Malone Demands Trade

LOS ANGELES - Karl Malone, one of the finest power forwards in NBA history, said on his radio show that he no longer wants to play for the Utah Jazz.

"I am tired of the posturing and jabbering back and forth, and I will go out on a limb and say, when the lockout is over with, I will make a demand to be traded," Malone said yesterday. "I will say it right now: I have played my last game in Salt Lake City, and it's time for Karl to move on."

With extra time on his hands, Malone is in his third week as an afternoon talk-show host two hours a day Mondays through Fridays for radio station KXTA in Los Angeles.

"There have been things done and said in Utah, and I don't really think I can play there anymore," he said on the air. "I'm almost sure I can't play there anymore.

"I would rather go somewhere else, and there's not a lot of places I can go to. I would love to have an opportunity to play with the (Los Angeles) Lakers, either when this lockout is over with or when I become a free agent."

Malone also voiced his disapproval with Jazz owner Larry Miller and blasted the Utah media, saying he would never do another interview with reporters from Salt Lake City.

It isn't the first time he's criticized the Jazz ownership and media. Malone has been at odds with both for the past few years, receiving criticism for Utah's losses to the Chicago Bulls in the last two NBA Finals, as well as not signing a long-term contract to remain in Utah.

"He's fed up with all the personal attacks on him and his family," said Dwight Manley, Malone's agent. "He's tired of having to make excuses for being such a great player. He wants to explore his options; he just wants to be his own man."

Jazz spokesman Mark Kelly said he couldn't comment on Malone's remarks because of the gag order that prohibits comment by team officials on player matters.

Malone, 35, has spent his entire 13-year NBA career with the Jazz and has one year remaining on his current contract. Earlier this year, he complained publicly about his four-year, $20.2 million contract. His $5 million annual salary is far below what the league's other top players make.

Malone averaged a team-leading 27 points and 10.3 rebounds in 81 games for the Jazz last season, ranking third in the league in scoring and sixth in rebounding. The NBA's Most Valuable Player during the 1996-97 season, Malone has averaged 26.2 points and 10.7 rebounds in 1,061 career games.