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NBA briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 21, 2000

Joe Smith chooses Pistons

DETROIT -- Joe Smith, declared a free agent in the NBA's biggest salary-cap circumvention case, signed Monday with the Pistons to help them rebuild from the departure of Grant Hill to Orlando.

Smith agreed to a $2.25-million deal for the rest of the season. Had he re-signed with Minnesota, he would have been able to make a maximum of $611,000.

"We are very excited to have Joe Smith choose the Pistons," general manager Joe Dumars said in a statement. "We are committed to building this team the right way and to have Smith select Detroit as his home is an endorsement of that."

Smith rejected overtures from the Bulls and the Heat, who each could have offered him more than $3.9-million this season, and the Mavericks.

Smith was unavailable for comment, with the Pistons expected to call a news conference later this week to introduce him.

Minnesota signed Smith to a free-agent contract in 1999, with the secret promise of $86-million over seven years after that, asalary-cap violation. The league punished the Timberwolves by taking away their next five first-round draft picks and fining them $3.5-million, a league record.

Commissioner David Stern also voided Smith's contract for this season and the previous two seasons, taking away the so-called Larry Bird rights that would have allowed the Wolves to sign Smith to a multimillion-dollar contract next season.

MAVERICKS: Owner Mark Cuban was fined for the second time in a week for making critical comments about the officiating in one of his team's games.

The billionaire was fined $15,000 for "confronting and verbally abusing" the officials Wednesday during and after Dallas' 99-78 loss to Phoenix. Cuban was fined $5,000 on Nov.14 for comments made during the Mavericks' 109-84 loss to Sacramento on Nov. 12.

Also, A.H. Belo Corp., publisher of the Dallas Morning News and operator of 18 TV stations, sued Cuban, alleging he ignored an agreement to buy the company's minority stake in the team.

PACERS: Reggie Miller filed for divorce from his wife of 10 years, Marita, on Aug. 10, according to court records.

SIXERS: Center Matt Geiger, who had surgery Oct.6 on his left knee, was activated. Also, center Todd MacCulloch went on the injured list with left ankle tendinitis.

SUNS: Rex Chapman, one of the top shooters in the league when he was at his best, announced his retirement because of a series of injuries. Chapman, 33, who played the past four seasons for Phoenix, had surgery on his right wrist before training camp and is to have ankle surgery soon.

Also, Jason Kidd was fined $5,000 for his criticism of officials after a loss Friday to the Knicks. Kidd lashed out at the officiating crew after a game in which he tied a league record with 14 turnovers.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kevin Garnett won the honor by averaging 27 points and 11 rebounds, leading Minnesota to a 3-0 record.

Monday's games

SIXERS 114, CELTICS 90: Allen Iverson scored 26 points and Theo Ratliff added 21 for visiting Philadelphia, which won its 10th straight to open the season.

Iverson added eight assists and Eric Snow 12 as the Sixers continued their best start. Eric Williams had 22 points for Boston, which trailed by at least 11 throughout the second half and made 5 of 25 three-pointers.

Aaron McKie scored 16 of his 17 points in the second quarter and eight in a row in a 10-0 run that helped Philadelphia open a 59-44 halftime lead.

HORNETS 100, RAPTORS 64: Jamal Mashburn scored 25 points and visiting Charlotte held Toronto to the lowest point total in franchise history.

The Raptors shot a franchise-worst 27 percent. Vince Carter made just 7 of 22 shots, finishing with a team-high 20 points.

Charlotte rookie Jamaal Magloire, a Toronto native, had 16 points and eight rebounds.

Mashburn scored 10 of his 17 first-half points during a 24-4 run in the second quarter, and the Hornets led 52-34 at halftime.

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