Fred Roberts is back in the NBA, after a two-year hiatus, which gives some indication of how desperate teams are to find players of size and any kind of quality.
When Tyrone Hill went down with an injury, the Cavs signed the former BYU star Roberts, who hadn't played in the NBA since the '92-93 season, to a 10-day contract. He immediately earned near-cult-hero status with a 14-point, six-rebound performance in 31 minutes of a victory against the Nets, getting a standing ovation when he fouled out with 1:47 left."I held out hope that someone would pick me up," Roberts said. "Maybe that wasn't too smart, but it's hard to give up this game. This could be a good opportunity for me. It's a lot better than just sitting at home (in Milwaukee)."
The 34-year-old ex-Jazzman played in Spain last year, was with a CBA team for eight games this season and recently spent a couple weeks working out with a team in France. In a 10-year career, he's played on four NBA teams, two European teams, one CBA team and has been traded five times - including once for a coach (Stan Albeck).
When someone jokingly suggested that playing basketball probably beats working for a living, Roberts said, "I don't know if it beats working for a living or not. I've never worked. I consider playing basketball to be a blast."
BIG BALLERINA: Shawn Bradley in a tutu? They're growing ever more impatient with Shawn Bradley in Philadelphia. Their latest effort at solving the Shawn Problem is sophisticated blood-testing, to determine if he'll ever be capable of adding strength and weight.
It was no secret that the Sixers were not entirely opposed to the idea of trading the former BYU star and his eight-year, $44.28 million contract, which calls for him to make $4.32 million next season.
Bradley, meanwhile, apparently is talking about taking up martial arts or even ballet during the offseason, in hopes of improving his footwork and confidence.
Instead of karate or dance, Bradley might want to consider spending the offseason playing a little basketball. Rumor has it that when the Sixers hired Kareem Abdul-Jabbar last offseason to work with the 7-foot-6 kid, Bradley missed half the sessions.
It probably would be best, too, if Bradley were traded - to a team with a coach.
ONE MORE CHANCE: Anyone who saw former BYU star Michael Smith knows the guy had a world of talent; that's why the Boston Celtics made him their first-round draft choice in 1989. But Smith never had much interest in playing defense, and after two lackluster seasons in Boston, he ended up playing in Europe.
Now he's back in the NBA - well, almost the NBA - with the Los Angeles Clippers. And, in a game against Phoenix, Smith led the Clips to victory with 17 points and seven rebounds in just 16 minutes.
"It was an easy game plan," said Clippers Bill Fitch. "We wanted to go to Smith every time because we knew if our own fans and people didn't know who he was, Phoenix couldn't know, either."
DON'T GET IT: The Knicks simply aren't facing up to the fact that Orlando is a better team.
They've lost three straight in Orlando but refuse to concede anything, loudly proclaiming that the playoffs will be a different story.
"The playoffs and regular season are two different stories," said Knicks guard John Starks.
"We still haven't played a good game down here," said Knicks center Patrick Ewing.
In substance abuse circles, the Knicks' behavior is referred to as "denial."
SHORT STUFF: Dallas' Roy Tarpley recently informed team officials he will not talk to the media anymore this season. His final on-the-record comment: "I'm not talking to you guys anymore. Every time I say something it gets misinterpretated." I believe that's "misinterpreted."
During a recent game in Chicago, New Jersey's Chris Morris came out of the locker room with "Please" written on one shoe, "Trade Me" on the other.
Boston's Xavier McDaniel got into a little tiff with Charles Barkley a while back, then said of the Chuckster, "He talks a lot, but he's got the same number of rings I do. Zero."