Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 3, 1993 TAG: 9309030224
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In the NBA, Dell Curry needs no introduction, which is good, because what others start, he often finishes. He's unassuming, until he gets the ball in his hands 25 feet from the basket.
He was the original Charlotte Hornet, the club's first pick in the 1988 NBA expansion draft. It's a measure of his perennial improvement that he still is a Man of Teal, preparing for his eighth season in the league.
For his first few years in Charlotte, N.C., the former Virginia Tech shooting guard was mentioned most often in trade speculation. This week, it's significant that he's the Hornets' two-guard who wasn't dealt.
"This seems like the first summer I haven't been in the trade rumors," Curry told the sports club gathering of more than 200 at the Salem Civic Center. "I told my wife that's probably the kiss of death."
The deal that sent Kendall Gill to Seattle on Wednesday doesn't mean Curry will become a starter. It isn't that he doesn't want to be on the floor for the opening tap, which he hasn't been in the two years since fellow Hokies alumnus Allan Bristow became the club's head coach.
It's that the 6-foot-5 guard is too valuable coming off the bench. He was the NBA's leading scorer last season among players who did not start. If his 15.3-point average goes into the first five, Charlotte's bench offensively is shorter than his buddy, Muggsy Bogues.
That's why one of the worst-kept secrets was Charlotte's intention to deal some of what it got from the Sonics to Philadelphia for shooting guard Hersey Hawkins, the rebuilding 76ers' leading scorer.
Reports out of Charlotte late Thursday night were that the deal had been made, pending Gill's physical in Seattle. Charlotte would send point guard Dana Barros and a No. 1 pick in the 1994 draft - both acquired in the Gill trade - as well as backup power forward Sidney Green and the rights to 1993 draft pick Greg Graham to Philadelphia.
The draft pick Philly got was the one it dealt to Phoenix in 1990, before the Suns sent it to Seattle in the Xavier McDaniel deal. Considering how bad the Sixers will be next season, it should be a lottery pick.
Curry, 29, digested this development with glee. The Hornets, coming off a 44-victory season and their first playoff appearance, have dealt a talented player who fit into the team's puzzle but not its chemistry.
Gill often was called "Solo" by his teammates - and for good reason.
"With Hawkins, we could be even a better team," Curry said. "Hersey wants to win. He wants to play in Charlotte. Kendall can play, but he didn't want to play with us. We won last year even when Kendall was hurt for three or four weeks."
With Green apparently headed to Philadelphia, Charlotte needs another inside player. Green's pending exit leaves only Kenny Gattison and Mike Gminski behind stars Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning up front.
Swingman Eddie Johnson, also acquired in the Gill deal, likely will not see the opener with Charlotte. The Gill deal included a provision that the Sonics would pay half of Johnson's 1993-94 salary - an indication the Hornets aren't likely to keep him over Danville native Johnny Newman at small forward.
Why is Charlotte willing to deal so much for Hawkins? The Hornets must match his $2.4 million paycheck with what's dealt to satisfy NBA salary-cap provisions.
Curry, who deferred $450,000 of his scheduled $1.2 million pay last season so Mourning could be signed, is offering another suggestion.
"I'd play for free," Curry said, laughing, "if my wife would let me."
Sure. And the Dallas Mavericks are going to win the NBA title.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB