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Is Robinson now spurred on by money?
Published July 8, 2001


He read to kids on Sesame Street, cut short a Hawaiian vacation a year ago to keep Tim Duncan with the Spurs, displayed the type of loyalty to San Antonio that led voters to agree to a new arena.

It can be argued that over the past decade, David Robinson has been the feel-good story of the NBA.

And then came this summer's free agency. Now some around the Spurs' organization aren't thinking quite as benevolently about the franchise cornerstone.

After indicating his goal this summer would be the greater good of the franchise, the 7-foot-1 center has decided that, at 35, he wants more than an honorarium.

Therein lies the rub for the Spurs.

The approach in the wake of last summer's re-signing of Duncan was that this would be the summer the Spurs would get their other long-term obligations in order. Robinson graciously would take a cut from last season's $14.7 million salary. Derek Anderson would get his payoff for playing for the $2.25 million salary-cap exception last season. And perhaps one more supporting player would be added for another run at the Lakers.

No so fast -- at least according to Robinson's agent.

Somehow, the $7.5 million the Spurs had budgeted for Robinson for next season suddenly became an insult. That has Anderson wondering how much longer he can afford to wait this summer to get his cut from San Antonio. And, all the while, Duncan twists in the wind, under contract to a team at an impasse with its other twin tower.

Understand, only the Clippers, Bulls and Pistons are in position to offer Robinson more than the $7.5 million San Antonio is offering. And, with no disrespect to Robinson, it's not as if he has played as a stand-alone center for a while. Derek Strong, Michael Ruffin and Ben Wallace are not exactly the bodyguards of choice.

"David wants to make fair-market value," agent Jeff Austin said after reportedly shopping Robinson to the Pistons.

The whole issue makes one wonder whether the elevator doesn't eventually stop reaching the top for enduring centers.

In Houston, Hakeem Olajuwon still has visions of a $10 million salary.

For Patrick Ewing, it still will come down to dollars, according to his close friend Alonzo Mourning, even though there seemingly could be no better final resting place than with the capped-out Heat and former Knicks mentor Pat Riley.

Robinson, Olajuwon and Ewing all have had dignified careers. But at some point -- and pardon the extreme naivete here -- it has to get beyond the money.

It was demanding enough last season watching Ewing in the hunter green and scarlet red of the Sonics. It would be difficult to envision Olajuwon in anything but the colors of the Rockets. And it would be downright unfortunate if $7.5 million wasn't enough to keep Robinson in his only NBA home.

"This is the first time in a long time that his future in San Antonio is not guaranteed," Austin said, with Robinson a free agent for the first time in his career. "The Spurs haven't made the right offer."

For 12 seasons, Robinson has done right by the Spurs and the Spurs have done right by Robinson.

Last summer, Duncan stuck by his friend. Then Anderson made his commitment.

That an NBA player is seeking every last dollar is hardly surprising.

But that David Robinson would allow himself to sink to that level is.

Let's hope this all proves to be agent-related claptrap, with Robinson relaxing in Hawaii, taking it all in with the grin of a truly knowing veteran.

Raising the ante

Free agency certainly does make strange bedfellows. But for as much of a show as Antonio Davis put on last week in Chicago, why on earth would the free-agent center get in bed with the Bulls?

Davis insisted his visit to Chicago was legitimate. Agent Bill Duffy said all the right things.

Yes, Chicago can pay way more than the $7 million Davis opted out of in Toronto, more than Orlando can scrape together. But the Bulls stink, and likely will for years to come, as their prime talent base passes through puberty. The last time we checked, Davis was 32, coming off a brilliant season, but nearing the twilight, nonetheless.

Granted Davis' in-laws are from the Chicago area, but this is a player who only has a three- or four-year window of prime contribution available.

To its advantage, Chicago does have the ability to bring in another top-tier free agent along with Davis. As a matter of perspective, consider that last summer, when on the verge of signing Eddie Jones, the Bulls told the guard they also would attempt to meet his desires of playing alongside former Temple teammate Aaron McKie.

With the Raptors, Davis could challenge for the East title. With the Magic, the possibilities could be even grander. With Chicago, it is doubtful he could prove more than an expensive babysitter.

The 7th season

It is one thing to overpay when a player still is at the top of his game, so don't begrudge the likes of Chris Webber, Michael Finley and Allan Houston for what they receive this summer.

It is another thing to keep paying long after the luster is gone.

