Wednesday, June 26, 1996

Houston abuzz with hopeful Barkley talk; Olajuwon staying neutral

By MIKE DRAGO
Associated Press

HOUSTON - Hakeem Olajuwon has heard the hopeful speculation buzzing around town regarding the Houston Rockets' reported efforts to trade for Charles Barkley.

Now the Rockets center wants to hear what Sir Charles has to say about the possibility that a mini-Dream Team of Barkley, Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler might convene to bring the Rockets another NBA championship.

"It would be nice to hear from Barkley himself what he's thinking," Olajuwon said Tuesday. "Barkley is an asset. To have Barkley on the team, on any team, is an asset."

Olajuwon will have a chance to hear Barkley's thoughts next week, when Dream Team III gathers in Chicago to begin practice for the Olympic Games.

Barkley, 33, has asked the Phoenix Suns to trade him to a team that has a chance to win the NBA title, namely Chicago, Indiana, New York or Houston.

That pronouncement, which the 6-6 forward made on national television three weeks ago, pushed rampant speculation - already well under way in Houston - to a fever pitch.

Rockets general manager Bob Weinhauer fueled that recently by publicly talking up Barkley's abilities, and the team last week cleared room under its salary cap by trading Tim Breaux and Pete Chilcutt to the Vancouver Grizzlies.

Then on Tuesday, the Houston Chronicle published an altered three-column photo of Barkley in a Rockets uniform under the headline, "If the uniform fits ..."

The Chronicle also cited unnamed Suns sources as saying Barkley will be traded this summer, and Houston is the leading candidate to land him. Any such move would likely not come until after next Monday, when the NBA salary cap goes up to $24.3 million, the newspaper said.

Amid all the excitement, it seems the only question remaining - for radio talk show callers and sports pundits, anyway - is which two or three Rockets should be traded for Barkley. Robert Horry? Sam Cassell? Mark Bryant?

"I was listening to the radio," Olajuwon said. "Now everybody becomes an expert ... But this is a very difficult situation, especially for the decision-maker, because this is a bold move. It has to be the right move. That is a big responsibility."

Weinhauer, the man who shares that burden with Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich, declined an interview Tuesday through spokesman Tim Frank, saying he wanted to avoid trade talks until after today's NBA Draft.

Frank, however, couldn't help but marvel at the Chronicle's depiction of Barkley in a Rockets uniform.

"It's got kind of a nice look to it, doesn't it?" he said.

Olajuwon said he hasn't discussed the Barkley Derby with management and wants to remain neutral because of loyalties to teammates who might soon be sent packing.

"If we have Barkley, I will be very happy. If we don't, I'm very happy," he said.