Nixon Seems Close to Signing, but With Whom?

Even though agent Tom Collins said Monday that the Houston Rockets are preparing an offer sheet for free-agent guard Norm Nixon, Clipper President Alan Rothenberg said Nixon will sign a new contract with the Clippers--maybe as soon as today.

Rothenberg said Monday night that he believes Nixon will be back in a Clipper uniform either today or Wednesday. According to Rothenberg, Clipper owner Donald T. Sterling agreed Sunday night to pay Nixon what his point guard wants, which Rothenberg said is $500,000 a year for three years.

But after Collins and Nixon met with Rocket executives Monday in Houston, Collins said the Rockets have agreed to tender Nixon an offer sheet as soon as “details” can be worked out. The Rockets would have to waive or trade at least one player to free enough money to make Nixon an offer.

Houston General Manager Ray Patterson said: “We’re just exploring options. Nothing is imminent. We’ll probably wait until at least Wednesday and see if the Clippers make an offer to Norm.”

Rothenberg, meanwhile, said Houston’s apparent bid to sign Nixon “will all be academic” in a few days. Rothenberg detailed the negotiations the Clippers had directly with Nixon Sunday night.

“Sterling asked Norm what it would take to make him happy and get him back with the Clippers,” Rothenberg said. “Norm said $1.5 million over three years, and we told him we’d be prepared to pay that. Donald told Norm that if that’s what makes him happy, he’ll pay.

“We really want Norm and we’re very close. Hopefully, by this time tomorrow, all we’ll be doing is celebrating, not negotiating.”

If that’s the case, why did Nixon and Collins travel to Houston Monday to try to work out an agreement with the Rockets on an offer sheet?

Rothenberg: “I can’t speak for Norm, but we reached an agreement independently with Norm, and then Collins, the new agent, comes in and thinks he can now get even a better deal out of us.”

Again, that’s not the story Collins tells. Collins said Monday he has “slammed the book shut” on any future negotiations with the Clippers. Collins said he and Fred Slaughter, Nixon’s attorney, are working only on receiving an offer sheet from another NBA team. Slaughter also said Monday that the New York Knicks called him Monday and expressed interest in Nixon.