The Boston Celtics didn't want to meet Ron Mercer's asking price, so they shipped him to Denver. The Orlando Magic wanted to get younger, so they sent Nick Anderson to Sacramento.
Two trades involving a total of eight players highlighted the offseason action in the NBA on Tuesday, when several free agents deciding to remain with their former teams.Bo Outlaw re-signed with Orlando, Nick Van Exel stayed in Denver and Derek Fisher landed a seven-year contract from the Lakers, who also were courting Charles Oakley with a recruiting pitch straight out of Hollywood.
"They want him so bad that Magic Johnson offered to let Oakley wear No. 32 if it would get the deal done," said Oakley's agent, Billy Diamond. "I don't see us doing anything in the near future."
Also, the Phoenix Suns were reportedly closing in on a deal that would bring Penny Hardaway from the Orlando Magic in a sign-and-trade arrangement.
Phoenix radio station KMGE reported Tuesday night that the deal was completed, but Suns president Jerry Colangelo said nothing was final.
The Orlando Sentinal and The Tribune of Mesa reported that the Suns would send Pat Garrity, Danny Manning and two draft picks to the Magic in exchange for Hardaway. The Arizona Republic quoted league sources and a source close to Hardaway as saying he has told the Suns he wants to play in Phoenix and has agreed to contract terms.
Mercer was traded from the Celtics to the Nuggets in a six-player deal that also sent Popeye Jones and Dwayne Schintz-
ius to Denver for Danny Fortson, Eric Washington, Eric Williams and a first-round draft choice in one of the next three years.
Anderson went to the Kings for guard Tariq Abdul-Wahid and a future No. 1 pick.
Fortson, a 6-foot-7 forward who ranked fourth in the NBA in rebounding last season, is going into the final season of his three-year rookie contract -- just like Mercer.
Boston did not want to meet Mercer's asking price, which was believed to be in excess of $50 million for a six-year extension. Mercer can be a free agent next year and indicated he wouldn't re-sign with Boston if he wasn't given an extension this summer.
Outlaw, Orlando's wiry 6-foot-8 forward, re-signed with the Magic for one year and $2 million.
Van Exel re-signed in Denver for a deal believed to be worth over $70 million for seven years, $50 million of which is guaranteed. The Nuggets also signed free agent forward George McCloud, who played in Phoenix last season.
Fisher, who split time with Derek Harper at point guard last season for the Lakers, signed a seven-year contract worth about $24 million. After signing Fisher, Los Angeles stopped its pursuit of Hardaway.
Oakley got the royal treatment from the Los Angeles Lakers -- lunch with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant and a tour of the new arena from Jerry West.
Oakley is demanding $8.5 million annually for three years from the Toronto Raptors, who have offered $5.5 million per year.
"Contrary to what people in Toronto are saying, the Raptors haven't increased their offer," said Oakley's agent, Diamond, who accompanied the veteran power forward during his afternoon of courtship with the Lakers.
Oakley is being courted by several teams seeking to add an experienced big body along the front line. He has been in Los Angeles since last weekend, attending Magic Johnson's charity game and playing golf with Lakers representatives
So eager are the Lakers to convince Oakley to sign that O'Neal and Bryant, not the best of friends during their three seasons together in Los Angeles, agreed to have lunch together with Oakley and Diamond.
Oakley later joined West and general manager Mitch Kupchak for a tour of the team's new practice facility and the Staples center, which will replace the Forum.
"The meeting was best described as informative. Charles has some pointed questions about the chemistry of the team," Diamond said.
Diamond also said the Hawks, Heat and Knicks remain interested in Oakley.
Fortson, who plays center and power forward, averaged 11.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per game last year. His playing time increased considerably after rookie Raef LaFrentz went down early in the season with a knee injury.
Mercer, the sixth pick overall in the 1997 draft, averaged 17 points last season. The 6-foot-7, 210-pound Mercer was an NBA All-Rookie Team selection in 1997-98 when he averaged 15.3 points.
The deal sends Williams back to the city where he played the first two years of his career. Williams averaged 15 points for the Celtics in 1996-1997. Last year in Denver, Williams averaged 7.3 points.
Williams is entering the third year of a four-year, $30 million contract. Denver agreed to pay $3 million of Williams' contract this year, the maximum percentage allowed by the league.
The Nets waived center Rony Seikaly, who played just 18 games in 11/2 seasons with New Jersey because of injuries. New Jersey still owes Seikaly $4.5 million for the final season of his contract. The 34-year-old was hampered by ankle and foot injuries during the 1999 season.