The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 42

Q4 Boston Sunday Globe JULY 15, 2001 Pro foasEteftbalfl Notes Peter May McHale's docket will be full upon return "e'll officially be told Wednesday what we already know about the new homes for Jason Kidd, Stephon Marbury, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and others who've been traded. II II II 111 1 1 111 1 11 1 1 Mi I II 1 1 I IM IH I MM Schedule Shaw's Summer League at Clark Athletic Center, UMass-Boston: TOMORROW San Antonio vs. Atlanta, 1 p.m. Indiana vs. Milwaukee, 3 p.m.

New York vs. Boston, 6 p.m. Seattle vs. Philadelphia, 8 p.m. TUESDAY New Jersey vs.

Atlanta, noon San Antonio vs. Indiana, 2 p.m. Seattle vs. New York, 6 p.m. Washington vs.

Boston, 8 p.m. WEDNESDAY Milwaukee vs. Seattle, 1 p.m. Indiana vs. New Jersey, 3 p.m.

Washington vs. Atlanta, 6 p.m. Phila. vs. San Antonio, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY Washington vs. Seattle, noon Phila. vs. Milwaukee, 1 p.m. Boston vs Indiana, 6 p.m.

New York vs. New Jersey, 8 p.m. FRIDAY Atlanta vs. Philadelphia, 1 p.m. Washington vs.

N.J., 3 p.m. Milwaukee vs. New York, 6 p.m. Boston vs. San Antonio, 8 p.m.

SATURDAY Milwaukee vs. 11 a.m. Wash. vs. San Antonio, 1 p.m.

Atlanta vs. Seattle, 3 p.m. Boston vs. Philadelphia, 6 p.m. New York vs.

Indiana, 8 p.m. JULY 22 Seattle vs. San Antonio, 11 a.m. Milwaukee vs. Boston, 1 p.m.

Atlanta vs. Indiana, 3 p.m. New Jersey vs. 6 p.m. Washington vs.

New York, 8 p.m. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIII Tltere's no suspense there. The suspense, instead, will come in Minneapolis, wtiere well also be treated to a Lazarus-like appearance from Kevin McHale. He is scheduled to emerge from hoop hibernation and assume his prior role as thfe head basketball honcho of the Minnesota Timber-wolves. It's been awhile since we've seen old Kev, but we have a feeling he wont be "gray and old" coming through that door, or look like Tom Hanks's character in S'Castaway" after four years on a Pacific island.

"The maids have been in his office all week clearing away the cobwebs. It hasn't been used for a while. If been a little stagnant in there," said McHale's friend and Wolves assistant coach, Jerry Sichting. has been on an involuntary sabbatical since last year, when the NBA Pinkerton squad found GLOBE STAFF PHOTOMATTHEW J. LEE Kris Clack (right) hopes to show Celtics coach Jim O'Brien what he has learned playing in Italy for the last two years.

Clack wants to show off his DNA on some incriminating, salary-cap violating stuff. He was not allowed to attend Wolves games or practices and, hardest of all, was banned from talking to reporters and other buddies around the league. While away, the Timber-wolves went on as if he were still there. They had an excellent regular season, fx 1 as they did in McHale's last i u.i m. year at the helm.

They got KEVIN McHALE Ready to go an All-Star season from Kevin Garnett, as they did in McHale's last year at the coach Jim O'Brien of the same. "Kris Clack, I believe, is an NBA-type of player," said O'Brien. "He's been good enough to come to these games. It wouldn't surprise me to see Kris on a roster next year. We dont have a lot of spots open.

But I think hell show up well enough in the summer league to have people be interested in him." The Celtics can renew their rights to Clack if he does not accept a tendered contract With an agreement, Boston could be forced to cut Clack and lose his rights. They can also trade his rights, if another team becomes interested. "These guys the Celtics should know what I can do," said Clack. "Each year, I've been improving. I know that I can play at this level.

I want to play in the NBA and thafs what kept me going. You don't come out here just to put on the Celtics uniform. You come out here to show certain people your skills, show not only the Celtics but everyone that you can play this game." Clack was not the only former second-round pick whose rights belong to the Celtics attending the minicamp. Shooting guard Josip Sesar (selected in the second round in 2000 by Seattle and traded that day to Boston) made a very quick trip from Croatia. He showed his talent in several practices, then returned to Europe to attend to personal matters.

Sesar has one year remaining on his contract with Cibona Zagreb and a $500,000 buyout clause. At this point, he is a long-term prospect for the Celtics, someone they will track over the next year. "He's an A' shooter at the NBA level," said his agent Bill McCandless. There's a demand for that kind of player. The other issue is space here.

