Joe Smith Loses Appeal

N E W  Y O R K, Nov. 10 -- Joe Smith is now looking for a new team after an arbitrator on Thursday upheld the penalties issued against him by NBA commissioner David Stern.

“I think the league has made it very clear that they would likeJoe to play somewhere other than here,” Minnesota Timberwolvesowner Glen Taylor said.

Arbitrator Kenneth Dam ruled that Stern did not exceed hisauthority when he voided Smith’s contracts for the 1998-99 and1999-00 seasons, taking away any financial incentive for him tostay in Minnesota.

The Timberwolves can now offer Smith a one-year contract for nomore than $611,000. Other teams, including the Miami Heat andChicago Bulls, can offer Smith more than six times that amount.

Dallas, Atlanta and New York also are believed to be on Smith’sshort list.

“This could be a great opportunity for him. He could be lookingat a starting position,” Heat coach Pat Riley told reporters inMiami.

More Punishment from NBA?

The Timberwolves signed an illegal secret agreement with Smith,promising him a multiyear, multimillion-dollar contract extensionthat was to begin in the 2001-02 season after Smith had playedthree seasons in Minnesota.

Stern penalized the Timberwolves by taking away their next fivefirst-round draft picks and fining the team $3.5 million.

The commissioner also voided Smith’s contract for the currentseason along with his one-year contracts for the previous twoseasons, thereby taking away his so-called Larry Bird rights.

Players with Bird rights can re-sign with their team even if theteam is over the salary cap. Smith will have to play three moreseasons to re-earn those rights.

“I think the arbitrator recognized the importance of enforcingthe provisions relating to secret agreements,” NBA deputycommissioner Russ Granik said. “It demonstrates that if you enterinto secret agreements, the consequences of getting caught can befairly significant.”