NBA TRADE Sprewell may be headed for Timberwolves

A four-or five team proposed trade is in the making.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Latrell Sprewell could be on his way out of New York, with Keith Van Horn coming to take his place as part of a proposed four- or five-team trade being discussed Tuesday night, The Associated Press learned.
ESPN.com reported the trade would be a four-team deal also involving Atlanta and Minnesota, with Glenn Robinson headed to Philadelphia and Terrell Brandon going to Atlanta. Sprewell would end up in Minnesota.
Sources with knowledge of the trade talks who spoke on condition of anonymity told the AP the deal also involved other players, and that a fifth team was involved.
One of the additional players would be Minnesota forward/center Marc Jackson, and the fifth team was believed to be the Sacramento Kings. The identities of the other players involved could not immediately be determined.
Expected to be made today
Agents for two of the players, who asked not to be identified, said they felt the deal was likely to be finalized today, although they cautioned it could fall apart because of the number of teams and players involved.
If it goes through, it would be one of the larger trades of recent years.
The deal would bring an end to Sprewell's five-season tenure with the Knicks which included a trip to the 1999 finals but which ended acrimoniously after the four-time All-Star arrived for training camp last fall with a broken hand -- an injury he failed to notify the Knicks about.
He averaged 16.4 points and shot only a shade over 40 percent -- some of the lowest numbers of his 11-year career.
Van Horn has spent only one season in Philadelphia after playing his first five with the New Jersey Nets.
Criticized in Philadelphia
He was criticized in Philadelphia for his play in the postseason when his scoring averaged dropped almost five points from his regular season average.
His departure from the Nets came after critical comments from teammates following New Jersey's four-game loss to the Lakers in the 2002 NBA Finals.
The Knicks were known to have proposed a straight-up Sprewell-for-Van Horn deal, but such a deal would have left the already-small 76ers with an even worse shortage of rebounders.
It's thus possible that Philadelphia could be the trade destination for Jackson, who played at Temple.
But in order for that trade to work salary-cap wise, the 76ers would have to include another player, perhaps Greg Buckner, in the deal.
The addition of Van Horn would also create an even bigger logjam at power forward for the Knicks, who already have Clarence Weatherspoon, Othella Harrington, Antonio McDyess and rookie Michael Sweetney at that position. Additionally, New York uses Kurt Thomas, a natural power forward, as its center.
It thus stands to reason that Knicks general manager Scott Layden could be trying to land Kings center Keon Clark, who would fill New York's glaring need for a shot blocker.
The salaries of Thomas and Clark are nearly equal. Sacramento also has been discussing moving forward Scot Pollard, and has been in talks with Indiana regarding a three-team deal that would include the Pacers' Ron Mercer, according to a source with knowledge of those talks.
Two-time All-Star
Robinson, a two-time All-Star, was Atlanta's leading scorer last season with an average of 20.8 points. But the Hawks, despite guaranteeing a playoff berth to their season ticket-holders, had a poor season and missed the playoffs with a 35-47 record.
They would be interested in Brandon, whose career is likely over because of repeated knee injuries, because his $11 million-plus contract is due to come off the salary cap in February. The team that holds his rights would then use that space to have extra maneuverability on the free agent market or in trades.