August 31, 1985
WALTON DEAL STILL ON TARGET CLIPPERS WILL GET MAXWELL
Bill Walton passed a physical in Boston yesterday, but the Celtics were unable to announce that Walton had been acquired for Cedric Maxwell because of a disagreement between Walton and the Clippers regarding deferred compensation. However, Clipper officials said last night that an agreement has been reached on the deferred compensation issue.
It was expected that the trade would be officially announced late today.
"Everything is on target, there are no hitches," said Clipper general manager Carl Scheer.
The Celtics and Clippers reached a tentative trade agreement Thursday and supervised physicals for both players yesterday. Walton was examined by Celtic team physician Thomas Silva at University Hospital. At the request of Clipper physician Tony Daly, Maxwell was examined by Dr. Tim Taft at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill).
The Celtics were expected to call a press conference late yesterday to announce the transaction, but Boston general manager Jan Volk reported problems after phone conversations with the Clippers and a lengthy meeting with Walton, Silva and Celtic president Red Auerbach.
Two problems had been holding up the deal. One involved conformity with the NBA's complex salary cap restrictions and was not believed to be a major snag, because, according to Volk, "everybody wants to get it done; it's just difficult to do."
The other issue involved deferred compensation that the Clippers owe Walton. Before completing the deal, the Clippers wanted Walton to defer owed money for a longer period of time.
Clipper legal counsel Arn Tellem said, "That part is resolved. It's not a problem anymore. We're in agreement now. I think it was just a misunderstanding."
All other details of the agreement appear to be set. Boston will pay more than half of Maxwell's $805,000 per year contract and send Maxwell plus next year's No. 1 draft pick (not to be confused with Seattle's pick, which the Celtics also own) to the Clippers for Walton.
In Los Angeles, Maxwell will have a four-year deal with an option (the team's) for a fifth year. Walton's pact with the Celtics calls for Boston to pay the redhead $450,000 per year for each of the next three years.
Volk and Silva said that the Celtics have no problems with Walton's physical condition. Walton appeared tired when he left the Celtics' offices yesterday. His only comment: "We're working on it." Reached later in his Boston hotel room, Walton elected not to comment on the deferred compensation issue.
Scheer did not expect a report on Maxwell's physical until today. Maxwell's agent, Ron Grinker, predicted that Maxwell would have no problems with the physical. "I guarantee he won't fail it," said Grinker.
Grinker said that the Clippers have asked Maxwell to withhold comment until a week from Monday, when Maxwell has scheduled a press conference in Los Angeles.
Grinker never thought the deferred money issue would endanger the deal. "He (Walton) will sell his soul to get out of there," said Grinker. "They want to get rid of Walton, and the Celtics want to get rid of Max. This just prolongs it."
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