Even a P.J. Brown Can Strike It Rich
P.J. Brown signed with the Miami Heat Thursday, saying he wanted to play with a team “going in the right direction.”
Brown, a 6-foot-11 forward who played for the New Jersey Nets last season, signed a seven-year contract worth $36 million.
“I think I’m still in a dream right now, not only to be financially secure, but to play for a coach that I’ve seen since I was a young kid,” said Brown. “I know this organization is going in the right direction and I want to be part of it.”
Miami Coach Pat Riley called Brown a “defensive force who can play virtually any position.”
The Heat has also signed free-agent forward Juwan Howard (seven years, $98 million) and holdover guard Tim Hardaway (terms not disclosed) and has a verbal agreement from center Alonzo Mourning on terms of seven years and $110 million.
Heat owner Micky Arison said he will lose money “until we get in a new arena [in 1998]. The question was, were we going to do nothing and let our fan base waste away or be aggressive? We decided to make ourselves better.”
NBA Notes
Guard Rod Strickland delayed the Portland Trail Blazers’ personnel plans when refused a physical for the Washington Bullets, demanding more money from his new team. Strickland was traded to Washington with forward Harvey Grant for forward Rasheed Wallace and guard Mitchell Butler. The teams have until Monday to complete the trade. . . . Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the Trail Blazers would announce a trade for forward Isaiah Rider as soon as salary-cap details are worked out involving the contract of free-agent point guard Kenny Anderson (seven years, $50 million). Rider would be part of a three-player deal that would send guard James Robinson and forward Bill Curley to Minnesota. . . . Guard Stephon Marbury, acquired in a draft-day trade by the Timberwolves, signed a three-year contract worth $5.67 million. . . . Free-agent guard Bryant Stith re-signed with the Denver Nuggets for five years and $22 million.
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
NBA Free-Agent Market
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
Player: P.J. Brown
95-96 Team: New Jersey
Pos.: Forward
Comment: Signed with the Miami Heat for 7 years, $35 million
Player: Chris Childs
95-96 Team: New Jersey
Pos.: Guard
Comment: Signed with New York Knicks for 6 years, $24 million
Player: Antonio Davis
95-96 Team: Indiana
Pos.: Center
Comment: Re-signed with Pacers for 7 years, $38.5 million
Player: Dale Davis
95-96 Team: Indiana
Pos.: Forward
Comment: Re-signed with Pacers for 7 years, $42 million
Player: Ghris Gatling
95-96 Team: Miami
Pos.: Center
Comment: Signed with Mavericks for 5 years, $22 million
Player: Horace Grant
95-96 Team: Orlando
Pos.: Forward
Comment: Re-signed with Magic for five years, $50 million
Player: Tim Hardaway
95-96 Team: Miami
Pos.: Guard
Comment: Re-signed with the Heat, undisclosed
Player: Allan Houston
95-96 Team: Detroit
Pos.: Guard
Comment: Signed by New York Knicks for 7 years, $56 million
Player: Juwan Howard
95-96 Team: Washington
Pos.: Forward
Comment: Signed with Miami Heat for 7 years, $98 million
Player: Michael Jordan
95-96 Team: Chicago
Pos.: Guard
Comment: Re-signed with Bulls for 1 year, $30 million
Player: Don MacLean
95-96 Team: Denver
Pos.: Forward
Comment: Signed with Philadelphia 76ers for 4 years, $12 million
Player: Tracy Murray
95-96 Team: Toronto
Pos.: Forward
Comment: Signed with Washington Bullets, undisclosed
Player: Dikembe Mutombo
95-96 Team: Denver
Pos.: Center
Comment: Signed with Atlanta Hawks for 5 years, $50 million
Player: Shaquille O’Neal
95-96 Team: Orlando
Pos.: Center
Comment: Signed with Lakers for 7 years, $120 million
Player: Gary Payton
95-96 Team: Seattle
Pos.: Guard
Comment: Re-signed with SuperSonics for 7 years, $85 million
Player: Sam Perkins
95-96 Team: Seattle
Pos.: Center
Comment: Re-signed with SuperSonics for 2 years, undisclosed
Player: Brent Price
95-96 Team: Washington
Pos.: Guard
Comment: Signed with Houston Rockets for 7 years, $18.2 million
Player: Sean Rooks
95-96 Team: Atlanta
Pos.: Center
Comment: Signed with the Lakers, undisclosed
Player: Bryant Stith
95-96 Team: Denver
Pos.: Guard
Comment: Re-signed with the Nuggets, undisclosed
ALL BUT WRAPPED UP
Player: Kenny Anderson
95-96 Team: Charlotte
Position: Guard
Comment: Expected to sign with Portland for 7 years, $50 million
Player: Ervin Johnson
95-96 Team: Seattle
Position: Center
Comment: Agreed to terms with Denver for 7 years, undisclosed
Player: Reggie Miller
95-96 Team: Indiana
Position: Guard
Comment: Expected to re-sign with Pacers
Player: Alonzo Mourning
95-96 Team: Miami
Position: Center
Comment: Agreed to terms with the Heat for 7 years, $122 million
Player: Steve Smith
95-96 Team: Atlanta
Position: Gurard
Comment: Expected to re-sign with Hawks
Player: John Stockton
95-96 Team: Utah
Position: Guard
Comment: Expected to re-sign with Jazz
Player: Dennis Rodman
95-96 Team: Chicago
Position: Forward
Comment: Expected to re-sign with Bulls
STILL ON THE RACK
*--*
Player Team Pos. Hersey Hawkins Seattle Guard Derek Harper New York Guard Dan Majerle Cleveland Guard Robert Pack Washington Guard Latrell Sprewell Golden State Guard Mario Elie Houston Forward Armon Gilliam New Jersey Forward Brian Grant Sacramento Forward Otis Thorpe Detroit Forward Elden Campbell Lakers Center Jim McIlvane Washington Center Oliver Miller Toronto Center Brian Williams Clippers Center
*--*
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