Mavericks interested in O'Neal
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-24 10:50

On a day when the Charlotte Bobcats fleshed out their inaugural roster through the expansion draft, the buzz around the NBA continued to revolve around Shaquille O'Neal and Tracy McGrady, the two superstars who have asked their teams for trades.

More than 20 of the league's 30 teams have called the Lakers, inquiring about O'Neal, according to an Eastern Conference executive. Though Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak recently has suggested that he wants to keep O'Neal, the club is entertaining several possible trades, most notably with the Dallas Mavericks, reports The New York Times.

The Mavericks are one of the more realistic landing spots for O'Neal, who will make US$27.7 million next season, because they have the high-salaried stars necessary to make such a deal, and their owner, Mark Cuban, is a big spender. According to the Eastern Conference executive, Dallas is offering Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash for O'Neal. The New Jersey Nets, who would be willing to part with Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles, are among the clubs pursuing O'Neal.

It was widely believed that McGrady would be headed to Houston on Wednesday morning in a trade for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. But that deal hit a snag Tuesday. Though he is under contract for several years and has no veto power over trades, Francis made it clear that he does not want to play for Orlando, causing the Magic to reconsider the trade.

Bird says Pacers' offer better: Larry Bird believes the Indiana Pacers made a better offer for Tracy McGrady than the package of players the Houston Rockets have proposed sending to the Magic.

"My personal opinion is they might have got a better deal from us," Bird said Tuesday when asked about the reported deal that would send McGrady to the Rockets.

"Take nothing away from the guys that have been traded. I like our guys. I know our guys are talented and hard workers, but when you go after Tracy McGrady, you have to give up something, and the price was just too high for us."

The Rockets were said to be the leading candidate to acquire McGrady from Orlando, with officials from other teams saying Houston was offering a package including Francis, Mobley, Kelvin Cato and/or Bostjan Nachbar for McGrady, Juwan Howard, Andrew DeClercq and Tyronn Lue. Because of league salary-cap rules relating to Francis' salary, such a deal could not be finalized until mid-July.

Both Bird and team CEO Donnie Walsh spoke with Magic general manager John Weisbrod late last week about McGrady, but did not hear back from him after their initial talks.

Although Bird would not say which players the Magic asked for, he did say the Pacers have received a number of inquiries regarding forwards Al Harrington and Ron Artest.

Williams hopeful: A year after a motorcycle crash left Jay Williams fearful he would never walk again, the former Chicago Bulls guard is holding out hope that he'll return to the NBA.

"I'm not running and dunking on people yet," Williams said by phone Tuesday from Durham, N.C., where he has been undergoing intensive rehabilitation since last summer. "I wish I could. But I'm definitely making huge steps compared to where I was last year."

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