‘Coach Cheeks’ Goes to Portland

Any doubt about whether Maurice Cheeks will be the new coach of the Portland Trail Blazers was erased Wednesday night when the team’s first-round draft choice, Zach Randolph, let the secret out.

Various media outlets reported Wednesday that Cheeks, an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers the last seven years, would be named as the successor to Mike Dunleavy. Cheeks was expected to be formally introduced during a news conference at 11:30 EDT.

Though Philadelphia reporters were awaiting a conference call with Cheeks after the draft’s conclusion, the Trail Blazers would not confirm the hire. But Randolph, a freshman forward from Michigan State selected at No. 19, inadvertently let it slip.

Asked who he had talked to in the organization after he was selected, Randolph said General Manager Bob Whitsitt and “Coach Cheeks.”

Sacramento King point guard Jason Williams was traded along with Nick Anderson to the Vancouver Grizzlies for Mike Bibby and Brent Price.

The erratic Williams was unhappy as his playing time decreased last season, his third with the Kings. After the Kings were swept by the Lakers in this year’s playoffs, Williams openly questioned his role with the team and suggested he wanted to be traded.

The Lakers did not take part in the draft, having dealt first- and second-round picks away last summer, one, in part, for Horace Grant.

In about three weeks, the Lakers will learn if they can afford to bring back the veteran power forward.

The club has 10 players under contract for about $50 million in the 2001-02 season. Owner Jerry Buss apparently won’t spend through the luxury-tax ceiling, which probably will be set at $54 million or less. That doesn’t leave much to spend for the final five roster spots, and as a result it is possible the club won’t carry its allotment of 15 players.

Phil Jackson said he hoped to re-sign Grant, but added the Lakers could win with a power forward rotation of Robert Horry, Mark Madsen and Slava Medvedenko.

“This is something we have to accommodate,” the coach said of the luxury tax. “Players are going to have to bend with us.”