The Golden State Warriors found a home for disgruntled swingman Stephen Jackson on Monday, sending him to the Charlotte Bobcats in a four-player deal that pairs him with coach Larry Brown.
The Bobcats sent shooting guard Raja Bell and forward Vladimir Radmanovic to the Warriors for 6-foot-8 Jackson and guard Acie Law.
The deal gave Jackson his wish: a ticket out of town after his difficult relationship with Warriors coach Don Nelson, who acknowledged since the season began the team would try to trade him.
Now Brown, the Hall of Famer who has coached numerous difficult players, including Allen Iverson, gets talented but polarizing Jackson.
With managing partner Michael Jordan signing off on the deal, Charlotte takes on Jackson's contract, which has three years and $28 million left after this season. Golden State inherits Radmanovic's deal, worth about $13.5 million over this season and next. Bell and Law are in the final year of their contracts.
Jackson scored 13 points and had nine rebounds in his Charlotte debut Monday night, but the Bobcats lost their fifth straight, falling at Orlando 97-91. Flip Murray scored 31 for the Magic.
Hawks 99, Trail Blazers 95 (OT): Joe Johnson scored eight of his 35 points in overtime as host Atlanta completed a season sweep of Portland for the first time since the 1996-97 season.
Mavericks 115, Bucks 113 (OT): Dirk Nowitzki hit a fallaway 18-footer as time expired in overtime to give visiting Dallas the victory. With 3.1 seconds left, Nowitzki caught a pass from Jason Kidd, who finished a point short of a triple-double, and rattled in a shot off the rim and backboard. Nowitzki finished with 32 points and 11 rebounds.
O'Neal sidelined: Shaquille O'Neal's mysterious shoulder injury is expected to keep him out of Cleveland's game tonight against Golden State.
Iverson, Grizzlies part ways: The Memphis Grizzlies announced Monday that the team has ended its one-year contract with the 10-time All-Star and former league MVP Allen Iverson in what it called a mutual agreement. Iverson began an indefinite leave of absence Nov. 7 to deal with a personal issue after playing only three games with the Grizzlies.
Coghlan, Bailey top rookies
Florida Marlins left fielder Chris Coghlan won the National League Rookie of the Year award in a close vote Monday, and Oakland Athletics closer Andrew Bailey took the AL honor.
Coghlan edged Philadelphia Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ, receiving 17 first-place votes and 105 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Happ, the only player picked on all 32 ballots, had 10 first-place votes and 94 points.
Bailey, a surprise All-Star this season with 26 saves and 1.84 ERA, was selected first on 13 of 28 ballots and finished with 88 points. Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus was the runner-up with 65 points, one more than Detroit pitcher Rick Porcello.
Trainer Frankel dies at 68
Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, who won the 2003 Belmont Stakes with Empire Maker, died Monday at his home in Pacific Palisades, Calif., after a long fight against cancer. He was 68.
Frankel enjoyed his greatest success this decade, winning four consecutive Eclipse Awards as the nation's leading trainer from 2000 to 2003 and five overall. He won his only Triple Crown race with Empire Maker in the Belmont, dashing the Triple Crown bid of Funny Cide, who had won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
Nadal will play for Spain
Rafael Nadal will lead defending champion Spain in the Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic. The best-of-five series on indoor clay will be played Dec. 4-6 at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.
Second-ranked Nadal returns to the team for the first time since winning both singles matches against Serbia in the first round in March.
David Ferrer is likely to be the other singles player, and Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez are to remain partners in the doubles for the squad announced Monday by captain Albert Costa.
Grobe visits sports club
Wake Forest football coach Jim Grobe will be the guest speaker Wednesday at the Raleigh Sports Club's weekly lunch meeting, and Panther Creek volleyball player Jill Edwards will be honored as the high school athlete of the week.
The meeting begins at noon at Highland United Methodist Church at 1901 Ridge Road. The cost is $14 for members and $20 for nonmembers.
Learn more at www.raleighsportsclub.org.
From club news release
