LOS ANGELES, 25 July 2003 — Latrell Sprewell became a member of the wolf pack late Wednesday night, when the rumored blockbuster four-team trade became reality.
Though the original deal was for four players, two more were added, to join the names of Sprewell, Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson, Keith Van Horn and Terrell Brandon.
The New York Knicks shipped popular swing man Sprewell to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who sent Brandon to the Atlanta Hawks and reserve forward Marc Jackson to the Philadelphia 76ers. Robinson was moved to the 76ers, which traded Van Horn to the Knicks.
The 76ers also sent the rights to Randy Holcomb, a reserve, and a first-round draft pick to Atlanta, while regaining their own 2006 second-round pick from the Hawks.
Though all four teams are likely to benefit from the deal, Minnesota has benefited the most, after making Sprewell, their third top notch signing in the off-season.
Earlier, point guard Sam Cassell was picked up in a trade from Milwaukee, while unhappy, unrestricted free agent center Michael Olowokandi bolted from the Los Angeles Clippers.
All three are expected to start alongside superstar power forward Kevin Garnett and sharpshooting small forward Wally Szczerbiak, when the Timberwolves move to the tough Western Conference next season.
“Latrell gives us a very athletic swing player, something we have said since the end of last season that we needed,” Timberwolves general manager Kevin McHale said of Sprewell, a four-time All-Star who owns a 19.2 scoring average in 11 seasons.
Unsure power forward Antonio McDyess would recover from knee surgery that kept him sidelined last season, the Knicks added the 6- foot-10 Van Horn, who averaged 15.9 points and 7.1 rebounds last season for the 76ers. “He’s going to add size to our frontcourt and give us a great deal of versatility,” Knicks coach Don Chaney said of Van Horn, adding, “If McDyess is healthy, we should be a very solid basketball team.”
Seeking additional firepower, the 76ers received offensive-minded Robinson a bona fide scorer, who will ease the burden for top gun Allen Iverson. The two-time All-Star averaged 20.8 points and 6.6 rebounds in his only season in Atlanta after being traded from Milwaukee. The Bucks top draft pick in 1994, Robinson has averaged 21.1 points and 6.2 in his nine-year career.
“Allen wanted a guy that could score points,” 76ers new head coach Randy Ayers said, adding, “I think we got that in Robinson.”
