Is Patrick Ewing is a victim of his financial success, making it difficult for the New York Knicks to trade him?
To hear Knicks president Dave Checketts talk, it doesn't seem that way, despite the NBA salary cap. While Checketts isn't saying the disgruntled all-star center has asked to be dealt - Ewing reportedly has a list of places he'd like to go - a trade hasn't been ruled out."I don't want anyone here who doesn't want to be here," Checketts said.
With all but 10 teams in the league over the salary cap, meeting a request to be sent to the club of Ewing's choice may not be that easy. There is interest in Ewing, who reportedly has submitted a list graced by the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State, Phoenix, Boston, Washington and Portland.
The question no one will answer is whether Ewing - who lost an arbitrated dispute which tied him to the Knicks for the final four years of his original 10-year, $14.2 million contract - has actually asked for a trade.
Neither Checketts nor Ewing's agent, David Falk, who has not returned calls to his office, will say.
With the Lakers and Suns among those over the cap, a multiple player trade - in which the Ewing acquiree unloaded other high-salaried players - probably would have to occur.
And, if published reports are true, the Lakers, badly in need of a top-notch center, would not acquire Ewing. The New York Times says a source close to the Lakers' front office insists that Magic Johnson does not want to play with Ewing.
Particular interest is being shown by the Suns, who reportedly have discussed sending center Mark West, forward Xavier McDaniel and all-star playmaking guard Kevin Johnson to the Knicks for Ewing and guard Maurice Cheeks. Another report said high-scoring forward Tom Chambers could be involved in a package from the Suns.
Phoenix general manager Jerry Colangelo confirms that he had made inquiries about acquiring Ewing.
"If they want to talk, we'd be happy to talk," Colangelo said from his vacation home in Carmel, Calif. "Certainly we're interested."
But he wasn't convinced from past conversations with the Knicks that they would part with Ewing.
"My feeling was they wanted to keep Patrick," Colangelo said. "They have to make that decision. We just have to wait and see."