Sprewell Appeals Suspension, Previously Undisclosed Fine

Latrell Sprewell filed two appeals against the Knicks on Thursday in New York, including one for a $50,000 fine that was not previously disclosed.

Sprewell’s appeals were filed by the players’ union one day after his unofficial banishment from the team was lifted and he was allowed to return to practice.

The appeals were the second and third filed by Sprewell this month. He earlier appealed a $250,000 fine against him by the Knicks for failing to inform the team of a broken hand in early September.

Thursday’s appeals concerned a one-game suspension the team handed down Monday after Sprewell failed to follow the team’s rehabilitation instructions, along with a $50,000 fine for missing a private workout Thursday at the team’s practice facility.

The appeals will be heard by arbitrator Roger Kaplan, probably within the next three months.

Sprewell will argue that the fines and the suspension were unwarranted and excessive, union spokesman Dan Wasserman said.

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Indiana guard Reggie Miller, who has not played in any of the Pacers’ exhibition games, flew to Los Angeles for injection therapy treatment on his sprained right ankle and could miss the regular-season opener.

Miller was hurt in an exhibition game before the World Basketball Championship.

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The Minnesota Timberwolves, depleted by backcourt injuries, were close to reaching an agreement with free-agent point guard Rod Strickland, 36, his agent said.... The Washington Wizards traded point guard Chris Whitney to the Denver Nuggets for forward George McCloud, 35.... The Pacers waived former Laker center Greg Foster.