Sonics To Send Mcilvaine To New Jersey -- Will Get Cage And Maclean, Plus Salary Room

The Sonics are expected to trade Jim McIlvaine to the New Jersey Nets once the collective bargaining agreement is finalized.

In return for the 26-year-old center, Seattle will get ex-Sonic Michael Cage, a 36-year-old center, and Don MacLean, a small forward who played a total of 42 minutes last season.

"I can't confirm or deny a trade," General Manager Wally Walker said last night. "We have had some discussions with a couple of different teams the last few days. And I'll leave it at that."

The trade seems to indicate that Seattle lost all hope in McIlvaine improving his play. In two disappointing seasons, he averaged 3.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 16.7 minutes.

However, the trade has immediate salary-cap implications for Seattle, which was to pay McIlvaine $4.2 million this season as part of his seven-year, $35 million contract.

"I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get a chance to play with Paul," McIlvaine said last night, referring to Coach Paul Westphal. "I was looking forward to it. The guys I had talked to really liked playing for him. But at the same time it's an opportunity to go somewhere else and play."

Cage was to earn $2.35 million this season, but the Nets had an option to buy out his contract for $1 million. If Seattle exercises that option, it will save more than $1 million toward the salary cap.

MacLean, 29, was to make $2.46 million this season as part of a five-year, $12.5 million contract running through the 2001-02 season.

"I think there's more than one factor involved in the trade," McIlvaine said. "It's not just a matter of getting me out of here. There are salary-cap issues that the Sonics have to deal with. They have to do what they have to do."

Seattle is currently $1.8 million under the cap, and had been contemplating staying over the cap and re-signing most of their free agents. Now the Sonics will have more room to pursue a second-tier player.

Yesterday, the agent for Clipper power forward Loy Vaught, James McDowell, said Seattle had contacted him. But Vaught had been leaning toward the Detroit Pistons, partly because Seattle hadn't enough cap room.

Seattle reportedly will try to sign Sacramento small forward Billy Owens, who earned $4.2 million last season. If true, McIlvaine's trade was essential.

According to a source, the Nets approached Seattle about acquiring McIlvaine last weekend. Last night, McIlvaine didn't seem stunned at the trade but conveyed sadness at leaving Seattle.

"It's a beautiful place to live," he said. "The people are very friendly. The whole city is gorgeous. Everybody has been so nice here."

But things weren't so nice for McIlvaine during the postseason, when former coach George Karl benched him. The timing seemed like a recurring theme in the uneasy relationship between Karl and Walker. "We didn't bring (McIlvaine) here for a real limited role," Walker said last week.

McIlvaine was Seattle's most physical big man and one of the league's best shot blockers. (He averaged 1.8 blocks last season playing only 15.5 minutes per game). But Seattle wanted much more. He was an average rebounder and lacked offense.

McIlvaine was MacLean's teammate with the then Washington Bullets from 1994 to 1996, the center's first two seasons in the league. MacLean is considered a sweet outside shooter who can't do much else. The Nets are willing to unload him partly because they are deep at forward. MacLean played in only nine games in 1997-98 because of tendinitis in both knees.

"He's a nice guy," McIlvaine said. "When he's healthy, boy, the guy can shoot the ball."

McIlvaine would back up Jayson Williams, who recently agreed to a seven-year contract for about $100 million. New Jersey is likely to renounce the rights to center Rony Seikaly to clear up cap space.

"Everybody in the league seems to think that's an up-and-coming team. . . . They are headed in the right direction, and that's the kind of team you want to be traded to," McIlvaine said.

Cage turns 37 on Jan. 28 and was planning to retire after this season. Last season he started 17 games when Williams was injured. In 79 games, Cage averaged 3.9 rebounds in 15.2 minutes.

While McIlvaine never put up big numbers, he was one of the most popular Sonics. He stayed upbeat despite constant criticism. And as secretary-treasurer of the players union, he played a part in the settlement. But he knew that's not why the Sonics pay him.

"I always had feelings running through my head," McIlvaine said. "Most players would be lying if they said they didn't think sometime that they would be traded."