Dunleavy Honored as Top Coach

Mike Dunleavy of the Portland Trail Blazers was presented with the Red Auerbach Trophy as the NBA’s coach of the year Friday at a ceremony in Portland’s Rose Garden.

Dunleavy, who preaches the team concept and tries to downplay individual honors, said: “This is a little embarrassing to me. I just hope our players understand that this is really a team award, and that I’m really proud of them. I look at it as an award for being the most improved team.”

Dunleavy received 48 of a possible 118 votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Philadelphia’s Larry Brown was second with 23 votes, followed by Utah’s Jerry Sloan (15).

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The Chicago Bulls, coming off their worst season (13-37) in franchise history, are among 12 teams that will participate in today’s draft lottery in Secaucus, N.J. Vancouver has a 25% chance of getting the first pick, the Clippers a 20% chance and the Bulls a 16% chance. Other teams in the lottery include Minnesota, Washington, Boston, Phoenix, Golden State, Cleveland, Toronto, Seattle and Charlotte.

Minnesota and Phoenix were playoff teams, but each has a spot in the lottery because of trades. Minnesota, which was beaten by San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs, is in because it owns New Jersey’s pick, acquired in the Stephon Marbury trade. Phoenix, beaten by Portland in the playoffs, has Dallas’ pick because of a trade involving Steve Nash last year.

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Players union lawyer Ron Klempner said the grievance filed on behalf of Latrell Sprewell against the New York Knicks will be shelved until after the playoffs.

Sprewell was fined $25,000 by Madison Square Garden President Dave Checketts in April after his agent, Robert Gist, was quoted as saying Sprewell would demand an off-season trade if the Knicks persist in using him off the bench. Sprewell says he hasn’t wavered.