free agents were allowed to meet with other teams. The Knicks denied any wrongdoing.

The Washington Bullets were granted a medical exception to exceed the NBA salary cap because of the knee problems of forward Bernard King, who will open the season on the injured list. The Bullets will be able to replace King on the roster with a player who may earn up to 50% of King's annual salary.

The NBA and the Miami Heat Tuesday night were discussing a settlement of pending legal issues over the signing Monday of Juwan Howard by the Washington Bullets after the contract Howard had signed last month with the Heat was voided by the NBA, league spokesman Seth Sylvan said. A settlement between the league and Heat would guarantee Howard rejoining the Bullets immediately. Sylvan declined to speculate on when a settlement would be reached.

Free agent Juwan Howard, who signed with the Miami Heat last month only to have the NBA reject the contract because it exceeded the league's salary cap, signed with his former team, the Washington Bullets, on Monday, leaving him, in effect, under contract with two teams at the same time. The Bullets re-signed the all-star forward to a multiyear contract that sources said will pay him at least as much as the seven-year, $100.8-million deal he signed with the Heat.

The Washington Bullets lost all-star forward Juwan Howard Saturday when the free agent reached an agreement in principle to play for the Miami Heat, according to his agent, David Falk. Falk declined to disclose details, but sources said the agreement involves a seven-year contract worth at least $98 million. Reached Saturday night, Bullet owner Abe Pollin said, "I don't know anything about it, and the only one you can talk to is Wes," referring to Wes Unseld, the team's general manager.

The New York Knicks have signed Coach Jeff Van Gundy to a two-year, $2-million contract that will replace his non-guaranteed $1 million deal for next season, according to a report in today's New York Times. The Knicks wouldn't confirm the report but have scheduled a news conference for today. Van Gundy, 34, led New York to a 13-10 regular-season record after replacing Don Nelson as coach on March 8. The team finished the season with the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference at 47-35.

Faster than this speeding Bullet? Not likely. Whatever doubts remained about those jets hidden in the legs of Washington point guard Robert Pack--and there weren't many, considering his standing as one of the NBA's best baseline-to-baseline dragsters--have been answered this season. Pack's explosive start has turned the once-unwanted player into an early all-star candidate. These bursts may seem familiar.

Chris Webber of the Washington Bullets and Luc Longley of the Chicago Bulls were suspended for their teams' regular-season openers and fined $7,500 each for trading punches in an exhibition game Tuesday night in Chicago. Washington rookie Rasheed Wallace threw the ball at Longley and was fined $5,000. Longley's teammate, Michael Jordan, said veteran officials might have been able to stop the altercation. The NBA's 54 referees have been locked out since Oct. 1.

Chris Webber agreed to a multiyear contract with the Washington Bullets on Sunday, the team announced. Terms of the contract were not disclosed by the Bullets, but the Washington Post reported that it's a six-year contract believed to be worth about $58.5 million. The power forward is expected to sign the deal with team owner Abe Pollin at a news conference today. Webber was acquired from the Golden State Warriors for Tom Gugliotta and three future first-round picks last November.