Unofficially, of Course, Rodman Looks Finished

Spree is a Knick, Scottie’s a Rocket, Dennis is an actor.

The NBA is being reshaped daily in the murky half-light of this weird moment in its history, as players are signed and traded and the details leaked to media outlets, without official acknowledgment.

Until the league and the union iron out their last disagreements and OK a final draft, Commissioner David Stern won’t formally lift the blackout and let players and teams consummate deals.

This is considered a formality. Union counsel Jeff Kessler predicted they would finish Tuesday, meaning camps can open Thursday. Because Kessler has been one of the major stumbling blocks in the process, this seems a positive sign.

Unfortunately, that means all transactions will have to remain unofficial until Thursday, but here’s what has happened so far, reportedly:

Dennis Rodman retires.

This one is official (hopefully) because Rodman’s agent, Dwight Manley, announced it.

“He doesn’t want to play,” Manley said. “He wants to go into the sports and entertainment field. Some people have convinced him that he wants to become a movie star.”

Translation: Rodman had no basketball offers from decent teams, or any teams.

Rodman, however, later denied it all, saying, “I’m not going to play this year. I am in limbo, but I’m not going to say I’m retired.”

The Bulls were through with him as soon as Michael Jordan retired. The Knicks apparently thought about signing him, but Madison Square Garden President Dave Checketts knew everyone would just bring up that quote from the ’96 playoffs, when he said the Knicks “would never stoop to that level.”

The Lakers need a power forward too, which is what Rodman is. They insist--heatedly--they have no interest.

Or, as one official put it when asked Tuesday, “[Expletive] no!”

Rodman won seven rebounding titles and played on five championship teams, two in Detroit, three in Chicago. He was the best rebounder, pound for pound, who ever lived, and, I feel, the greatest defender who ever played.

He managed to obscure it through the ‘90s with his tiresome antics, and what he did for youth fashion in this nation, few parents can ever forgive.

Best of luck in your new career, Dennis. Just don’t come back.

Warriors trade Latrell Sprewell to the Knicks for John Starks and Chris Mills.

The Warriors had more than a year to work on this and still messed it up.

The package they took sounds less attractive than the one from Miami--Jamal Mashburn, Brent Barry, Dan Majerle--they rejected. Starks and Mills are OK, if not stars to rebuild around, and they’re on long-term deals. Starks makes $5 million for two more seasons, Mills averages $5 million for six more.

As for the Knicks’ end of it, let’s just say the home of those merciless tabloids might not be the best place for Sprewell.

Bulls trade Scottie Pippen to Houston for Roy Rogers and a No. 2 pick, trade Luc Longley to Phoenix for Martin Muursepp, Mark Bryant and Bubba Wells.

Well, looks like that rebuilding program the Bulls have been preparing for so long is finally under way, doesn’t it?

These are “trades,” only because Bull General Manager Jerry Krause agreed to take whatever flotsam and jetsam the Rockets and Suns were willing to donate. Pippen and Longley were free agents who were about to sign with those teams.

Pippen, of course, joins Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley to give Houston at least a hope of contending.

Just what the Suns think Longley will do for them remains to be seen.

Minnesota sends guard Micheal Williams to Toronto, which sends guard Chauncey Billups to Denver, which sends center Dean Garrett and guard Bobby Jackson to the Timberwolves. Toronto additionally gets a No. 1 pick from each.

Good deal for the Timberwolves, who get their center back, plus a promising guard in Jackson, who wore out his welcome in Denver when he turned insolent late in the Nuggets’ miserable season.

The Nuggets get Billups, the local hero from Colorado, who was such a flop with the Celtics and Raptors.

Who can tell what the Raptors are up to? One moment, they’re insisting they’re keeping graybeards Kevin Willis and Charles Oakley. The next, they’re trading for picks.

Seattle trades Jim McIlvaine to the Nets for Don MacLean and Michael Cage.

McIlvaine is a good backup center, which is what he was until the SuperSonics gave him that $35-million contract, George Karl decided he didn’t fit in their trapping defense and Shawn Kemp decided he was upset because McIlvaine made all that money.

Cage isn’t what he was. McLean sat out last season because of a knee injury and is trying to reclaim his career. Unless he does in a big way, chalk one up for the Nets.

Antonio McDyess narrows his choices to Denver and Phoenix, rejecting Houston and Chicago.

“Houston and Chicago are out of the picture,” agent James Bryant said. “Tony has analyzed the situation carefully, and he’s most at home with those two options: Phoenix is going to stay a winner and Denver is going to be a winner.”

Huh?

This looks like a charade, with McDyess slated for Denver.

When he was represented by Arn Tellem, who’s on good terms with Sun owner Jerry Colangelo, it looked like McDyess was locked up.

Then Tellem fell out of the picture. McDyess moved to Houston and signed with Bryant, a partner of Tony Dutt, who represents new Nugget Nick Van Exel. McDyess became friendly with new Nugget assistant John Lucas, who also lives in Houston.

The Nuggets have agreed to terms on another deal, sending this year’s No. 1 to Orlando for Johnny Taylor and rookie Keon Clark--another Dutt client.

Meanwhile, Colangelo says he has had a hard time reaching Dutt or Bryant.

More decisions await McDyess. If he leaves, Colangelo is expected to pursue Tom Gugliotta.

Meanwhile, back in Belgrade, Vlade Divac is reportedly waiting to see where McDyess lands, and if Denver has an interest in him too.

Lakers send Tony Battie to Boston for Travis Knight.

Jerry West had bigger things in mind, but sometimes you have to take what you can get.

Loy Vaught is reported close to terms on a five-year, $23-million deal with the Pistons.

The Clipper stalwart lasted eight good seasons before sitting out 1997-98 because of back surgery. The Clippers’ young forwards made him expendable. He leaves without the farewell he deserved but with the respect of anyone who saw him play.