The contentious history between agent David Falk and the
Bullets organization and how the past may hamper negotiations
with free agent Juwan Howard is examined by Richard Justice of
the WASHINGTON POST. Almost two years after the difficult first
round of negotiations with Howard, "some hard feelings remain.
Falk hasn't forgotten how the Bullets decided to unilaterally
change the NBA's rookie salary structure at Howard's expense."
Falk has had other problems with the team, saying they reneged on
a five-year $16M deal for client Rex Chapman and later traded
him. Falk: "My last two experiences with the Bullets have been
distasteful and highly unprofessional. They've been arguably
dishonest and it goes against the grain of everything Mr. Pollin
publicly proclaims himself to be." Falk adds that Pollin had
"some very nasty and demeaning comments" about him after the
Howard talks. In response, Pollin said he does not want to get
into a "public debate" with Falk and that he has no problem
negotiating with him. Falk wishes relations between the two were
better: "It is incredible to me that my company represents about
30 very high profile players in the NBA and there's a
professional basketball team in my backyard -- the owner lives
two miles from my house. And that we're not allies. I didn't
say friends, I said allies" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/21).
