NBA owners approve deal; lockout ends

The Associated Press

NEW YORK Ÿ The NBA made a quiet return to business Monday after a 21/2-month lockout. That could change in a matter of days.

The league formally resumed operations at noon EDT, allowing teams to make deals for the first time since the start of the July 1 lockout.

Owners approved the six-year collective bargaining agreement by a 24-5 vote Friday, paving the way for the season's preparations to begin.

Only two trades were made, with more expected as the league's general managers began working the phones again.

The expansion Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors were the first teams to do business, completing a six-player deal that appeared to be completed in June.

The Raptors traded B.J. Armstrong, their first pick in the expansion draft, to Golden State for two players and the rights to three 1995 second-round draft picks.

Toronto, which begins play this season, obtained centers Victor Alexander and Carlos Rogers, and the rights to forwards Dwayne Whitfield, Martin Lewis and Michael McDonald.

''Five for one is a good deal any way you look at it and we got some talented players, too,'' Toronto coach Brendan Malone said.

Also Monday, the Sacramento Kings traded center Frank Brickowski to the Seattle SuperSonics on Monday for guard Sarunas Marciulionis and forward Byron Houston. All three were traded last offseason as well.

Detroit is reportedly set to trade first-round pick Randolph Childress to Portland for Otis Thorpe, and Rod Strickland of the Trail Blazers may also be headed out of Portland.

The New York Knicks' first order of business was to begin negotiations with free-agent forward Anthony Mason, winner of last season's Sixth Man Award.

''That was the first thing we did after 12 today,'' a Knicks spokesman said. ''I think this is the number one priority. It certainly is the most pressing issue right now.''

In Boston, general manager Jan Volk announced the Celtics had renounced rights to forward Xavier McDaniel, guard Jay Humphries and center Matt Wenstrom. McDaniel spent three seasons with the team, Humphries was obtained during last season and Wenstrom played for Boston in 1993-94.

New Jersey Nets coach Butch Beard filled out his coaching staff by adding assistants Stan Albeck and Clifford Ray. Albeck coached the Nets from 1983-85. Ray was Beard's teammate on the NBA champion Warriors in 1975.

Of greater import to the Nets is the status of Derrick Coleman. The star forward has asked to be traded and the matter will be discussed this week by the team's owners.

Kevin McHale, the Minnesota Timberwolves' vice president of basketball operations, hopes to have No. 1 draft choice Kevin Garnett signed as soon as next week, thanks to the rookie salary cap in the new labor agreement.

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