NBA -- Richmond Informs Kings He's Unhappy With Contract

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento Kings say they'll do what they can under salary-cap restrictions to satisfy Mitch Richmond, who has told the team he is unhappy with his contract.

Richmond, a guard who finished eighth in the NBA in scoring last season with 23.1 points per game and a member of the U.S. Olympic basketball team last summer, is to be paid $3.5 million this season as part of a contract that runs through the end of the 1998-99 season.

He has not spoken directly with team officials about his unhappiness, and it was uncertain whether he would report to training camp tomorrow. His agent, Aaron Goodwin, talked to General Manager Geoff Petrie of the Kings this week about possibly modifying Richmond's contract.

Petrie said there's little the Kings can do to change the contract, which includes a salary of $3 million next year and $2.5 million the following season.

"We have not been told that Mitch will not be in camp. We will be very disappointed if he does not report," Petrie said yesterday. "We're hopeful we'll resolve things with Mitch. But we're limited in what we can do."

The Kings modified Richmond's contract last season, increasing some guaranteed payments and immediately paying off some future obligations to the shooting guard.

About the only thing Petrie said the Kings can do now is extend the contract, but he said NBA rules would limit any raise in an additional year.

"Given our salary-cap situation at the present time, there are some ways we can modify Mitch's salary. We will consider doing what we can," Petrie said. "We do not have a date up on the door and say this is when your contract ends and this is when we'll talk to you."

Richmond signed a six-year contract extension in November 1992 and has watched in recent years as NBA salaries have skyrocketed. Reggie Miller, a teammate of Richmond on the U.S. Olympic squad this summer, signed a four-year contract for a reported $36 million this week with the Indiana Pacers.

"I understand some of the emotion of it, because I was a player, too," Petrie said. "But all the money this summer went to free agents, not to guys who were already under contract."

STOCKTON MAKES IT OFFICIAL

SALT LAKE CITY - NBA All-Star guard John Stockton has formally signed a new contract with the Utah Jazz. Last month, The Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News reported the contract was for $15 million over three years.

Owner Larry Miller, in a prepared statement, acknowledged that Stockton, a free agent, "would be able to get more money on the open market, and that fact was open between him and me."

GILL HOSPITALIZED

ST. LEO, Fla. - New Jersey guard Kendall Gill was hospitalized because of severe cramping and dehydration.

Gill, an ex-Seattle Supersonic, had finished his second practice at St. Leo College and returned to the locker room where he complained of cramping to trainer Ted Arzonico.

The trainer tried to relieve the pain but could not and had to summon an ambulance to take Gill to East Pasco Medical Center in Zephyrhills.

Gill received intravenous fluids, Nets spokesman John Mertz said.

GUNMAN TARGETS HARPER'S CAR

DAYTON, Ohio - The car of Chicago guard Ron Harper was riddled with bullets late Tuesday while he played a pickup basketball game.

According to the Dayton Daily News, Harper, a Dayton native, was playing basketball inside a recreation center about 10:30 p.m. when the shooting happened. No one was injured.

The car was hit at least 10 times, police said.

Harper told officers he did not know why anyone would shoot at his car.