It may be yesterday's news, but ex-Jazzman Jeff Malone continues to be asked - and continues to answer - questions about the trade that sent him to the Sixers.
"The Mailman gets frustrated and he says things - that's just how he is," said Malone to the New York Daily News this week. "He talked about wanting to be traded. If he went behind my back and talked to management, that's his prerogative. That's his team. He's the GM type. But he never upset me, because I understand him."We never had any major problems. If he didn't like anything about me being a leader on our team, he could have come to me and told me that. But I guess that is his team, per se. If I have a person going into the owner and talking behind my back, I'd prefer to be somewhere else, because I don't want to be playing with people like that."
Asked about assertions he is the "GM type," the Mailman, appearing irritated, replied, "Maybe I am."
Nevertheless, to say the Mailman got Jeff Malone traded is overstating the case. The Jazz were interested in Jeff Hornacek since last fall when he held out of the Sixers' training camp. They would have traded Jeff Malone for Hornacek even last season if they could have - with or without the Mailman's consent.
Though Jazz players and coaches are reluctant to talk about the reasons for the trade, one factor was that Jeff Malone was perceived as a negative influence. Though not a troublemaker, he often complained about the predictability of the Jazz offense and not getting enough shots.
Meanwhile, Jeff Malone added this comment on the Jazz's chances to win the NBA title: "It's their style of play: John (Stockton) and Karl, John and Karl. One or two guys isn't going to win in this league. It's tough to win like that. Look at a team like Seattle - that's a team with balance."
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In Portland, the weird news stories never seem to stop. In the past two weeks, these stories broke:
- Rod Strickland and Cliff Robinson were charged with misdemeanor battery after arguing with a truck driver who backed into the car they were sitting in in Chicago last week. They have a trial date April 27.
- Color analyst Mike Rice was ejected from a game for reportedly waving his arms dismissively at referee Steve Javie during an Indiana-Portland game March 1. Javie was incensed at Rice's actions and rushed to the sidelines to exchange heated words, telling Rice to "shut up and do your piddly little job." Javie had Rice removed from the game.
- Last Saturday night, forward Jerome Kersey asked to be traded - even though the trade deadline passed more than two weeks ago. "I want out of here and you can quote me on that," he said. "I can't take any more of this, and you can quote me on that, too. They've got to do something."
- And lastly, there was Clyde Drexler's $500 fine for skipping a Sunday practice to attend "Walt Disney's World on Ice: Beauty and the Beast" with his family.
"Family comes first," said Drexler. "People have a job, but family is more important than any job."
Portland coach Rick Adelman, who gave the team Sunday morning off to be with their families, wasn't impressed. "The reason he gave me was not acceptable and that's why the fine," said Adelman. "I considered what he said, and right now, he's fined."
ADDENDUM: Hornacek on being called "Horny:" "It's a nickname. It's been in the family and probably been that way for generations - my dad, my grandfather, brothers. It's just easier to say than Hornacek." . . . Seattle coach George Karl on New Jersey's Derrick Coleman: "Derrick Coleman, one of the most talented players I've ever seen, gets thrown out of the game, and as he's leaving the court, he gives the finger to the crowd. I break out laughing. Here's a guy who's negotiating a contract for $80 million and he gives the finger to the crowd. Something's wrong here. But Derrick Coleman will wake up the next morning and think nothing's wrong. The problem is, he's not being held responsible. Today, this country scares me. Some of the things I see scare me. Derrick Coleman scares me." . . . Portland's Terry Porter on the state of Detroit: "A lot of their players are gone. All they have left is Joe (Dumars) and Isiah (Thomas). That would be like us trying to win with just me and Clyde (Drexler). And that would be scary."