The Sprewell Era Ends.


ESPN is reporting as breaking news that the Knicks have basically traded Sprewell for Keith Van Horn in a 4-player deal (Latrell goes to the T-Wolves, Terrell Brandon goes to the Hawks, Glenn Robinson goes to the Sixers.) While this emphatically makes Minnesota a better team (particularly with Sam Cassell and Michael Olowokandi also joining KG), I can’t say I’m very happy about what’s happened to the Knickerbockers. Spree was the only high-octane guy on a team of one-dimensional choke artists…it’s going to be really hard to root for a team fronted by Van Horn and Houston.

Hired Guns.

Free agent signing began in the NBA today, and it’s already dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria. As per usual, talented ballers are fleeing en masse from the Clippers, with Elton Brand signing in Miami, Corey Maggette going for Utah, and Andre Miller heading for Denver. (The Clips can possibly stave off the defection by matching the new contracts.) Elsewhere, Juwan went to Orlando, Nesterovic to San Antonio, and Kandi Man to the Wolves. (So far, as New Yorkers feared, the Knicks haven’t picked up anybody.) And, of course, the Mailman and the Glove’s Faustian bargain with the Lake Show has now been signed, sealed, and delivered…