Pacers Expected to Lose Jackson to Raptors

Free-agent point guard Mark Jackson agreed to a three-year, $15-million contract with the Toronto Raptors, a Toronto radio station reported Thursday.

The deal was to be announced at a news conference today, according to The Fan 590, the Raptors’ official broadcaster.

However, the team denied a deal was done. Jackson’s agent, Arn Tellem, said Thursday night that it “looks promising.”

Donnie Walsh, Indiana Pacer president, acknowledged the team probably wouldn’t be able to match a contract from a team with a lot of salary cap room.

Jackson, 35, has also played for the New York Knicks and Clippers during his 13-year career.

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A sign-and-trade deal that would send free-agent power forward Brian Grant to the Miami Heat has not been completed, the player’s agent said.

The Palm Beach Post, however, in a story for today’s editions, reported that an agreement in principle was reached among the Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Heat for the three-way deal.

Portland plans to sign Grant to a long-term deal, which will pay him $87 million over seven years, and then send him to Miami. Cavalier forward Shawn Kemp will go to Portland. Cleveland will get forwards Clarence Weatherspoon and Chris Gatling from Miami, and Portland will throw in Gary Grant, the newspaper reported.

In other news

Free-agent guard Jon Barry, 31, re-signed with Sacramento for a reported three years and $8 million. . . . Point guard John Crotty, 31, agreed to a one-year contract with the Utah, probably ending Howard Eisley’s tenure with the team. The deal comes two days after Utah re-signed Jacque Vaughn to be the No. 2 point guard behind John Stockton. . . . Former Clipper point guard Troy Hudson signed a free-agent contract with Orlando. . . . Free-agent forward Danny Ferry, 33, signed with San Antonio after 10 seasons with Cleveland. . . . Denver forward Antonio McDyess, disappointed at being left off the U.S. Olympic team, is now on a short list to replace Tim Duncan, who declined his roster spot because of a right knee injury. . . . The Lakers signed rookie guard Cory Hightower to a contract. Hightower, a 6-foot-8 guard who was the 54th pick in the NBA draft, was acquired from the Spurs for the Lakers’ second-round picks in 2001 and 2002. Meanwhile, consultant Bill Sharman, former Laker coach, general manager and president, was signed for two more years.