If the NBA's labor situation finally is resolved, the league's huge free-agent market finally will open 101/2 days later than originally scheduled.

A two-day moratorium on trades, signings and negotiations was scheduled to end at 3 p.m. today if the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players is finally signed.A two-day break was agreed upon after a brief lockout was imposed Monday when the league and union found themselves at odds once again over details of the labor agreement. Both sides now say there are no more open issues.

"That stuff is over with. What are they going to fight about now?" said Gary Payton, who will be the most sought-after point guard in the free-agent market.

A number of trades that have been on hold could be finalized once the moratorium is lifted. Charles Barkley is expected to be dealt to the Houston Rockets in a three-way trade that would send Dikembe Mutombo to Phoenix and Robert Horry and Sam Cassell to Denver.

Other rumored deals would have Kobe Bryant being traded from Charlotte to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac, and Andrew Lang going from Minnesota to Milwaukee for a future first-round draft pick.

General managers and agents, after sitting on their hands for the past 10 days, will finally be able to negotiate contracts for the biggest and gaudiest free-agent market the NBA has ever seen.

Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Reggie Miller, Dennis Rodman and Juwan Howard are among the biggest names available.

"I expect my deal to be done in about four days, Shaq might take a week," Payton said.

About 150 players whose contracts have expired will be available. Money and location will be the prime considerations. The teams with the most room under the salary cap will have the most options, but any team can exceed the $24.3 million limit to retain one of its players.

The Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers and Vancouver Grizzlies have the most salary cap room, and the Lakers will join that group if the anticipated trade for Bryant goes through.

The Lakers would then make a hard push for O'Neal, hoping the movie lots and recording studios of Hollywood can lure him from Orlando.

"It's going to be a difficult time, one of the most difficult decisions of my life. It's like deciding whether to get married, where to go to college, whether to leave college early," O'Neal said earlier this week.

O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning might be the two most sought-after centers, especially if the Mutombo-Barkley trade goes through.

The second tier of free agent centers includes Ervin Johnson of Seattle, Jim McIlvaine of Washington, Benoit Benjamin of Milwaukee and Sean Rooks of Atlanta.

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Payton, the defensive player of the year for Seattle, is the marquee point guard on the market. A notch below are Kenny Anderson, Tim Hardaway and Derek Harper. John Stockton and Magic Johnson would be on the A-list, too, but Stockton is expected to resign with Utah and Johnson has retired once again.

B-list point guards include Robert Pack, Chris Childs, Lee Mayberry, Eric Murdock, Kenny Smith, Spud Webb and Brent Price.

Rodman, Howard, Horace Grant, Dale Davis, Brian Grant, Brian Williams, Chris Gatling, Otis Thorpe, Kevin Willis and Elden Campbell are among the best power forwards. Walt Williams, P.J. Brown, Don MacLean, Mario Elie and David Benoit are among the small forwards.

The shooting guards include Jordan, Miller, Allan Houston, Steve Smith, Rex Chapman, Dan Majerle, Latrell Sprewell and Hersey Hawkins.

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