LAKERS AT IT AGAIN; SWIPE TWO FOR TWO WITH PHOENIX SUNS

Last night the Los Angeles Lakers agreed in terms with the Phoenix Suns to trade Swing Guard Ray Williams and Center Mike Gminski for the “Greyhound” Walter Davis and Center Greg Ostertag.

Davis has struggled all season with the Suns in their offense and was averaging just over 8 points per game while Greg Ostertag was sent to the inactive list at the beginning of the year after acquiring Center Alton Lister. Bringing in Williams and Gminski give the Suns additional options as Williams will take Davis’ starting spot and Gminski may replace Lister in the starting lineup. In response to the move, Jameer Nelson was sent to inactive list.

Walter Davis is a great scorer but never showed it in Phoenix. Davis will not get as many opportunities though as he will back up Michael Jordan and play more of a 6^th Man role. The Lakers lost a lot of outside shooting when Chris Mullin was traded away and Davis will bring a lot of that back as he is a very capable outside shooter. Greg Ostertag will fill a void with defense and height in the middle

TWO GUNNERS EXCHANGE JERSEYS; WORTHY TO PLAY FOR HIS 4^TH TEAM THIS SEASON

Friday afternoon the Tampa Bay Ballers traded James Worthy to the Chicago Bulls for Antaan Jamison. Both players had slid down there perspective team’s bench and will get fresh starts with new teams. Both Worthy & Jamison finished their seasons with their old teams this weekend and will join their team’s today. Jamison finished his game with the Bulls Saturday and was told afterwards that he been sent to Tampa Bay. Jamison could not be reached for comment, but had to fly to New York to meet his new teammates as they face the New York Knicks this afternoon.

Jamison started the season as a starter for the Chicago Bulls, but was sent to the bench after attempting 33 shots in the team’s first preseason game. The next night the Bulls started Antwan Walker and have not looked back since. Jamison was still in the top of the rotation, but was beginning to lose minutes to Latrell Sprewell. Jamison had not complained about his downward slide, but did mention in preseason that “his jump shot had not come around yet.”

James Worthy story is very similar. He started the season with the Shelbyville Rockets and was a starter at the beginning of preseason. With the up and coming play of Leonard Marshall, Worthy moved to the bench and was then dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Alex English. Worthy began play in LA and was a starter for a brief stint before ending on the bench again. Word is that Worthy was taking a lot of “challenged shots” but had a world of ability. Soon after the Ballers came calling and Worthy was dealt again. Worthy never broke the starting lineup with the Ballers and his minutes plummeted as the season began. This is Worthy’s 4^th team this season and he seems to have gotten used to it. “This is a job and I know that. It’s alot harder for the wife & kids than it is me. They have spent a majority of their summer vacation packing up and moving. But hopefully this is there last move. We like Chicago and hopefully we will be here for awhile.”

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CALDWELL EVALUATED; WILL MISS 4-6 WEEKS

New Orleans Hornet forward Joe Caldwell was evaluated this morning by team doctors and has broken his thumb when he fell on it Thursday afternoon after going up for a shot.

The loss of Caldwell does not hurt the Hornets as much as it does the Golden State Warriors who lost starter Zach Randolph the day before. Caldwell was near the end of the bench and will be sent to the IR. Corey Douglas will join the Hornets for their next game and take Caldwell’s spot off the bench.

RANDOLPH BREAKS RING FINGER; COULD BE OUT 4-6 WEEKS

Zach Randolph immediately knew it was bad when he went up for a rebound and heard the pop and pain in his left hand. Randolph broke the bone in his ring finger on his non shooting hand on Wednesday Night and will wear a cast on the hand for the next 4-6 weeks.

Randolph dismissed the idea of going to the IR when interviewed yesterday. “I plan to try and play thru it. I want to help the team as much as I can so I’m gonna give it a go. I’ll know more during our next game If I can contribute or not. If I can’t then we’ll just go from there.”

Chris Gatling will take over the Power Forward spot in the starting lineup and word is that if Randolph is not able to contribute that either Orlando Wooldridge or Dick Van Arsdale will take his roster spot while Randolph visits the IR.