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By Joel Flom
Arizona Daily Wildcat
August 21, 1996
Charles Barkley got his wish: Monday he was traded to a contender - the Houston Rockets.
The trade brings a third all-star to join Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon and a better chance to compete with Seattle in the Western Conference.
"Obviously, our goal is to win the world championship," Barkley said.
On the University of Arizona campus, the deal produced mixed reactions.
"It's about time," said creative writing sophomore and Phoenix native Timothy Van Vlack.
"Houston got ripped off," business sophomore Robert Ackerman said. "How can Houston give up two young quality players like (Robert) Horry and (Sam) Cassell and two productive bench players like (Chucky) Brown and (Mark) Bryant for a guy that is obviously near the end of his career?"
The trade should open a few doors for the Suns. They receive younger players in Bryant, Brown, Cassell and Horry. Horry especially will give the Suns the outside shooter and shot blocker they needed last season
And with a roster that contains four point guards and six forwards, other trades are likely, especially since all four players received will be free agents after the season.
A three-way deal had been attempted earlier this summer. The Suns had agreed to a deal that would have sent Barkley to Houston, Horry and Cassell to Denver, and Dikembe Mutombo to Phoenix. The NBA would not approve the trade because Mutombo was not under contract and, therefore, could not be included in trade talks.
Now or never is the outlook Barkley will have to possess when he slips into his new No. 4 - Olajuwon wears Barkley's traditional No. 34 - for his third NBA team. He will be 34 years old before the end of the season, and has only two years left on his contract. This will, however, be his best bet to do something he was never able to do in Phoenix: Win a world championship.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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