Meeting next week: Olajuwon may ask for release to play in Miami

http://www.herald.com/content/today/sports/basketball/digdocs/010991.htm


VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Realizing a trade is highly unlikely, Houston
center Hakeem Olajuwon has told friends he's interested in playing for the Heat
and has suggested the Rockets release him.

Olajuwon will meet next week with Rockets owner Les Alexander and is expected
to request his release. Will Alexander agree to that?

``I don't know,'' Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said Friday. ``It's not
something we've discussed. Les has done what's best for the team first and the
players second.''

Alexander, who lives in Boca Raton, declined comment. Two top Rockets officials
said they would be surprised if Olajuwon is released.

Dawson said he spoke briefly to the Heat about a trade more than a week ago,
but discussions never got serious.

``A trade [with Miami] isn't possible,'' he said. ``We want players in the last year
of contracts, and they do not have that to match up with'' Olajuwon's $16.5 million
salary.

A Rockets official said Olajuwon consistently raises the Heat first in discussing
teams he would like to play for. He also would consider the Lakers and perhaps
Phoenix. If he's released, he could sign with Miami for the $1 million minimum,
prorated.

Olajuwon, in the final year of his contract, is eager to play on a top contender and
is dissatisfied with his role in Houston's perimeter-oriented offense.

Olajuwon, who turns 38 on Sunday, has been on the injured list since Jan. 9 with
a swollen right knee. Before that, he averaged 10.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and
25.6 minutes.

Although his skills have declined considerably, the 7-0 Olajuwon, who helped the
Rockets win NBA titles in 1994 and '95, would help a Heat team that has the
NBA's shortest power rotation. The Heat ranks last in the league in rebounding
and offensive rebounding, and third from the bottom in blocked shots.

If Olajuwon is not released, there are other options for Miami. With several teams
looking to dump expensive, long-term contracts, the Heat will have an opportunity
to acquire one of a number of serviceable big men.

Included in that group are Vancouver's Bryant Reeves (three years left on a
six-year, $65 million contract), Charlotte's Derrick Coleman (two years left on a
five-year, $40 million deal), Philadelphia's Matt Geiger (three years left on a
six-year, $47 million deal), Golden State's Erick Dampier (five years left on a
seven-year, $48 million deal) and New Jersey's Jim McIlvaine (two years left on a
seven-year, $35 million).

If those teams cannot find better offers, the Heat might be able to acquire one by
offering reserves who will be free agents this summer, such as Dan Majerle,
Cedric Ceballos and Don MacLean. But the Heat has reservations about taking on
players with bloated, long-term deals.

Portland's Dale Davis (two years left on a seven-year, $42 million deal) and Utah's
Greg Ostertag (three years left on a six-year, $30 million deal) have expressed
interest in getting traded.

Heat coach Pat Riley said he does not want to trade his top players and is
expecting Alonzo Mourning to return from kidney disease next season. Under
salary-cap rules, Tim Hardaway and Duane Causwell cannot be traded because
they signed one-year contracts to stay with Miami.

What a nice chap this Hakeem guy is turning out to be, huh?

------------------
"Dream another dream, this dream is over... Dream another dream, this dream is over... Dream another dream..." - from the Van Halen song, "Dream Another Dream". Fitting, isn´t it?