Buckner Delay Explained

[Dooby]

From the Philadelphia Enquirer via LMF.

Buckner will most likely land with Sixers, agent says

"It's 80 percent certain" that the Mavs' swingman and defensive specialist will wind up here.

By Marc Narducci
Inquirer Staff Writer

The agent for Dallas Mavericks swingman Greg Buckner said yesterday that "it's 80 percent certain" the unrestricted free agent will sign with the 76ers.

Agent Steve Kauffman acknowledged that the deal has taken much longer than he expected. He had hoped it would be done within the first few days of the free agency period, which began July 17.

The Sixers reportedly have been trying to engineer a sign-and-trade deal with Dallas for the 6-foot-4 Buckner, who was limited to 44 games last season because of a calf injury. If that happens, the Sixers will send either players or draft picks to Dallas but will not have to use up any of their mid-level exception, believed to be about $4.5 million. That money could be used to entice free agents.

Under team policy, the Sixers don't comment on potential moves.

An NBA executive familiar with negotiations said the Sixers were the favorites to sign Boston unrestricted free agent Rodney Rogers. Last season, Rogers earned $2.4 million. Miami reportedly is interested in Rogers as well.

Although there have been reports of Dallas doing a sign-and-trade with Buckner, Kauffman said nothing is official.

"A sign-and-trade isn't a done deal," he said. "Greg's contract is going to be the same with or without a sign-and-trade."

Buckner averaged just 5.9 points per game, but he is known as one of the NBA's better defensive players. Sixers coach Larry Brown has always had an affinity for players who defend. Buckner, who just completed his third season with Dallas, also shot 104 for 198 (52.5 percent) from the field.

James Mourer, the agent for Toronto's Keon Clark, said that interest in his client had picked up "a little bit" since Monday's announcement that the Raptors had rescinded their $3 million qualifying offer to the 6-11 forward-center. That decision made Clark an unrestricted free agent. He averaged 11.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks this past season.

Mourer wouldn't comment further on the situation, but he said last week that the Sixers were one of the teams interested in Clark.

[Dirk77]

thanx.