NBA

Wheeling, dealing Bulls swap Chandler to Hornets

By TIMES WIRES
Published July 6, 2006

CHICAGO - The Chicago Bulls agreed Wednesday to send the center Tyson Chandler to the New Orleans Hornets for veteran forward P.J. Brown and swingman J.R. Smith, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday night on its Web site.

Officials with the Bulls and Hornets declined comment.

"It's a great basketball opportunity to play with a bunch of young, up-and-coming guys. That's the thing I'm excited about," Chandler told the newspaper. "They're moving the team in a direction that fits me well."

The deal cannot become official until July 12, when an NBA free-agent signing moratorium ends.

It would be the second major move of the offseason in the Bulls' frontcourt. Four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace agreed this week to a four-year deal reportedly worth $60-million, and the Bulls also acquired the rights to LSU shot-blocking forward Tyrus Thomas in a draft-night trade with Portland.

Chandler averaged 5.3 points and nine rebounds last season after signing a six-year contract worth about $60-million.

JAZZ-WARRIORS TRADE: Utah and Golden State have reached an agreement in principle on a four-player trade that would bring veteran point guard Derek Fisher to the Jazz.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported the Jazz will send Devin Brown, Keith McLeod and Andre Owens to the Warriors in exchange for Fisher, a 10-year veteran who has been a member of three world championship teams.

KNICKS: New York signed Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins, their first-round picks in last week's draft.

LAKERS: First-round draft pick Jordan Farmar, a 6-foot-2 guard who averaged 13.5 points and 5.2 assists in two seasons at UCLA, signed.

TIMBERWOLVES: Randy Foye, a 6-foot-4 guard from Villanova and the seventh overall selection in the draft, signed a multiyear contract worth about $7.9-million over its first three seasons.

Catchings the favorite of WNBA All-Star voters

NEW YORK - Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings and Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird were the leading vote-getters among the WNBA All-Star starters.

Catchings was the leading vote-getter for the July 12 game in New York. She is averaging 16.1 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Fever.

She will be joined in the Eastern Conference starting lineup by three Connecticut Sun players: forward Nykesha Sales, center Margo Dydek and guard Lindsay Whalen. New York Liberty guard Becky Hammon rounds out the starting five.

Bird, averaging 10.3 points, 5.4 assists and 1.67 steals, was the top vote-getter in the Western Conference. She will be joined by teammate and forward Lauren Jackson as a starter.

The Houston Comets will also have two starters in forward Sheryl Swoopes and guard Dawn Staley. Yolanda Griffith of the Sacramento Monarchs will start at center.

Reserves will be announced Saturday.

[Last modified July 6, 2006, 06:24:20]