NBA -- Mavericks Trade Harper To Knicks

DALLAS - The Dallas Mavericks today traded veteran guard Derek Harper to the New York Knicks for Tony Campbell and a first-round draft choice in 1997.

The Knicks, leading the Atlantic Division with a 19-8 record, were desperate for backcourt help after having lost Doc Rivers for the season with a knee injury and Hubert Davis for several weeks with a fractured bone in his right hand.

Harper, 32, was the Mavericks' first-round draft choice out of Illinois in 1983. He asked to be traded a year ago and has repeated the request several times this season.

Harper is the Mavericks' all-time leader in assists (4,790), steals (1,457) and three-point field goals (645). His career averages are 15 points and 6.1 assists per game.

Campbell, a 6-7 swingman, will become an unrestricted free agent after this season. He averaged 7.1 points on .490 shooting with 1.4 assists in 22 games this season.

The Mavericks have the worst record in the NBA at 2-27. The trade gives them seven first-round choices in the next four drafts, including four selections the next two years.

Pistons mum

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - None of the key players in the strange saga of Isiah Thomas was commenting on reports that Detroit Piston owner William Davidson had given Thomas 10 percent ownership of the franchise and complete control over basketball operations upon retirement at the end of this season - a deal team sources said was worth $55 million.

Nothing from Thomas. Nothing from Davidson. Nothing from team President Tom Wilson. Nothing from Director of Player Personnel Billy McKinney.

Thomas practiced yesterday, but he waved off reporters and quickly left the Palace.

"To have this thing continue to hang on is a problem for everyone," Coach Don Chaney said. "The longer it lingers, the worse the players' concentration will become."

Notes

-- Washington Bullet owner Abe Pollin, eager to end speculation about the status of Coach Wes Unseld, said Unseld would remain at the helm until the end of the season.

-- Sacramento rookie Bobby Hurley, injured last month in an auto accident, underwent minor shoulder surgery and was told that reconstructive surgery to repair a damaged ligament won't be required, as had been announced earlier.

-- Sam Bowie underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Doctors said the Los Angeles Laker center would be out at least six weeks. Kurt Rambis was re-signed to replace Bowie.

-- The New York Knicks signed former Sonic Gerald Paddio, who was cut Nov. 29 by Indiana and had been playing in Italy.

-- Cedric Ceballos, injured Phoenix forward, said he just forgot he was carrying his 9 mm semiautomatic handgun when he was caught with it at a Tempe bar this week. "I just forgot that I had it. I was wearing a big coat. I had it in my pocket," he said.

Compiled from Knight-Ridder Newspapers, New York Daily News and Associated Press.