It's really down the road." Sesar never planned on competing in the summer league, knowing he had to fulfill obligations with the Croatian national team Although forward Kenny Williams made the Celtics' cut, he opted to play for Denver in the Rocky Mountain Review. that amount and they then could try to re-sign Derek Anderson and, maybe, a third person. Thafs what most observers feel they needed to do to have any chance of unseating the Lakers. And that might not even be enough. I still find it hard to stomach that Robinson helped persuade Tim Duncan to reject Orlando (and, by the way, more money as well) and then felt obligated to celebrate his free agency status when he wasnt offered what he wanted.

If not like he had anywhere else to go for the same amount, which he and the Spurs both knew. At this point in his long and meritorious career, one might hope Robinson's primary basketball focus would be on winning. He's soon to be 36. He's got plenty of money. What else is the reason to keep playing if not to win another championship? And if it means taking less so that the team can improve, what's wrong with that? Especially if the "less" still makes him the second highest-paid player on the team Last summer, we had some big names moving in free agency.

Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady went to Orlando. Eddie Jones went to Miami. This summer, so far, the big names are staying put. Antonio Davis surprised a lot of people by resigning with the Raptors. Jerome Williams followed suit Allan Houston stayed with the Knicks (no big surprise), Robinson remained with San Antonio (another real shocker), and Dikembe Mutombo is remaining in Philadelphia (and who wouldn't for $13.5 million Does that mean Chris Webber stays in Sacramento? Lefs hope he does.

It would speak volumes about the ability of the so-called small-market teams to compete. The Kings already have upgraded with the addition of Mike Bibby and appear to also have come to terms with Doug Christie. What else does Webber want? Sacramento might not have soul food restaurants, but the Kings have a competitive team, are the only game in town, and are being run with Princetonian efficiency by ex-Tiger Geoff Petrie But even as Petrie moves in for the kill, his counterpart in Toronto, Glen Grunwald, is making the early push for Executive of the Year. He has a tough sell in Toronto another country, man," Kenny Anderson reminded us once) and he learned his lesson well from last summer no sign-and-trades. He knew Davis preferred Orlando.

He also knew Davis would not sign there for the mid-level exception. The risk: Davis might sign with the Bulls, who had the money. But that would be a total mercenary action; Davis could get more dough in Toronto and be on a superior team. So he came to his senses. Williams, a valuable, if limited reserve, followed suit Al-vin Williams is still out there, but he, too, has limited options.

In addition, Grunwald avoided luxury tax land by dealing malcontent Charles Oakley to Chicago for Brian Skinner, a $6 million savings. He's also got rookie Mike Bradley to groom. The biggest test, of course, still awaits this summer. At some point, probably sooner rather than later, Vince Carter will be presented with a six-year extension to kick in following the 2001-02 season. If he signs it, Grunwald can clear away some space from his trophy cabinet at home.

Same old story Memo to John Gabriel, Orlando Magic general manager: Have you seen Patrick Ewing play in the last year? He made "Rigor" Artis Gilmore look like McGrady last year. Nevertheless, the Magic appear to be going AARP (which, come to think of it, isn't a bad marketing gimmick in Florida) by bringing both Ewing and the equally calcified Horace Grant aboard The first couple of games in the summer league in Orlando featured scores of 75-69 and 79-76. We know it's summer and the rules are being implemented, but those look a lot like the scores from the Final Four. Getting an early start was Loren Woods, who fell like a stone on draft night, all the way to 46, where the Timberwolves picked him. In his first outing, Woods had 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 blocked shots and outplayed Joel Przybilla, the first-round pick from last year who played for the Bucks If the Celtics are so concerned about re-signing Bryant Stith, how come they hadn't even made an offer 10 days into free agency? Probably because they know Stith isn't going to have teams knocking down his door, either.

(Do you sense a trend here?) According to Stith's agent, Jeff Austin, the classy Stith is a little confused about his future on the Celtics after the draft yielded three swingmen. (He's not the only one, either.) Austin said there's interest in Stith, but one widely rumored landing spot, Utah, is a bit dicey because of the luxury tax. Utah owner Larry Miller has stated adamantly he won't pay it and that may mean John Stockton's days in a Jazz uniform are over. It all depends on what Stockton wants. He made $11 rnillion last year, but he wont get that this time around.

