Anderson Expected to Join Portland

Free agent point guard Kenny Anderson has agreed to a contract with the Portland Trail Blazers worth $50 million over seven seasons, ESPN reported Tuesday.

However, Trail Blazer spokesman John Christensen said no announcement was planned and the team does not comment on such reports. Team President Bob Whitsitt was out of town and unavailable for comment.

A source close to the situation confirmed Anderson has spoken with the Trail Blazers but did not confirm a deal. ESPN’s report came only one day after Portland traded point guard Rod Strickland to the Washington Bullets.

Anderson, a five-year NBA veteran, was traded from the New Jersey Nets to the Charlotte Hornets last year. He averaged 15.2 points and 8.3 assists last season. Anderson left Georgia Tech after his sophomore season and was the second pick overall by the Nets in the 1991 draft.

His best statistical season came in 1993-94, when he averaged 18.8 points and 9.6 assists.

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The Dallas Mavericks agreed to terms with free-agent forward Chris Gatling on a five-year deal, bolstering a front line that was often a weak spot last season.

Team spokesman Kevin Sullivan said Tuesday evening that Gatling, who played in Miami last season, agreed in principle to contract terms. A news conference was set for this afternoon.

The 6-foot-10, 230-pound Gatling averaged 11.1 points and 5.9 rebounds with Golden State and Miami last season.

“His energy and his versatility are obviously something that make him attractive,” said Keith Grant, Maverick vice president of operations.

Dallas radio station KTCK-AM reported that the five-year contract was worth $22 million.

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Free-agent forward Don MacLean joined the Philadelphia 76ers.

Terms of the contract were not revealed, but sources indicated it is a four-year deal worth a little less than $3 million annually.

“I’m excited to be here,” said the former UCLA Bruin, who was with Denver most of last season after spending his first three pro seasons with the Washington Bullets. “The enthusiasm . . . they expressed to me is I think going to carry over into something special.”

MacLean, 6 feet 10, has averaged 12.2 points and 4.1 rebounds in his pro career.

The 76ers believe MacLean will provide depth and scoring.

“Don MacLean is a proven double-digit scorer,” General Manager Brad Greenberg said. “He’s competitive, mentally and physically tough, and dedicated to helping the 76ers create a positive, winning attitude.”

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The Atlanta Hawks, who were among the many teams busy in player movement Monday, have reached at agreement to re-sign guard Steve Smith, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in today’s editions.

The deal could be worth $45 million over seven years, the newspaper said.

Smith, 27, spent the past two seasons with the Hawks after being acquired along with Grant Long from the Miami Heat two games into the 1994-95 season.

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The Indiana Pacers reinforced their front line, re-signing free agents Dale Davis and Antonio Davis, who had already agreed to a new deal.

The Pacers refused to release details of the contracts, saying only that they were multiyear deals. Earlier reports valued Dale Davis’ contract at $42 million over seven years and Antonio Davis’ deal at $38.5 million for seven years, a figure Antonio Davis said was “too high.”

“Dale, along with Antonio, form a real formidable duo on our team,” Pacer President Donnie Walsh said in Indianapolis.

Dale Davis, Indiana’s first-round draft pick out of Clemson in 1991, is third on the team’s career rebounding list with 3,256. The 6-foot-11 forward averaged 10.3 points and 9.1 rebounds last season. Davis considered an offer from the Lakers before staying in Indiana.

Antonio Davis, who played in Europe for three years after the Pacers picked him in the second round of the 1990 draft, has been used mainly as a reserve.

Meanwhile, Walsh refused to answer questions regarding free agent Reggie Miller, the last of the team’s three free agents Walsh wanted to sign.

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The Seattle SuperSonics traded guard Vincent Askew to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for guard Greg Graham. The SuperSonics also renounced the rights to center-forward Frank Brickowski and center Ervin Johnson, said Wally Walker, Seattle president and general manager.

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A day after re-signing Hakeem Olajuwon and adding free-agent guard Brent Price, the Houston Rockets renounced their rights to guards Kenny Smith, and Eldridge Recasner and forwards Melvin Booker and Earl Cureton.

Smith, 31, is Houston’s career leader in three-point percentage at 40.7.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NBA Free-Agent Market

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED

Player: Chris Childs

95-96 Team: New Jersey

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Signed with New York Knicks for 6 years, $24 million

Player: Antonio Davis

95-96 Team: Indiana

Pos.: Center

Comment: Re-signed with Pacers for 7 years, $38.5 million

Player: Dale Davis

95-96 Team: Indiana

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Re-signed with Pacers for 7 years, $42 million

Player: Allan Houston

95-96 Team: Detroit

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Signed by New York Knicks for 7 years, $56 million

Player: Juwan Howard

95-96 Team: Washington

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Signed with Miami Heat for 7 years, $98 million

Player: Michael Jordan

95-96 Team: Chicago

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with Bulls for 1 year, $30 million

Player: Don MacLean

95-96 Team: Denver

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Signed with Philadelphia 76ers for 4 years, $12 million

Player: Tracy Murray

95-96 Team: Toronto

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Signed with Washington Bullets, undisclosed

Player: Dikembe Mutombo

95-96 Team: Denver

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with Atlanta Hawks for 5 years, $50 million

Player: Gary Payton

95-96 Team: Seattle

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with SuperSonics for 7 years, $85 million

Player: Sam Perkins

95-96 Team: Seattle

Pos.: Center

Comment: Re-signed with SuperSonics for 2 years, undisclosed

Player: Brent Price

95-96 Team: Washington

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Signed with Houston Rockets for 7 years, $18.2 million

Player: Sean Rooks

95-96 Team: Atlanta

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with the Lakers, undisclosed

ALL BUT WRAPPED UP

Player: Kenny Anderson

95-96 Team: Charlotte

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to sign with Trail Blazers

Player: Chris Gatling

95-96 Team: Miami

Position: Center

Comment: Agreed with Mavericks for 5 years, $22 million

Player: Tim Hardaway

95-96 Team: Miami

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Heat

Player: Reggie Miller

95-96 Team: Indiana

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Pacers

Player: Alonzo Mourning

95-96 Team: Miami

Position: Center

Comment: Agreed to terms with the Heat for 7 years, $105 million

Player: Steve Smith

95-96 Team: Atlanta

Position: Gurard

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Hawks

Player: John Stockton

95-96 Team: Utah

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Jazz

STILL ON THE RACK

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Player Team Pos. Hersey Hawkins Seattle Guard Derek Harper New York Guard Dan Majerle Cleveland Guard Robert Pack Washington Guard Steve Smith Atlanta Guard Latrell Sprewell Golden State Guard P.J. Brown New Jersey Forward Mario Elie Houston Forward Chris Gatling Miami Forward Armon Gilliam New Jersey Forward Brian Grant Sacramento Forward Horace Grant Orlando Forward Dennis Rodman Chicago Forward Otis Thorpe Detroit Forward Elden Campbell Lakers Center Jim McIlvane Washington Center Oliver Miller Toronto Center Shaquille O’Neal Orlando Center Brian Williams Clippers Center

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