NBA Says Howard’s Deal With the Heat Exceeds Salary Cap

The NBA on Wednesday rejected the $98-million, seven-year deal Juwan Howard signed with the Miami Heat, contending the contract exceeds the team’s salary cap.

The league said the Heat “incorrectly calculated their available salary cap room” by excluding performance bonuses for Tim Hardaway and P.J. Brown.

Jeffrey Mishkin, the NBA’s chief legal officer, said the Heat also reached an agreement with Alonzo Mourning before signing Howard, further reducing the amount available. Mourning’s contract is for $112 million over seven years.

Travis Knight, the Chicago Bulls’ top draft pick, signed a free-agent contract with the Lakers. Knight, a 7-foot center, was drafted 29th overall by the Bulls, but Chicago renounced his rights three weeks ago to make salary cap room for next season. Knight averaged 9.1 points and a team-leading 9.3 rebounds last season for Connecticut. . . . Knight’s college teammate, Doron Sheffer, the Clippers’ second-round draft choice, announced he will return home and play for perennial Israeli champion Maccabi Tel Aviv after realizing his chances of making the Clippers were “close to zero.”

Jurisprudence

Joe Smith, the Golden State Warriors’ top draft pick last season, was arraigned on a charge that he hit and cut an male dancer with a bottle in Chesapeake, Va.

Smith did not enter a plea and did not comment. General District Court Judge Robert Carter scheduled a Sept. 16 preliminary hearing. Smith could face five to 20 years in prison if convicted on the felony charge of malicious wounding.

Ronnie Fields, a former Chicago prep standout touted as an NBA prospect, has been charged with misdemeanor criminal sexual abuse along with two of his acquaintances. Fields signed to play at DePaul University last winter, but was denied admission because of poor grades and test scores.

Auto Racing

Dale Earnhardt, who broke his left collarbone and sternum in a crash Sunday at Talladega, Ala., plans to race in the Indianapolis Brickyard 400 on Saturday despite the injuries.

Earnhardt, a seven-time Winston Cup champion, is in third place in the points race, trailing leader Jeff Gordon by 23 points and second-place Terry Labonte by 14. Earnhardt said he will practice today and hopes to qualify for Saturday’s race.

Miscellany

An NCAA committee barred Maine from postseason hockey competition for a second year in a row and placed the university on probation for four years. The penalties were imposed for rules violations that went on for a decade and involved more than half the school’s programs.

Al Rollins, the NHL’s top goalie in 1951 and the league’s MVP in 1954, died at age 69 in Calgary. . . . Running back Terrell Davis agreed to a five-year contract with the Broncos. . . . Laddie Gale, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame who helped lead Oregon to its first NCAA championship in 1939, died at age 79. . . . Arizona State pitching coach Bob Welch, who spent 17 years in the majors, resigned to seek a coaching job at the professional level.