After a delayed start, the NBA free agent market opened Wednesday with Chris Webber deciding to stay with the Sacramento Kings.
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Salary cap progression
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1995-96
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$23 million
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1996-97
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$24.4 million
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1997-98
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$26.9 million
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1998-99
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$30 million
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1999-00
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$34 million
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2000-01
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$35.5 million
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2001-02
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$42.5 million
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A few players signed contracts with new teams as an 18-day moratorium on free agent signings expired. Patrick Ewing went from
Seattle to Orlando, Eddie Robinson moved from Charlotte to Chicago,
Tyronn Lue left the Lakers to play for Washington, and former San
Antonio guard Avery Johnson agreed to terms with Denver.
Other signings, including Horace Grant's move to Orlando, were
held up while the attorneys from the league and the union argued
over which revenue streams should be included in salary cap
calculations.
Some 18 hours after the cap was supposed to be adjusted, it was
increased from $35.5 million to $42.5 million after the league and
union resolved their standoff.
The increase of $7 million from last season's cap of $35.5 million represented the second-largest year-to-year jump since the cap was instituted for the 1984-85 season. A year ago, the salary cap went up just $1.5 million.
A day after the prospects of Webber staying in Sacramento looked somewhat uncertain, he ended the suspense.
"He's going back to Sacramento. He always wanted to go back
with the Kings," agent Fallasha Erwin said. "They had to do
something to drive him away rather than someone else win him
over."
Webber's decision ends a year of speculation on the talented
power forward's future. After examining many options and seriously
considering Indiana and Detroit, Webber apparently determined that
a return to Sacramento was the best decision.
"He has a lot of respect for Joe Dumars, he's always idolized
Isaiah Thomas, but from the very beginning I think his mind was set
on going back to the Kings," Erwin said. "It wasn't a difficult
negotiation at all. The Maloofs wanted to make Chris happy, and we
wanted to make sure we got everything we could."
The Kings have said since last fall that they would offer Webber
the maximum contract allowable. With those guidelines, Webber will
make $12.75 million next season in a seven-year contract worth
about $123 million.
The Kings resigned Doug Christie to a seven-year, $48 million
contract. Also staying with their former teams were Aaron McKie
(76ers: seven years, $42 million), Jerome Williams (Raptors: seven
years, $40.8 million), Nazr Mohammed (Hawks: five years, $25
million) and Milt Palacio (Celtics: two years, $1.43 million),
Four trades that were agreed to in principle were officially
completed. Phoenix sent four-time All-Star Jason Kidd and center
Chris Dudley to New Jersey for Stephon Marbury, Johnny Newman and
Soumalia Samake.
Detroit acquired forward Cliff Robinson from the Suns for
forwards John Wallace and Jud Buechler. The Pistons also acquired
the rights to forward Zeljko Rebraca from Toronto in exchange for a
a 2002 second-round draft choice.
Also, Shareef Abdur-Rahim went from Memphis to Atlanta for
Lorenzen Wright, Brevin Knight and 7-footer Pau Gasol, the third
overall pick in the draft. Gasol will sign with the Grizzlies after
arranging a contract buyout with F.C. Barcelona, Memphis general
manager Billy Knight said.
The trade sending Charles Oakley from Toronto to Chicago for
Brian Skinner was delayed. The Bulls were able to sign Robinson to
an offer sheet worth $30 million over five years that the Hornets
have 15 days to match, although Charlotte would have to clear
substantial salary cap space to get far enough under the cap to
match the dollars offered by Chicago.
The 6-foot-9 forward played two seasons in Charlotte, averaging
17.3 minutes, 7.2 points and 2.9 rebounds.
Ewing, who made $14 million with Seattle last season, will earn
about $2.25 million with the Magic.
"It wasn't a money issue," Ewing said. "It's about being somewhere where you're wanted, somewhere where you can make a difference, somewhere where you can be happy."
Ewing, 38, and Grant, 36, would bring a combined 30 years of NBA
experience to Orlando. Ewing is an 11-time All-Star, and Grant has
four championship rings.
"We have a lot of talent on this team, but we did need some
experience," said Orlando coach Doc Rivers, who played with Ewing
for three seasons in New York. "We needed guys who have gone
through the wars of the playoffs, who could tell our young guys
what it's going to be like."
Johnson, 36, who played for the Nuggets in 1990-91, got a
three-year contract worth $14.4 million. He started 20 games for
the Spurs last season, averaging 5.6 points and 4.3 assists
Guard Mitch Richmond made a verbal agreement with the Los
Angeles Lakers for the veteran's minimum of $1 million, the Los
Angeles Daily News reported.
The Lakers also have targeted Spurs forward Samaki Walker to
fill the void left by Grant, the starting power forward on last
year's championship team. Los Angeles has already traded backup
center Greg Foster, leaving Shaquille O'Neal, Stanislav Medvedenko
and Robert Horry as the only big men on the roster.
Lue, who played on Los Angeles' back-to-back NBA championship
teams, signed a two-year deal with Washington.
"I had a great experience winning championships in L.A.," said
Lue, who averaged 4.1 points in three seasons with the Lakers.
"That was fun, but I came here to have a chance to play and grow
with young players."
Lue is not yet sure if he'll have Michael Jordan as a teammate -- and neither is Jordan.
At a golf tournament in Long Grove, Ill., Jordan said he will
make up his mind about a comeback later this summer.
"Give me another month and a half," Jordan said. "Middle of
September."
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