Even a P.J. Brown Can Strike It Rich

P.J. Brown signed with the Miami Heat Thursday, saying he wanted to play with a team “going in the right direction.”

Brown, a 6-foot-11 forward who played for the New Jersey Nets last season, signed a seven-year contract worth $36 million.

“I think I’m still in a dream right now, not only to be financially secure, but to play for a coach that I’ve seen since I was a young kid,” said Brown. “I know this organization is going in the right direction and I want to be part of it.”

Miami Coach Pat Riley called Brown a “defensive force who can play virtually any position.”

The Heat has also signed free-agent forward Juwan Howard (seven years, $98 million) and holdover guard Tim Hardaway (terms not disclosed) and has a verbal agreement from center Alonzo Mourning on terms of seven years and $110 million.

Heat owner Micky Arison said he will lose money “until we get in a new arena [in 1998]. The question was, were we going to do nothing and let our fan base waste away or be aggressive? We decided to make ourselves better.”

NBA Notes

Guard Rod Strickland delayed the Portland Trail Blazers’ personnel plans when refused a physical for the Washington Bullets, demanding more money from his new team. Strickland was traded to Washington with forward Harvey Grant for forward Rasheed Wallace and guard Mitchell Butler. The teams have until Monday to complete the trade. . . . Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the Trail Blazers would announce a trade for forward Isaiah Rider as soon as salary-cap details are worked out involving the contract of free-agent point guard Kenny Anderson (seven years, $50 million). Rider would be part of a three-player deal that would send guard James Robinson and forward Bill Curley to Minnesota. . . . Guard Stephon Marbury, acquired in a draft-day trade by the Timberwolves, signed a three-year contract worth $5.67 million. . . . Free-agent guard Bryant Stith re-signed with the Denver Nuggets for five years and $22 million.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NBA Free-Agent Market

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED

Player: P.J. Brown

95-96 Team: New Jersey

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Signed with the Miami Heat for 7 years, $35 million

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: Ghris Gatling

95-96 Team: Miami

Pos.: Center

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

Player: Horace Grant

95-96 Team: Orlando

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Re-signed with Magic for five years, $50 million

Player: Tim Hardaway

95-96 Team: Miami

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with the Heat, undisclosed

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: Shaquille O’Neal

95-96 Team: Orlando

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with Lakers for 7 years, $120 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

Player: Bryant Stith

95-96 Team: Denver

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with the Nuggets, undisclosed

ALL BUT WRAPPED UP

Player: Kenny Anderson

95-96 Team: Charlotte

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to sign with Portland for 7 years, $50 million

Player: Ervin Johnson

95-96 Team: Seattle

Position: Center

Comment: Agreed to terms with Denver for 7 years, undisclosed

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, $122 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

Player: Dennis Rodman

95-96 Team: Chicago

Position: Forward

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Bulls

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 Latrell Sprewell Golden State Guard Mario Elie Houston Forward Armon Gilliam New Jersey Forward Brian Grant Sacramento Forward Otis Thorpe Detroit Forward Elden Campbell Lakers Center Jim McIlvane Washington Center Oliver Miller Toronto Center Brian Williams Clippers Center

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