With the start of NBA training camps less than a month away, free agent forward Horace Grant remains in contract limbo.
On Monday, a federal judge ruled the NBA can challenge his six-year, $22 million deal with the Orlando Magic, a pact the league claims circumvents the salary cap.The NBA, which voided Grant's July 29 contract last month, lost its bid to void the contracts of three other players, Phoenix's A.C. Green, Chicago's Toni Kukoc and Portland's Chris Dudley.
U.S. District Judge Dickinson R. Debevoise upheld their deals based on a previous ruling but said a clause that allows Grant to become a free agent after one year may be an attempt to skirt the salary cap.
Orlando Magic general manager Pat Williams said he remains confident the team can find a way to sign Grant, a 6-foot-10 forward who helped lead the Chicago Bulls to three NBA titles.
"We have to move on and deal with it step by step," Williams said. "Grant wants to be here. We'll have to talk to his people and see what the next move is.