<a href=http://globeandmail.ca/servlet/RTGAMArticleHTMLTemplate/C/20010719/whakeem?>Toronto Globe and Mail</a> Toronto has made an offer to former most valuable player Hakeem Olajuwon, who met with Wilkens earlier this week. Olajuwon, 38, has played his entire 17-year NBA career in Houston. Chosen one of the NBA's 50 greatest players of all time in 1996, Olajuwon averaged 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds while battling injuries last season. In January, he asked Rockets management to trade him, but his request was turned down. It was expected Olajuwon, who has since made peace with Houston management, would re-sign with Houston for much less than the $16.5-million he made last season, but negotiations have been slow. It wouldn't be the first time Grunwald has pursued Olajuwon. Prior to the 1999 draft, Grunwald tried to acquire the seven-foot centre via a trade. The move failed and Grunwald set his sights on Davis, then with Indiana. Toronto is able to offer Olajuwon the midlevel salary-cap exception of $4.5-million a year. This seems inconsistent with Dream's prior comments of "Fegan is handling everything". The article also mentions Alvin Williams will be resigned, which means there is no plausible way for Toronto to offer Dream more than the middle class exception. ------------------ "I always thought Hakeem was the better offensive player and DRob the better defender." Spurever Shaq would probably agree.
Another <a href=http://www.canoe.ca/Slam010719/nba_tor1-cp.html>article</a> originating in Canada. As for Olajuwon, reports said Raptors coach Lenny Wilkens spoke with the man know as the Dream, and his agent Dan Fegan in Houston on Tuesday. ------------------ "I always thought Hakeem was the better offensive player and DRob the better defender." Spurever Shaq would probably agree.
