Sitting on the podium at the news conference discussing the trade of Stephon Marbury, Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Kevin McHale appeared to be a beaten man.

"I guess loyalty and some other words are long forgotten these days," McHale said. "It's a very difficult time to be an executive in the NBA, I'll tell you that."

And it's got to be very, very difficult to be a fan in Minnesota these days. In a nationally televised game on Tuesday, the Timberwolves were playing their hearts out, looking like the team of the future in an emotional win over Seattle. And on Thursday it was over, with Marbury being sent to the New Jersey Nets in a three-team, nine-player deal that also involved the Milwaukee Bucks.

Marbury and Kevin Garnett played together with excitement and intensity, two players who seemed to genuinely love the game. Above that, they were buddies, partners, best friends.

At least it appeared that way.

If what coach Flip Saunders told reporters in Minnesota is true, then the reason that Marbury left was not just to play close to his hometown of New York -- a desire he has long expressed.

Saunders said Marbury could not stomach the fact that he would never approach the six-year, $126 million contract signed by Garnett two years ago.

Saunders suggested that Marbury would rather go to another team and make less than to play alongside Garnett while making millions less.

"The issue is K.G.," said Saunders, who met with Marbury over the weekend. "[Marbury] said, 'Right now, whether it's right or wrong, I have a tough time playing with K.G. when he's making the amount of money he's making and I'll be making only $71 million.' "

(That is the maximum Marbury could make under the new collective bargaining agreement.)

"I tried, number one, to explain the idea of 'only making $71 million' to him," Saunders added. "And two, we shouldn't be penalized because of the system. But if a guy doesn't have his heart in the right place, then we have to move on."

So Marbury was moved, and will be replaced by Terrell Brandon, who came from Milwaukee in the deal. If Brandon is healthy, the Timberwolves will still be good.

The move stunned Garnett, who stenciled Marbury's number "3" on his socks on Thursday.

"I know Stephon. I know we're always in competition with each other, whether it's basketball, girls, jewelry," Garnett said. "I thought that was just having fun. I haven't necessarily got that vibe from him [about disparity with money]. Some people thought that was the case. I don't understand how someone can be mad at me when they've got the same opportunities that I had."

What's even more upsetting to the franchise is that the Timberwolves let Tom Gugliotta go in their desire to try to re-sign Marbury. Gugliotta had made it clear to the team that he would not return if he had to play with Marbury.

"I believe, if Gugliotta knew the way this situation was going to play out, Tommy would still be here," Saunders said. "His agent [Richard Howell] told us, flat-out, that Tommy had a problem playing with Stephon. But we weren't willing to trade Steph to keep Googs."

And so a team that, at the end of last season, seemed on the verge of having three potential superstars, now has none. And if it really did all boil down to Marbury not matching the money of Garnett, it's sad for the city of Minnesota and sad for the league.

Look for a Minnesota "3" jersey -- along with other outdated shirts -- in a discount store bin near you.

More chaos

Minnesota's not the only NBA town that's in the midst of chaos. The Milwaukee Bucks, winners of six straight games before Friday's loss to Indiana, felt they had their hand forced in dealing Brandon and Tyrone Hill.

Brandon, despite playing for a coach who was a proven winner, declined to re-sign with Milwaukee and said he would test the free agent market. Hill said he came to Milwaukee because of Brandon, and wanted to be dealt if his buddy left. So the Bucks had to make a move, shipping Brandon to Minnesota and Hill to Philadelphia. In return, the Bucks got Sam Cassell and Chris Gatling.

"I have no idea if it was the right move or the wrong move," Milwaukee coach George Karl said. "I think we made a basketball decision based on people basically wanting to be in Milwaukee. I don't think you can be successful building a team without committed athletes.

"Terrell and Tyrone were fantastic on the court, but their disharmony and whatever you want to call their professionalism around the court, I thought, was distracting," Karl added.

"Maybe I'm overreacting, but I don't think I am. I think we let too many players blackmail us in this league."

Brandon's response on leaving, and his commitment: "I'm happy to be in a situation where somebody wants me. I don't know. I'm not a big excitement guy who shows my emotions. My body language can be very deceiving. But I understand where [Karl] is coming from, because I've heard it so many times."

Around the league

Don't count Charlotte Hornets forward Chuck Person as a fan of Antoine Walker. After watching the Boston Celtics forward score 32 points in an 18-point loss at Charlotte last week, Person said: "The killer for them was that Antoine Walker. He had a bad 32. A very bad 32. I don't think that's good basketball.

"You have to trust each other. That's the key. How can you have that much talent and not share it? One guy is getting all the touches on that team, and that's not the way it should be."

That he received his NBA title ring in the mail -- while former Chicago teammates Steve Kerr and Jud Buechler got theirs in special pregame ceremonies -- is not the only reason Scott Burrell is upset with the Bulls.

Burrell, now with the New Jersey Nets, said Chicago promised to make him a part of their rebuilding plans before renouncing his rights at the end of the season.

"I just felt I was lied to. I thought I would be [with the Bulls]," Burrell said. "When you're told that, that's what you believe. It shows disloyalty. But I'm not surprised. Phil [Jackson] warned me the whole year. I said, 'Jerry can't be that bad.' I guess he is."

Quotable

"Dirk is the best 20-year-old I've ever seen."

-- Dallas coach Don Nelson -- who once billed Shawn Bradley a franchise player -- on Dirk Nowitzki, after dropping the rookie out of the Mavericks' 10-man rotation.

"I'd probably catch pneumonia and die."

-- Indiana coach Larry Bird, on whether he would stick his head in a bucket of ice water to motivate his players -- something that Miami coach Pat Riley did recently.

"I'd take a few chokes to have him on my team."

-- Milwaukee Bucks coach George Karl, on whether he would coach Latrell Sprewell.

Pub Date: 3/14/99