Strickland, Wizards at Odds Over Contract

It seems like the lockout all over again. Both sides are bickering out loud, but they aren’t talking to each other. The two seemingly intractable positions are millions of dollars apart.

And David Falk is in the middle of it all.

While the rest of the NBA is scrambling to fill rosters to get ready for the 50-game season, the Washington Wizards have essentially done nothing. Their abbreviated training camp is being slowed because a stalemate over the re-signing of free-agent point guard Rod Strickland, whose 10.5 assists a game led the league last season.

Negotiations have gone nowhere. Two strong personalities are involved, and neither wants to give in.

The first is Falk, the super-agent who represents Michael Jordan and many big-name NBA players. Falk, a major behind-the-scenes player who took his share of blame for the prolonged lockout, initially asked for $65 million over five years for Strickland, then reduced the demand to five years, $55 million.

On the other side is Wizard General Manager Wes Unseld, who doesn’t want to make a five-year commitment to a 32-year-old player who--by his own admission--doesn’t take good care of himself.

Unseld has offered a five-year, $50-million deal--with only the first three years, or $27 million, guaranteed.

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The Atlanta Hawks agreed to terms on a contract with free-agent LaPhonso Ellis. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 14.3 points and 7.2 rebounds a game last season for Denver. . . . Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland’s 7-3 center who would have been a free agent after this season, signed a six-year contract extension with the Cavaliers. The deal is believed to be worth $70.875 million. . . . The Phoenix Suns signed free agent guard Shawn Respert to a one-year contract. . . . The Vancouver Grizzlies signed guards Reggie Geary and DeJuan Wheat.

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Washington forward Evric Gray was taken off the court on a stretcher Friday night after a hard collision under the basket in the Wizards’ exhibition game at Philadelphia.

Gray, who was knocked unconscious and cut on the head, was admitted to a hospital and received a CT scan as a precaution.

He was expected to be released today, Sixer spokesman Bill Bonsiewicz said.

Gray was driving to the basket with 3:43 left in the game when he was fouled by 76er rookie Casey Shaw, whose elbow appeared to hit the top of Gray’s head.

Trainers and courtside attendants rushed to the basket, where Gray lay with his eyes closed for more than 10 minutes.

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Keith Van Horn, who sat out New Jersey’s exhibition opener because of food poisoning, had 33 points and nine rebounds to lead the Nets over the New York Knicks, 92-90, in New Jersey.

Knick center Patrick Ewing hyperextended his right knee in the second quarter and did not return.