The NBA, NBPA and Heat resolved all disputes regarding the
NBA's disapproval of the Heat's contract with Juwan Howard on
Saturday. As part of the deal, Miami will not contest Howard's
contract, as he returns to the Bullets. Alonzo Mourning's Heat
contract also has been approved, along with the deals with P.J.
Brown and Tim Hardaway (NBA). Also, the league dropped its
charge that the Heat had circumvented the salary cap in trying to
re-sign Mourning and sign Howard. If the charge had been upheld
by an arbitrator, the team "could have faced crippling
penalties." The terms "were unfavorable" to the Heat, as Brown's
$1.5M in performance bonuses will count against the cap, as will
an undisclosed portion of Hardaway's $1M bonus. NBA spokesperson
Chris Brienza said the Heat will not be allowed to resign Walt
Williams or Rex Chapman until 57 days into the season (Barry
Jackson, MIAMI HERALD, 8/11). The WASHINGTON POST reports the
Heat was given the opportunity to re-sign both players, but both
players turned the Heat down (Mark Asher, WASHINGTON POST, 8/12).
UNION LABEL: In Miami this morning, Barry Jackson notes the
Heat's chances of retaining Howard "were hurt by a secret deal"
between the NBA and NBPA. In an August 5 agreement, the NBPA
promised not to challenge Commissioner David Stern's rejection of
the Heat deal and to approve Howard re-signing with the Bullets.
The deal was written by NBA Chief Legal Officer Jeffrey Mishkin
and signed by union attorney Jeffrey Kessler. Jackson notes the
NBPA "believed it was protecting Howard's interests" as Howard
preferred to play in DC where he would also be paid more.
Without the NBPA's support, the Heat "felt its position would be
weakened" -- one of "several reasons why the Heat decided to
surrender" without arbitration (MIAMI HERALD, 8/12). In DC, Mark
Asher writes on the union's "seemingly contradictory stances" on
the Howard case. However, a "singular goal" was to "protect the
interests of the players." NBPA Exec Dir William Hunter said in
a statement the "key for the association was that more players
will have more money and have more freedom of choice" (WASHINGTON
POST, 8/12). In Dallas, David Moore notes "two explanations."
One, the union approached the league on Howard's behalf after he
had a change of heart. The other theory is the NBA "forged this
alliance" with the league promising Howard "financial security."
The price for the union's was its support of the NBA's pro-
Bullets decision (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/11).
CONSPIRACY AND OTHER THEORIES: ESPN's Bob Ryan: "I do
smell a conspiracy. ... [Bullets Owner] Abe Pollin is the old
guard owner of old guard owners." Bill Conlin: "You don't think
maybe David Stern just said, 'Hey, I am going to do a better job
as Commissioner here than Tagliabue did with Art Modell.'"
Michael Wilbon: "We may see some looks at some other teams
before this is all over" ("Sports Reporters," ESPN, 8/11). In
DC, Mark Asher wonders "who turned in the Heat?," with the
"scuttlebutt" pointing to the Knicks or Stern's "vendetta
against" Heat President Pat Riley and General Partner Micky
Arison (WASHINGTON POST, 8/12). In New York, Clifton Brown says
Pollin "has got some breaks that will certainly make some other
teams angry" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/12). In Philadelphia, Stephen Smith
notes Riley's "image has taken a beating," but he "doesn't have
many sympathizers around the league" (PHILA. INQUIRER, 8/11). In
Miami, Dan LeBatard notes Riley's mistake "is as enormous a
screw-up as any South Florida franchise has ever made," as the
"surrender was essentially a red-faced admission that Riley broke
the rules with an arrogant, above-the-game attitude" (MIAMI
HERALD, 8/11).
