NBA Deal Is Signed and Real Dealing Begins

The NBA and the players’ union finally made labor peace Thursday, signing a collective bargaining agreement that opened the richest free-agent market in league history.

By nightfall, offers worth tens of millions of dollars already were on the table.

The six-year labor deal, which extends through the 2000-2001 season, was signed at a New York law office only a few minutes before 2 p.m. PDT, when a 10-day moratorium on signings, trades and negotiations was to expire.

Minutes later, agents and general managers were on the phones, talking business legally for the first time since June 30.

Deals were few and far between. Besides the Laker trade of Vlade Divac to Charlotte for Kobe Bryant, Milwaukee acquired center Andrew Lang from Minnesota for a first-round draft pick.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers are waiting to hear if Brad Daugherty’s latest checkup will free them of the injured player’s $5 million contract.

Daugherty was examined by a league doctor this week. The center has not played a game in two years because of a back injury. Daugherty reportedly decided to retire, then said he was not ready to call it quits until he got another doctor’s opinion.

Cleveland had no idea if Daugherty’s salary would count toward the cap. If Daugherty is ruled medically unable to play, it won’t.

“Brad met with the doctors, and we are waiting to hear from the NBA on what their final determination is,” Cleveland General Manager Wayne Embry said.

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Robert Parish, who played in more games than any other NBA player, left little doubt that he will retire after 20 seasons.

“I think my basketball career is about over,” he said in an interview with Boston’s WHDH-TV. “I really haven’t made an official decision, but I’m leaning toward retirement right now. I think Robert Parish is about done.”

Parish, at 42, the oldest player in the NBA, spent the last two seasons as a backup center with the Charlotte Hornets after 14 years with the Boston Celtics.

Parish, who will be 43 on Aug. 30, has played 1,568 games, eight more than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

NBA Notes

The Clippers waived center Keith Tower, who averaged 2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 34 games last season.