Sabonis Hanging Loose

The 7-foot-3 Lithuanian is getting acclimated to his "new surroundings"
while the Blazers try to work out his contract

Arvydas Sabonis, still not officially a Portland Trail Blazer, showed 
up at Lewis & Clark College on Monday morning to take a few jumpers 
while the wait continues to get his contract ironed out.

"He basically just came in and shot around, just to get loose," Blazers
assistant coach Johnny Davis said. "He didn't participate in any of the
(informal) workouts.

"He's been here a couple days, and most guys at this point just want to
get out of the hotel and stretch a little bit, get to know the city a 
little bit. So that's what he's doing."

Davis eyeballed the 7-foot-3 Lithuanian, and his immediate impression 
was that Sabonis "is really a terrific shooter. And really just a nice 
guy. I talked to him a little bit. He's going to be a fine addition if 
things work out."

Davis didn't see the often-injured Sabonis run, but he noted: "It didn't
appear (that his mobility) was hampered to a great degree. He moved 
pretty good."

One of Sabonis' agents, Arturo Ortega, is still in Portland. He said 
Monday that Sabonis was eager to get the deal completed.

"If he wasn't eager (to play in the NBA), he wouldn't be here," Ortega
said. "There's nothing new. I mean, we're just waiting. Arvydas is not
surprised at the wait. He is very confident it will get done. He and 
his wife have been looking at houses. They saw some they liked, but 
they haven't made a decision (to buy) yet.

"How much longer?" Ortega said. "Better to ask (Blazers general manager)
Bob Whitsitt."

Said Whitsitt: "It's pretty similar to where we were last week. We're 
dedicated to getting it done, and we're still working through some 
things we need to work through.

"With the new cap and the new collective-bargaining agreement, and all
those things, you really want to understand what you're doing before 
you do it. We don't have any magical deadlines. The only self-imposed d
eadline is the start of training camp."

The Blazers camp runs Oct. 6-12 at Linfield College.

Whitsitt said Sabonis is doing exactly what the Blazers want -- getting
acclimated to "new surroundings, new teammates, new coaches and a new 
city."

While Sabonis checks out the real-estate market, Whitsitt could be 
looking for more room under the salary cap to sign him.

The Blazers -- still trying to make a trade or two -- called a Sabonis-
related news conference Thursday afternoon but abruptly canceled it a 
few hours later without explanation.

The hang-up, according to a source close to the team, apparently 
involved a trade that didn't go through when one player did not pass a 
physical. Whitsitt would neither confirm nor deny this.

One NBA general manager who did not want his name used said: "It has to
be something with somebody's physical because the deal was done back 
during the draft, and it's obvious the Blazers need the cap room to 
sign Sabonis."

It is known that Rod Strickland and Clifford Robinson are being shopped
around. And Aaron McKie, a shooting guard entering his second season, 
also could wind up involved in a deal.

One source said a possible trade involved Strickland and McKie going to
the Washington Bullets for shooting guard Calbert Cheaney and a first-
round draft pick.

The Bullets have made pitches for Strickland before. Their most recent
offer was a 1996 first-round pick and small forward Don MacLean, but 
Whitsitt said no thanks.

How about Robinson to Minnesota? The Blazers still are interested in 
acquiring rookie forward Kevin Garnett, who came out of high school 
this summer and was drafted fifth by the Timberwolves.

The Blazers tried hard to trade up in the June draft so they could pick
Garnett, but Portland couldn't get higher than No. 8. 

Philadelphia is more desperate than the Bullets for a point guard. The
76ers lost Dana Barros to Boston in the free-agent market, and their 
other two point guards from last season also have left (B.J. Tyler in 
the expansion draft, and Corey Gaines to Turkey).

The 76ers have some front-line players that the Blazers have liked -- 
forwards Sharone Wright and Clarence Weatherspoon. But Philadelphia is 
particularly reluctant to give up Wright.