NBA Expansion Draft : Orlando, Minnesota to Seek Diamonds in Rough

Some familiar names might be moving today, when the National Basketball Assn. holds its expansion draft to stock new franchises in Minneapolis and Orlando, Fla.

The list of players made available to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Orlando Magic has supposedly been kept secret. But several names have surfaced, including that of James Edwards, who played a key role in the Detroit Pistons’ championship victory Tuesday night. Others believed to be available are veteran Reggie Theus of the Atlanta Hawks and Tim Perry, the Phoenix Suns’ No. 1 draft pick last year.

Other possibilities: Quintin Dailey, who started more games than any other Clipper guard in 1988-89 but might become a victim of the team’s youth movement; Laker guard David Rivers; and veterans Dennis Johnson of Boston, Sam Vincent of Chicago, Ralph Sampson of Golden State and Kenny Walker of New York.

High salaries and uncertain futures of some players might scare Minnesota and Orlando away from some of those available.Those not taken will remain with their teams.

Twenty-three of the 25 established teams protected eight players, not including unrestricted free agents. No team can lose more than one player in the draft.

Charlotte and Miami, the two expansion teams last season, are exempt from the proceedings.

Orlando, which won a coin flip, will pick first. The Magic could have chosen to pick 10th in the college draft June 27 and second in the expansion draft, but chose to let Minnesota go first in the collegiate phase.