The Minnesota Timberwolves Friday traded Rick Mahorn, their disgruntled No. 1 expansion draft pick, to the Philadelphia 76ers for three draft picks.
The Timberwolves will receive the 76ers' No. 1 draft pick in 1990, their No. 2 draft pick in 1991 plus their No. 2 draft pick in 1992 if the 1990 pick is not one of the top five overall in the lottery.The trade is contingent on the burly nine-year veteran reporting to Philadelphia and passing a physical. Mahorn is threatening to play in Italy.
Mahorn, 31, was acquired from the NBA champion Detroit Pistons in the June expansion draft and refused to report to training camp until his two-year contract was renegotiated.
He was to be paid about $650,000 by the Timberwolves this year but wanted to renegotiate, saying he was losing bonuses and endorsements he would have made with the Pistons.
Bob Stein, the Timberwolves president, said other teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, expressed interest in Mahorn. He said the 1992 draft pick was added to the deal in the last week.
Mahorn, a 6-foot-10 forward-center, averaged 7.3 points and 6.9 rebounds in 72 games last season.