Portland Gets Rider, Signs Anderson

In a frenetic day of deals, the Portland Trail Blazers were the most frantic.

Anxious to rid themselves of discontented point guard Rod Strickland and sign Kenny Anderson to fill his spot, the Blazers were finally able to do so when Washington agreed to acquire Strickland Tuesday.

As if that was not enough, Portland acquired troublesome guard Isaiah Rider from Minnesota.

Anderson reportedly signed for seven years in the $50-million range. He turned down a six-year, $42 million offer from the Nets early last season and said he was determined to shake off doubts about his talent and assume a leadership role.

The Strickland deal, announced more than a week ago, was finalized when Washington agreed to waive a requirement that Strickland take a physical exam.

Strickland never took his physical, reportedly because he wanted more money from the Bullets. The deal also sent Harvey Grant to Washington, bringing forward Rasheed Wallace and guard Mitchell Butler to Portland.

The Rider deal sent backup guard James Robinson and backup forward Bill Curley to Minnesota along with a No. 1 draft pick in 1997 or 1998, at Portland’s option.

Both Anderson and Rider are 25. Anderson was the second pick overall in the 1991 draft out of Georgia Tech. Rider, taken fifth in the 1993 draft out of Nevada Las Vegas, has four years and $17 million left on a seven-year contract.

Portland also renounced its rights to Buck Williams, Rumeal Robinson and Elmore Spencer. Williams, a 15-year veteran forward, was only remaining player from Portland teams that made the 1990 and 1992 NBA finals.

Rider led Minnesota in scoring last season, averaging 19.6 points. But his promising career has been tainted by numerous off-court incidents and chronic disciplinary problems.

Last week, Rider was arrested in Oakland on a misdemeanor charge of gambling in public. It was his third brush with the law since June.

“I think a change had to be made . . . for our organization. A change probably had to be made for J.R. Rider,” Minnesota General Manager Kevin McHale said.

The Blazers also re-signed free agent forward Dontonio Wingfield to a multiyear contract.

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Free agent guard Steve Smith re-signed with the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, agreeing to a seven-year deal that reportedly is worth at least $45 million.

Smith, who averaged a team-high 18.1 points last season, said the addition of free agent center Dikembe Mutombo was a factor in the decision.

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The Toronto Raptors traded for one of the NBA’s top rebounders, acquiring Popeye Jones from the Dallas Mavericks.

Toronto also got a first-round draft pick from Dallas and sent the Mavericks guard Jimmy King and a pair of second-round picks.

Jones, 6 foot 8, averaged 11.3 points and 10.8 rebounds last season. He also averaged 3.8 offensive rebounds a game, fourth best in the league.

King, 6-5, a member of Michigan’s “Fab Five” in college, averaged 4.5 points.

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Although details of a three-year contract are in place, it appears likely the Lakers and Kobe Bryant will wait another month to sign the deal to avoid technicalities that come with employing a minor. He turns 18 on Aug. 23. . . . Former Atlanta Hawk guard Craig Ehlo signed a three-year guaranteed contract with the Seattle SuperSonics. Terms of the contract were not announced. . . . The Orlando Magic signed first-round draft selection Brian Evans to a three-year contract worth $1.58 million. . . . The Phoenix Suns are expected to announce the signing of first-round draft pick Steve Nash today. Nash, a 6-foot-3 guard, averaged 17 points for Santa Clara. He played for Canada in the 1994 World Championships.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NBA Free-Agent Market

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED

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Player: P.J. Brown

95-96 Team: New Jersey

Pos.: Forward

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

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Player: Elden Campbell

95-96 Team: Lakers

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Re-signed with Lakers for 7 years, $49 million

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Player: Chris Childs

95-96 Team: New Jersey

Pos.: Guard

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

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Player: Antonio Davis

95-96 Team: Indiana

Pos.: Center

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

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Player: Dale Davis

95-96 Team: Indiana

Pos.: Forward

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

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Player: Dale Ellis

95-96 Team: Denver

Pos.: Forward

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

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Player: Ghris Gatling

95-96 Team: Miami

Pos.: Center

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

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Player: Horace Grant

95-96 Team: Orlando

Pos.: Forward

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

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Player: Tim Hardaway

95-96 Team: Miami

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with the Heat, undisclosed

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Player: Hersey Hawkins

95-96 Team: Seattle

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with SuperSonics for 5 years, undisclosed

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Player: Allan Houston

95-96 Team: Detroit

Pos.: Guard

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

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Player: Juwan Howard

95-96 Team: Washington

Pos.: Forward

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

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Player: Ervin Johnson

95-96 Team: Seattle

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with Denver Nuggets 7 years, undisclosed

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Player: Michael Jordan

95-96 Team: Chicago

Pos.: Guard

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

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Player: Don MacLean

95-96 Team: Denver

Pos.: Forward

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

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Player: Jim McIlvaine

95-96 Team: Washington

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with Seattle SuperSonics for 7 years, $35 million

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Player: Tracy Murray

95-96 Team: Toronto

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Signed with Washington Bullets, undisclosed

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Player: Dikembe Mutombo

95-96 Team: Denver

Pos.: Center

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

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Player: Shaquille O’Neal

95-96 Team: Orlando

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with Lakers for 7 years, $120 million

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Player: Gary Payton

95-96 Team: Seattle

Pos.: Guard

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

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Player: Sam Perkins

95-96 Team: Seattle

Pos.: Center

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

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Player: Brent Price

95-96 Team: Washington

Pos.: Guard

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

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Player: Mark Price

95-96 Team: Washington

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Signed with Golden State Warriors, undisclosed

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Player: Sean Rooks

95-96 Team: Atlanta

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with the Lakers, undisclosed

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Player: Latrell Sprewell

95-96 Team: Golden State

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with Warriors for four years, $32 million

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Player: Bryant Stith

95-96 Team: Denver

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with the Nuggets for 5 years, $22 million

ALL BUT WRAPPED UP

Player: Kenny Anderson

95-96 Team: Charlotte

Position: Guard

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

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Player: Reggie Miller

95-96 Team: Indiana

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Pacers

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Player: Alonzo Mourning

95-96 Team: Miami

Position: Center

Comment: Agreed to terms with the Heat for 7 years, $122 million

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Player: Steve Smith

95-96 Team: Atlanta

Position: Guard

Comment: Agreed to terms with Hawks, undisclosed

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Player: John Stockton

95-96 Team: Utah

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Jazz

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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. Derek Harper New York Guard Dan Majerle Cleveland Guard Robert Pack Washington Guard Mario Elie Houston Forward Armon Gilliam New Jersey Forward Brian Grant Sacramento Forward Otis Thorpe Detroit Forward Oliver Miller Toronto Center Brian Williams Clippers Center

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