Wang's Mav days likely over

Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram reports that Wang Zhi Zhi’s career as a Dallas Maverick is likely over. The tension created by Wang’s refusal to report to the Chinese National Team this summer has all but forced the Mavericks to sever ties with the 7-foot-1 restricted-free-agent center.

"Wang doesn't want to leave Dallas, but there's a 99 percent chance he's going to leave," Wan’s advisor, Simon Chan said. "For the sake of the Mavericks' relationship with China, they may let him go." Chan said he believes in the next five to 10 days, the Mavericks will work out a sign-and-trade and ship Wang to either the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors or Orlando Magic. Chan also said Wang has no plans to defect to the United States.

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Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors

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Stoudamire still on the block?

Jason Quick of the Oregonian reports that Damon Stoudamire may be playing himself back into the Blazers good graces.

After another rumor-filled summer where Damon has reportedly been mentioned in trades to the Timberwolves, Knicks and Cavaliers, the point guard waiver between wanting out of Portland and wanting to prove he can beat recently acquired Jeff McInnis for the starting job. I'm tired of listening to all of this stuff," Stoudamire said during the weekend. "It's not a bad thing, but it's something that has really motivated me. I'm really looking forward to having a big year. If it's here in Portland, it's here in Portland. If it's somewhere else, it's somewhere else. But I'm looking forward to having a big year."

In a scrimmage against Team USA on Saturday, Stoudamire was impressive. Considering he was matched up against Andre Miller, he was very impressive. "I tell you what, they might not want to trade me," Stoudamire said, laughing. . "I've got something in store for everybody." Blazers assistant coach Herb Brown said, "Damon looked good, huh?"

Stoudamire has heard the rumors while working out religiously. He looks more muscular than last season and accepts the trade talk. "I have been here for five years, and I always come up in trade rumors," Stoudamire said. "But until I am gone, I am a Blazer. But the one thing I can say is that through my time here, I have always tried to please everybody and do everything for everybody else. This season, I have to -- not play for myself -- but play my game from start to finish."

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Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves

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Knicks Keep Eye on Vujanic

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports that the Knicks will be looking at their second round pick during the World Championships.

Yugoslavian point guard Milos Vujanic will try to do what first-round pick Frank Williams failed to do - make a strong impression on Knicks' brass this summer. The 6-4 Vujanic, 22, is a member of the Yugoslavian national team, considered Team USA's largest threat in the World Championships that begin Thursday.

The Knicks don't have a point guard of the present but they seem to have two point guards of the future. First round draft pick Frank Williams is currently nursing a broken wrist. Vujanic will play this season with his Yugoslavian team, but the Knicks plan to have him for the summer league next July and the 2003 training camp.

"He seemed anxious to want to play for the Knicks," assistant GM Jeff Nix told The Post. "He's going to be a good player in our league and I told him that [Friday]. The day after the draft, four or five teams called and wanted to trade for him. When you get that many teams wanting to get their mitts on him, you know you've got a pretty good player in the second round."

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New York Knicks

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