Mahorn Is Traded to 76ers

Rick Mahorn, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ top pick in the National Basketball Assn. expansion draft, was traded Friday to the Philadelphia 76ers for a first-round draft pick in 1990 and second-round picks over the next two years.

“We made the deal because we are willing to make long-term decisions that will help our club in the future,” Minnesota president Bob Stein said.

Stein said the 1992 pick would be returned to Philadelphia if the 1990 pick turns out to be one of the top five selections in this year’s college draft.

Mahorn, who played for the NBA champion Detroit Pistons last season, was under a two-year contract with the Timberwolves but had refused to report to camp until his contract was renegotiated.

He has been in Italy since early this week, negotiating with the Glaxo Verona team. The Timberwolves vowed to sue if he signed with the Italian team, and the NBA said it would help Minnesota if a legal fight developed.