Celtics Trade Montross, Move Up in Draft

The Boston Celtics traded center Eric Montross and the ninth pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft to Dallas on Friday for the No. 6 pick and the Mavericks’ first-round choice next year.

“We believe there’s a quantum leap from six to nine,” Celtic Coach M.L. Carr said.

Montross, from North Carolina, was the ninth pick in 1994 and averaged seven points and nearly six rebounds before his season ended March 22 because of a sprained ankle.

“Montross gives us a 7-foot, 270-pound presence in the middle who plays hard every night,” said first-year Maverick Coach Jim Cleamons.

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The Miami Heat will offer free-agent center Alonzo Mourning a $13-million annual contract for four or five years, the West Palm Beach Post reported. The Heat lowered its amount after Mourning’s poor performance in the playoffs against NBA champion Chicago, the story said, quoting league sources.

The Post also reported that the Heat will pursue Denver center Dikembe Mutombo. Mourning and Mutombo played for three seasons together at Georgetown.

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Michael Jordan warned he won’t stand for the drawn-out negotiations that came with signing Phil Jackson to another season as the Chicago Bulls’ coach.

“If I feel the situation is something I’m unhappy with, I’ll walk away in a heartbeat,” he said.

Jackson’s one-year deal is reportedly for $2.7 million. Jordan, a free agent, said his deal might also be for one season.

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The New Jersey Nets reportedly will name John Nash as their new general manager. Nash resigned as the Washington Bullets’ general manager after the season.

Tennis

Richey Reneberg knocked fellow American Jim Courier out of the Gerry Weber Open with a 6-7 (7-3), 6-4, 6-2 victory in the quarterfinals at Halle, Germany. French Open champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov also advanced, defeating Sweden’s Magnus Larsson, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (13-11).

Monica Seles first defeated qualifier Ines Gorrochategui, 6-3, 6-1, and then defending champion Nathalie Tauziat, 6-4, 6-4, to advance to the final of the Eastbourne grass-court tournament in England.

Seles will face Mary Joe Fernandez, who won, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, over Conchita Martinez and then earned a 6-1, 2-6, 8-6 victory over Jana Novotna.

Jan Siemerink of the Netherlands and Sandon Stolle of Australia reached the final of the Nottingham Open grass-court tournament with straight-set victories in England. Siemerink, seeded fifth, defeated Britain’s Greg Rusedski, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3. Stolle won, 6-2, 6-4, against fellow Australian Todd Woodbridge. . . . Helena Sukova defeated fifth-seeded Judith Wiesner of Austria, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, in the semifinals of the Wilkinson Lady tennis championships at Rosmalen, Netherlands. Second-seeded Anke Huber of Germany also won, 6-7 (7-1), 6-1, 6-4, against Ruxandra Dragomir.

Motor Sports

Bobby Hamilton, driving for Richard Petty, earned the first pole of his Winston Cup career, taking the top qualifying spot for the Miller 400 at Michigan International Speedway at Brooklyn, Mich. . . . Jimmy Vasser edged Michael Andretti for the provisional pole during qualifying for the Budweiser-G.I. Joe’s 200 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. . . . Mike Skinner, seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive Craftsman Truck series victory, put his Chevrolet on the pole for the $267,875 Coca-Cola 200 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. . . . Blaine Johnson (top fuel), John Force (funny cars) and Rickie Smith (pro stock) led their categories after the first two rounds of qualifying in the NHRA Pennzoil Nationals at Millington, Tenn.

Miscellany

Receiver Jammi German and two defensive players were suspended by University of Miami football Coach Butch Davis for their role in the beating of the captain of the Miami track team.

Meanwhile, another Hurricane was arrested. Ricky Perry, a senior offensive lineman, was taken into custody by police on assault-and-battery charges in an apparent domestic dispute. Perry was charged in November 1995 with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and criminal mischief. The case has not gone to trial.

A woman’s body found near railroad tracks in a north Philadelphia neighborhood was identified as that of Aimee Willard, a lacrosse player at George Mason.

Host England plays Spain and France plays the Netherlands and in the first two European Championship soccer quarterfinals today.

The UCLA men’s water polo scholarship golf tournament will be Monday at Braemar Country Club in Tarzana. Details: (310) 206-6455.

Names in the News

James “Buster” Douglas fights Tony La Rosa in a 10-round heavyweight bout on the undercard of Roberto Duran’s 12-round middleweight pay-per-view match tonight against Hector Camacho at Atlantic City, N.J. . . . Arizona State named Charli Turner Thorne as its new women’s basketball coach. . . . UCLA high jumper Amy Acuff and shotputter Nada Kawar were named Academic All-Americans.