Would he play for half that? (If he did, he'd do so without whining like Robinson.) But any free agent signings prior to Stockton's decision brings Utah closer to the dreaded tax number. And that further compounds Miller's problem. He and Stockton parted in May with the understanding they'd talk again in September. But that might be too late. Anyone who saw Utah collapse against the Mavericks in the playoffs knows the Jurassic Jazz cant keep trotting out the Hall of Fame relics and realistically expect to contend.

Thus, their inquiry about Keith Van Horn, who, by the way, is elated to have Kidd running his team. It would be sad to think Stockton's last game came on his home floor, as the Jazz lost control of a five-game series and fell to Dallas. He deserves better. He's certainly not one for farewell tours or rocking chairs and he showed last year he still has plenty of game left That has to be enough to get the two men to sit down and find a way to get him back on the court, doesnt it? Hey, here's a thought: Let the Mailman pay the luxury tax. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIII Shaw's Pro Summer League 2001 rosters NEW YORK KNICKS ATLANTA HAWKS Mo.

Nam Pos. HL Wt 33 AdamAllenspach 7-1 260 46 CalBowdler 6-10 24S 6 Cookie Belcher 6-4 205 10 Ira Bowman 65 195 26 Robert Churchwell 6-7 215 52 Nick Davis 6-9 210 5 Dion Glover 6-5 220 1 DerMarr Johnson GF 6-9 201 21 Larry Lewis 6-7 225 17 ScoonlePenn 5-10 185 34 DonzellRush FC 6-9 250 16 Ryan Sears 6-0 185 42 Virgil Stanescu 6-10 275 boston canes Ha. Nam Pas. Ht WL 41 Joey Beard 6-11 210 30 Mark Blount 7-0 250 42 Kedrick Brown 6-7 222 50 Kris Clack 6-4 194 47 Allen Edwards 6-6 198 45 Khalid El-Amin 5-10 178 40 Joseph Forte 6-4 192 46 Darnell Hahn 6-3 190 29 AntoineHyman 6-10 208 31 Joe Johnson GF 6-8 225 59 MikeMardesich 7-0 255 5 Jerome Moiso 6-10 232 9 MiltPalacio 6-3 195 Summer league only stopover on journey By Shira Springer GLOBE STAFF WALTHAM For Kris Clack, the Celtics' summer league mini-camp puts him somewhere between a spot on an NBA roster and a place in Boston sports trivia. The former Boston second-round selection is trying to leave a strong impression with the team that holds his rights.

The Celtics have added three rookies and plan to fill two rernaining roster spots with their own free agents, so Clack auditions without any guarantees. He accepts the professional limbo and summer league service as part of his extended journey to the NBA Clack was drafted by Boston in 1999 (55th overall). He has developed his game with constructive criticism from the Celtics and stints in the IBL and Italy. In an effort to generate interest from potential employers, he has slimmed down, developed his ballhandling, and become a more consistent shooter. When the summer league starts tomorrow, it will be Clack's third year.

It's the basketball equivalent of brushing up your resume and posting it with the same job finding service each year. "It's been tough at times," said Clack. "To be a basketball player, this is part of the job. This is work. If you want to do this with your life, this is what you have to go through.

My first couple of years were basically a learning experience. Now, this year, I hope to show what I've learned the past three years that IVe played in the summer league. The things they wanted me to work on, I've worked on. I'm trying to show these guys the Celtics that I'm ready to play at the NBA level." It has been a somewhat unsteady climb from standout small forward at Texas to professional shooting guard, a position where Boston believes Clack will match up better in the NBA The Baltimore Bay Runners cut Clack a day before the IBL season started in 1999, citing "money reasons." He signed with the San Diego Stingrays in January 2000 and renewed his intention of finding a place in the NBA He averaged 11.5 points, 1.4 steals, and 4.4 rebounds per game in the IBL. Clack credited the rigorous IBL schedule frequent back-to-back games and, occasionally, four games in five nights for helping him drop 15 pounds to a semi-fit 228 pounds.

This year, the Celtics' summer league roster lists Clack at 6 feet 4 inches and 194 pounds. After the 2000 Shaw's Pro Summer League, Clack started his second tour of non-NBA duty in Italy with Reggiana. The experience overseas improved his mental toughness, as he was forced to adjust to a different style of game, as well as unfamiliar coaches and teammates. He averaged 17.5 points per game, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 30.9 minutes for Reggiana. Clack returned from his foreign service as ready as he's ever been to play in the NBA believing this might be a breakthrough year and convincing helm.

