Pacers Get Mullin From Warriors for Two Players

Chris Mullin was traded by the Golden State Warriors to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday for second-year center Erick Dampier and veteran backup forward Duane Ferrell. Mullin, a five-time all-star, also received a multiyear contract extension.

The trade for the 34-year-old swingman, who has battled injuries for the last several seasons but proved in 1996-97 that he could still produce, gives the Pacers a boost in scoring at small forward and reunites Mullin with his former Dream Team teammate, Indiana Coach Larry Bird. Golden State gains size and depth.

Mullin had a year remaining on his contract. The new deal is believed to be for three more seasons.

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Kevin Garnett has turned down a $103-million, six-year contract extension from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Garnett, who will earn $2.1 million in the final season of the deal he signed as a rookie, is seeking a package worth $132 million over the six years, according to the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. . . . The NBA is investigating whether the Vancouver Grizzlies and their top draft choice, Antonio Daniels, have already agreed to a contract, which, if true, would severely limit Vancouver’s spending power in pursuit of free agents. Daniels said his comments Saturday to a Toledo (Ohio) television station were taken out of context--comments that included, “Everything is finished,” and, “The contract is done.

Swimming

For the second time in 11 days, Lenny Krayzelburg of USC set an American record in the 200-meter backstroke, going 1 minute 57.87 seconds at the Pan Pacific swimming meet in Fukuoka, Japan. The victory gave the 21-year-old Krayzelburg a sweep of the backstroke events. Finishing third was his Trojan Swim Club teammate, Brad Bridgewater, who won the 200 backstroke at the 1996 Olympics.

Neil Walker also set an American record, winning the 100 butterfly in 52.76. American Jenny Thompson earned two more gold medals, winning the 100 butterfly and anchoring the 400-meter freestyle relay.

Tennis

Brett Steven continued a solid summer stretch by upsetting an unsteady Jim Courier in the second round of the Pilot Pen International in New Haven, Conn., 6-2, 6-2.

Courier never found his rhythm en route to losing his third consecutive opening match since winning the Infiniti Open at UCLA last month. He later acknowledged still being bothered by a minor arm injury he suffered at the Los Angeles tournament, but did not use it as an excuse for his performance.

Two days after winning the Acura Classic in Manhattan Beach, Monica Seles advanced to the third round of the du Maurier Open with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Asa Carlsson in Toronto. Seles arrived Monday and said she had practiced only five minutes before the match.

Miscellany

The NCAA Division I board of directors is expected to announce a one-year delay of a controversial new rule permitting athletes to hold part-time jobs.

Hailed as a major victory by athletes who traditionally had no voice in NCAA policy, the proposal was adopted in January at the NCAA’s last major convention.

The rule was to have taken effect Aug. 31 and would have allowed Division I athletes to work part-time so long as they do not earn more than the difference between the value of their scholarships and their schools’ estimated full cost of attendance. Generally, this would range between $1,000 and $2,500.

The city of Denver and Ascent Entertainment Group announced an agreement to build a $165-million arena for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA and the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL. . . . The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired the rights to defenseman Jiri Slegr from the Edmonton Oilers for a third-round pick in the 1998 NHL entry draft. Slegr played for Vancouver and Edmonton from 1992-1996, but played last season for Sodertalje of the Swedish elite league.

A day after being dropped by New Mexico State’s basketball team, guard Denmark Reid admitted to an alcohol problem and apologized for driving into several parked cars and other obstacles during a drinking binge last week. . . . Kansas State basketball player Manny Dies has been ordered to stand trial in November on charges of assaulting a columnist for the school newspaper. Riley County District Judge David Stutzman scheduled trial for Nov. 12-13. Dies faces misdemeanor charges of criminal damage to property, assault and criminal trespass in the May 5 incident in which he allegedly broke into the apartment of Todd Stewart, who wrote in a column that Dies was the worst player in the history of college basketball. Another player, Pero Vasiljevic, is charged with assault and criminal trespass. Both have pleaded not guilty.