Here's an article I found on Yahoo sports!

Grant says ``it's time to move on'' from Portland
By TARA BURGHART
Associated Press Writer
August 9, 2000


PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Where Brian Grant plays next season has turned into the
latest version of an NBA morality play.

Is the power forward a ``pirate'' trying to grab as much money as possible -- as
he was described by one radio broadcaster Wednesday -- or an athlete willing to
sacrifice dollars for a chance to win?

According to Grant himself, ``it's time to move on'' and keep control over his
career.

The latest possibility involves a sign-and-trade deal that would send Grant to
the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers' Shawn Kemp to Portland and a package of
players from Miami to Cleveland.

Grant's agent said Wednesday that deal was in the works but warned that big
trades ``can often fall apart.''

Grant, meanwhile, tried to explain to a city that used to love him why he
probably would soon be playing somewhere else.

``I've got teams I'm looking at, but if I didn't feel I had to be in this
position, I wouldn't be in this position,'' Grant said in an interview with
KXJM-FM, some of his first comments about the situation. ``This is my only
opportunity to make a move on my terms, because if I stay (and move on their
terms) ... then I could end up in a place like Cleveland.''

The power forward almost ended up in Cleveland, in a $93 million deal that would
have sent him to the Cavaliers in exchange for Kemp. But as a free agent, Grant
used his power to turn down the deal.

Then, after opting to become a free agent at the end of June and giving up a
guaranteed $40 million over the next four years, Grant this week reportedly
turned down a $70 million, six-year offer to stay with the Blazers.

But Grant said he ``never officially turned down the Blazers. ... They asked me
what I wanted to do, and I said I thought it was time for me to move on. And
when I say it's time to move on, I don't mean that in a bad or negative way,
because Portland knows how I care about the community there.''

Still, Grant's decision did not sit well with some Trail Blazer fans, who have
admired the dreadlocked power forward for his work with community groups and
children's charities.

``We personally loved him. His charity work touched my heart, '' said Neil
Fernando, a civil engineer walking in downtown Portland Wednesday. ``But money
talks these days. Professional sports are a money-driven thing.''

Even professional golfers Brad Andrade and Peter Jacobsen -- playing at the Fred
Meyer Challenge outside Portland -- mused on Grant's situation during the awards
ceremony Tuesday.

``What is Brian Grant doing? All I can say is the guy is an absolute idiot,''
Andrade said to the roaring crowd.

``When Brian Grant turns that money down, I got to think the same thing, `What
is this guy thinking about?''' said Jacobsen, a Portland native and the
tournament host.

Grant, 28, remains one of the league's best all-around power forwards. Despite
being slowed by knee and foot injuries last season, he started 46 of 50 games in
the strike-shortened 1999 season and averaged 11.5 points and 9.8 rebounds.

Grant had surgery on his left knee and missed the first eight games of
1999-2000. By the time he returned, Rasheed Wallace was firmly established at
power forward, on his way to the All-Star game.

Grant later missed another 11 games with a foot injury and averaged 21 minutes,
7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game -- all career lows.

Grant's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Wednesday the Heat are negotiating a
sign-and-trade deal involving Grant, Kemp and a package of players.

``We're talking about a bunch of different scenarios,'' Bartelstein said. ``At
this point, Brian feels Miami is the best opportunity for him. He would like to
do that, if it can get done.''

Bartelstein also cautioned ``these things are difficult to work out. They can
often fall apart. We're working toward bringing resolution to all this.''

If a trade can't be worked out, Grant might accept the Heat's $2.25 million
exception, then negotiate a long-term deal with the team beginning next year.

That possibility -- turning down money for a spot with a winning team over the
woeful Cavaliers -- has earned the praise of some.

Whatever happens, Grant said he'll never abandon his ties to Portland.

``When I say I may be leaving Portland as a basketball player. ... I'm still in
Portland. My foundation is based there. I'm getting ready to grant my foundation
a large sum of money ... and a lot of that money is going to stay right there in
Portland,'' Grant said. ``My fan club base is going to stay there, so I'm going
to be part of Portland.''



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