And they lost in the first round of the playoffs, as they always do, regardless of who's at the helm. lt's not as if McHale was in some cave for the last year, although we hear his golf game didn't suffer. He watched the Wolves on television and conversed with coachgeneral manager Flip Saunders and Sichting. McHale knows the Wolves need to get bigger and tougher to stay competitive in the brutal Western Conference. When he returns, he will be confronted with a very ticklish situation: what to do with his team, which was stripped of draft picks and has only the mid-level exception to offer to free agents.

With little hope of improving via the draft or free agency, he may be forced to consider the once-unthinkable: dealing Garnett. You need stars to win in the NBA and Garnett, undeniably, is one. He also has a humongous contract that only a few, Cuban-esque owners would even consider taking on with the dreaded luxury tax looming. But if you do a 2-for-l or even a 3-for-l for the talented Garnett, might that be a way to jump-start things and give the Wolves a new look? And a new life? The Wolves already know they are stuck in no-man's land. They're good, just not good enough.

They have one precious resource and some other serviceable entities. The fans in the Twin Cities are tired of their annual first-round playoff exits (we should be so lucky here). According to Sichting, McHale is eager to step back into the fray. Under his stewardship, the Wolves have dramatically improved, but he now has a tough challenge looming: how to improve a product that, in most cities, would be considered a benchmark. But, even with Garnett and the incumbents, can the Wolves get any better? Dealing him would be a tough and probably unpopular move.

But McHale has made some risky deals before and he's not one to hold back, especially if he sees a team in need. And even with their successes in past years, the Wolves are, by most accounts, still a team in need. "He's ready to go," Sichting said. There are only so many golf balls you can hit or fish you can catch. If time to get back to work." So far, so good We're going to get a firsthand look at No.

1 pick Kwame Brown this week at the Shaw's Summer League. So far, everything the kid has said and done point to someone wise beyond his years, as Garnett was at that age. It may be a reach to call him a throwback, but he already has said he's not interested in jewelry, which is a positive. During the NBA Finals, Sixers coach Larry Brown, himself a stickler for tradition, was asked how he felt the relationship between player and coach had changed with all the young kids coming into the league. His words offer advice to Doug Collins, Tim Floyd, and John Lucas, who will have the latest high school players on their respective teams.

"I do think kids are different now," Brown said. "I'm finding that out. I think they do have a hard time understanding that. But that doesn't mean they're wrong. And I think the thing that IVe learned is sometimes even though I have strong beliefs, I think you've got to understand what they're about I found out one thing when you have a group together and you want to coach your team, you've got to talk in terms of Thaf a lot different.

These guys, in a group, have a hard time being singled out and corrected. So you've got to figure that out. But these young kids, because of the way they are, doesnt mean they're bad. You know, I think maybe some of my methods haven't been appropriate and I've tried to learn from that Every time a kid plays for me, I feel like I have the responsibility to give him an opportunity to play the best he possibly can. And that's something that sometimes you fall short in making them understand." Nice to see David Robinson saw the light and re-upped with the Spurs.

Judging by e-mails, the people in San Antonio were squarely behind the Admiral, who took umbrage at a 50 percent cut all the way down to $7.5 million. The Spurs' thinking was Robinson might be able to get by on I. INDIANA PACERS No. Player Pas. HL WL 14 MaceoBaston 6-9 215 16 MicahBell GF 6-3 200 9 RickBrunson 6-4 190 52 EricChenowith 7-1 270 55 BillCurley 6-9 245 42 Ben Davis 6-8 240 18 Tyrone Ellis 6-4 190 27 George Evans 6-7 225 17 Michael Hicks 6-5 196 25 Doug Overton GF 6-3 190 7 LavorPosteli 6-6 212 3 Jarod Stevenson GF 6-7 205 4 Wayne Turner 6-2 190 29 Michael Wright 6-7 238 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS No.