That has become the biggest problem in free agency -- the seven-year maximum on contract lengths. Like everything else free agent in nature, the maximum length has become de rigueur.

It is why Brian Grant will receive $15 million from the Heat in 2006-2007, when he is 35, and Jones $16 million from the Heat in '06-07, when he is 35.

Webber is looking at even greater money in 2008, when he will be 35. Houston will receive a similar payoff in '07, when he is 36.

There is no doubting the value of a star when he is in his prime. But what the NBA is creating is a genus of player who collects with too great a paycheck long after the payoff is gone.

Freedom factor

Perhaps Grizzlies coach Sidney Lowe should be more careful in choosing his words.

Upon introducing Jason Williams as the team's new starting point guard, Lowe said, "We're stressing pushing the ball up the floor, and Jason will be free to do his thing."

Such freedom got Williams in trouble in Sacramento and could have Lowe in trouble next season.

Said Williams, "Not a lot of coaches will let me play the way I'm capable of playing."

Exactly.

Grizzlies General Manager Billy Knight also defended the acquisition of Williams.

"I've heard people say he's out of control and wild," Knight said. "He's been in the league three years and he was better the third year than the second year. He'll be better the fourth year than the third year."

Not exactly. By his second year, Williams was giving way in Sacramento to Jon Barry in crunch time. By his third year, he was being lifted by the Kings in favor of Bobby Jackson.

A second chance

Failed 1998 Heat second-round pick Corey Brewer, a native of the Memphis area, received a recent tryout from the Grizzlies and also has received a summer-league tryout from the Raptors. Brewer spent last season in Italy and the season before that in the International Basketball League. He has yet to play in the NBA, beaten out in the Heat's '98 camp by Anthony Carter. Former Illinois guard Bryant Notree also visited the Grizzlies camp, after a workout with the Heat. ...

Former Heat center Otis Thorpe apparently has worn out his welcome in yet another stop. To add insult to indignity, not only won't Thorpe be extended a free-agent offer from the Hornets, but Charlotte appears intent on replacing him on the roster with Heat free-agent center Todd Fuller, a former Hornet. ...

While the Heat has been listed among the teams looking at Kings free-agent guard Doug Christie, it would be difficult to fathom mutual interest considering Riley limited Christie to all of 79 total minutes when he coached him in New York in 1994-95. ...

Raptors forward Charles Oakley continues to make it known he would welcome a reunion with Riley, his former Knicks coach. ...

It certainly is nice that Bruce Bowen is attracting so much attention this summer as a free agent. He is good person and a superior defender. But has everyone lost sight of the fact that he shot 36.3 percent last season and has not shot better than 37 percent the past three seasons? ...

Guard David Vanterpool, who had an efficient run through the Heat's summer program last year, is playing this summer with Washington, where he ended last season.

Now what?

Now that Houston is all but back in the fold for New York, the question remains: How can the Knicks find suitable playing time for Houston, Latrell Sprewell and Glen Rice without also being too small and too defensively challenged? New York still could deal Houston after Dec. 15, but the ethically aloof Knicks wouldn't do that now, would they? ...

To put into perspective just how quickly some are willing to write off an ailing player, consider Duffy's take on Davis' status. "With Alonzo Mourning not at 100 percent, Antonio and Dikembe Mutombo are the top two big men in the East," Duffy told the Toronto Sun. ...

Hornets guard David Wesley is on the verge of agreeing to a two-year extension. Former Heat power forward P.J. Brown is eligible for a similar extension from the Hornets. ...

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, brought out of NBA exile last season by the Grizzlies, has been told he will not be invited back next season.

Dept. of big men

Having drafted massive DeSagana Diop and traded for Michael Doleac, the Cavaliers are in the process of converting 2000 first-round pick Chris Mihm from center to power forward. "That might be my natural position," the passive former Texas standout said. ...

Seattle not only can exceed Golden State's ability to match an offer to center Marc Jackson, a restricted free agent, but has the benefit of having added Dean Demopoulos to its coaching staff. Demopoulos was an assistant at Temple when Jackson played there. ...

Loaded at center because of its under-aged draft, Chicago is seeking to unload 7-2 Dalibor Bagaric and the remaining two years on his contract. For those who have trouble putting a face to the name, Bagaric is the Bull who played a late-season game against the Heat with his shorts on backward.

Ira Winderman can be reached at iwinderman@sun-sentinel.com.




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