By Jeff Karl
InsideHoops.com Editor and Head Honcho. The Big Cheese. The Man. Mr. "Do me a favor and go get me the pen that's 2 feet away from me but 12 feet away from you. Thanks."

Lets start with Patrick Ewing and the Sonics. Even though it's not likely that the addition of Ewing will enable Seattle to get past the Lakers, Blazers and Spurs in the playoffs, this deal was a no-brainer for them. Adding Ewing certainly helps, and if things don't work out (meaning, Pat is broken), they can simply choose to not re-sign him after the season when he becomes a free agent.

Ewing has cracked more jokes and smiled more in the last week than he did in his 15 years in New York.

He better throw outlet passes when grabbing defensive rebounds, however, instead of forcing Payton to accept a handoff pass, eliminating all hope for a fast break while giving time for Pat to get downcourt to demand the ball in the post.

Will Rashard Lewis become a star small forward this season?

The Vancouver Grizzlies have new uniforms. Fairly simple, plain ones. They also have two centers who really need to step and and make a statement (like perhaps, "I care about staying in shape and winning basketball games") in Ike Austin and Bryant Reeves.

Vancouver fans will be happy to learn that the players will be receiving better food service on team buses and in hotels. Mike Bibby hated the re-heated spaghetti last year. (He really did. It may not be essential information but it is true.)

Mike Dickerson averaged 22.4 points per game in April, 2000.

Ike Austin hit a halfcourt shot last Wednesday in front of a bunch of reporters.

Howard Eisley and Steve Nash will be fighting for the starting point guard job in Dallas.

The best outside shooter on the Clippers is Eric Piatkowski.

Horace Grant is very, very, very, very, very happy to be on the Lakers. He's predicting multiple championships and can't wait to be playing with Shaq again.

Here's hoping that Paul Pierce has a swift and full recovery.

Pat Riley wrote an inspirational letter to all of his players the other day. Winning a championship in Miami is no longer a goal, but a life-or-death mission. Hopefully he hasn't frightened newcomers Jones, Mason and Grant (yet).

Congratulations are due to Tracy Murray. He finally managed to get traded away from the Washington Wizards. He wanted this for a very long time. Murray is now with the Nuggets and has warned people that if you double Antonio McDyess, he'll make you pay for it.

Fine. I won't double Antonio McDyess next time I see him.

Gary Grant's fantastic career has taken a turn for the worse, as the Cleveland Cavaliers recently decided they no longer require his services.

Rik Smits is going to retire. He had a terrific career that would have been even better had he not always had to play on feet that hurt to stand up on. We salute him. The Dunking Dutchman was, for the most part, a force.

Ok, he couldn't rebound. As an NBA center, he was still a force.

Lenny Wilkins' offense in Toronto should be: Get Vince the ball, clear out, get back on defense.

On a side note: Evander Holyfield refused to wear my InsideHoops.com hat for a photograph at the Olympics the other day.  I believe he felt intimidated by the obvious fact that I could whoop his ass in the ring and was trembling far too much at the sight of my biceps to worry about steading himself enough to successfully put a hat on and pose for a picture without falling over from fright.

9/28/2000

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