Player Pot. HL WL 11 Raja Bell 6-5 215 25 Damone Brown 6-9 200 16 SirValiant Brown 6-1 175 23 Rodney Buford 6-5 189 43 Willie Burton 6-8 220 12 Speedy Claxton 5-11 166 45 GyasiCline-Heard 6-8 230 21 Samuel Dalembert 6-11 250 31 Julian Dunkley 6-10 225 28 Lamar Greer 6-5 225 41 Alvin Jones 6-11 265 33 Jumaine Jones 6-8 218 17 MattLangel 6-5 200 27 Max Owens 6-5 200 44 Jah-Jah Richards 6-11 245 22 Mike Robinson 6-6 210 4 Pepe Sanchez 6-4 195 54 Kevin Salvador! 7-0 240 14 Nantambu Willingham 6-11 255 42 Steve Woodberry 6-5 190 SAN ANTONIO SPURS Ho. Player Pes. HL WL 54 Bryan Bracey 6-7 210 22 Randolph Childress 6-2 190 10 Loonie Cooper 6-3 195 29 AceCustis 6-7 220 5 Derrick Dial 6-4 205 24 Jacob Jaacks 6-9 240 17 Edward Lucas 6-6 200 45 Amal McCasklll 6-11 240 51 Ndongo N'Diaye 7-1 235 3 IraNewble 6-7 220 23 Matty Nielsen 6-9 205 33 Ademola Okulaja 6-9 235 11 Tony Parker 6-2 180 36 Shawnelle Scott 6-11 260 16 James Smith 6-5 200 12 RayTutt 6-4 210 SEATTLE SUPERSONICS No. Player Pos.

HL WL 42 Predrag Drobujak 6-11 211 5 Eddie Elisma 6-9 213 3 KiwaneGarris 6-2 183 30 Jermaine Jackson 6-5 204 22 Sean Marks FC 6-10 250 24 Desmond Mason 6-5 222 00 Olumide Oyedeji 6-10 240 33 Vladimir Radmanovic 6-10 227 20 Earl Watson 6-1 195 11 Brandon Williams 6-6 215 45 Ruben Wolkowyskl 6-10 270 No. Nana Pas. Ht WL 24 Jonathan Bender 6-11 196 44 Calvin Bowman 6-9 211 20 Jamison Brewer 6-4 180 27 PrimozBrezec 7-1 250 15 EdCota 6-1 200 50 William Cunningham 6-11 240 2 Edwin Daniels 6-0 180 5 Rodney Elliot 6-8 221 10 Jeff Foster 6-11 242 23 Adrian Griffin 6-5 215 32 Bud Johnson 6-10 245 33 SchinKerr 6-8 215 8 LariKetner 6-9 265 22 Norm Richardson 6-5 200 9 JaRonRush 6-7 215 13 Miles Simon 6-3 202 40 Bruno Sundov 7-2 239 17 Vincent Thomas 6-7 210 31 BradTraina GF 6-5 210 43 Brent Wright 6-8 235 21 Galen Young 66 205 MILWAUKEE BUCKS No. Haver Pas. HL WL 31 Michael Batiste 6-8 236 15 Ron Hale 6-9 210 7 Jason Hart 6-3 185 9 Curtis Haywood 64 181 30 Andre Hutson 6-8 240 4 Danny Johnson 6-3 200 1 Mike Kelly 6-3 190 14 JamarioMoon 6-8 200 6 Joel Przybilla 7-1 255 22 Michael Redd 6-6 220 3 JemeilRich 5-10 160 45 Jameel Watkins 6-11 255 WASHINGTON WIZARDS NEW JERSEY NETS No.

Player Pos. HL WL No. Player Pos. HL WL 54 Michael Andersen 7-0 213 AJ.Bramlett FC 6-10 235 1 Brandon Armstrong 6-5 185 5 Kwame Brown FC 6-11 248 31 Torraye Braggs 6-7 230 35 Shelly Clarke 6-7 245 50 Monty Buckley 6-7 216 10 Joe Crispin 6-1 180 40 Jason Collins 7-0 260 42 BenEze 6-10 232 45 Brian Oavis 6-7 210 43 KimaniFfiend FC 6-10 228 00 Patrick Femerling 7-1 265 14 Nate James 6-4 199 11 Tremaine Fowlkes 6-8 220 44 Tony Jones FG 6-7 200 35 Marquis Gainous 6-9 206 53 Garth Joseph 7-1 300 2 Eddie Gill 6-0 190 33 Michael King 6-7 220 24 Richard Jefferson 6-7 222 3 laron Profit 6-4 204 30 Kerry Kittles 6-5 190 Aubrey Reese 6-1 190 13 Brian Lynch 197 SO lee Scruggs 6-11 216 52 Eric Riley 7-0 245 31 JeftSheppard 6-5 205 20 MarkSanfonJ 6-9 218 21 Bobby Simmons 6-7 235 21 Brian Scalabrine 6-9 240 52 Jabari Smith CF 6-11 250 7 Charles Smittl 6-4 194 40 Mike Smith FG 6-8 200 4 Shannon Smith 6-6 215 22 David Vanterpoof 6-5 200 Material from personal interviews, wire service reports, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report. f..