N.O.'s Brown meets with Magic Free-agent forward to visit Spurs today Tuesday July 08, 2003 By Jimmy Smith and John Reid%%par%%Staff writers Hornets free-agent forward P.J. Brown visited with Orlando Magic officials Monday, and will travel today to meet with the San Antonio Spurs, his agent said Monday. "These are his first two visits," said Mark Bartelstein, who is based in Chicago. "A number of other teams would like him to visit, but we haven't scheduled anything yet. There's a lot of interest, but P.J. wants to try to make a decision fairly soon." From Our Advertiser Brown, forward Jerome Moiso and point guards Robert Pack and Kenny Anderson became free agents July 1 and can listen to offers from any of the NBA's 29 teams, including the Hornets. Players cannot sign contracts until July 16. Bartelstein said he has spoken with Hornets executive vice president of basketball operations and general manager Bob Bass, who has said he would not comment during ongoing negotiations. "We've tried to get a better feel for where they (the Hornets) are," Bartelstein said. "We haven't gotten anything specific from them yet, but we're trying to move the process along. "P.J. wants to make a decision really quickly. He wants to get it resolved and not drag it out, because he wants to know where he'll be next year so he can get started working." Brown, 33, is a 10-year veteran. He led the Hornets last season in field-goal and free-throw shooting with a career-high 53.1 percent from the field and 83.6 percent from the foul line. He had 20 double-doubles in points and rebounds, and the Hornets were 15-5 in those game. He was the only player in the NBA last season to shoot better than 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line. Brown has lived in Slidell, where his wife, Dee, was born, throughout his NBA career. The Magic could offer Brown only the league's mid-level exception of about $4.8 million per season. No team can pay Brown more than the Hornets are allowed under the NBA salary cap, between $7 million and $8 million. Last season, Brown earned $7.044 million. "I think it went well," Brown said of his trip to Orlando. "They were very nice and courteous to me. It's still way too early. I have no idea which way I'm leaning. My emotions are basically the same. I wouldn't say they swayed me one way or another. It was just very positive; a very positive presentation." Other teams that have expressed interest in Brown include the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets. "We haven't really ruled anybody out," Bartelstein said. "We've talked to a lot of people, and things really change every day. "P.J. loves New Orleans. He's gathering information and trying to weigh everything and make a decision. Obviously this is a very important contract, because it will determine where he wants to spend the rest of his career. That's why he's taking these visits." As for San Antonio, Brown said, "I don't know how it's going to go. I'm just going to sit back and see." Bass said he considers re-signing Brown and Moiso a priority. Moiso met with Toronto Raptors officials in Los Angeles on Sunday, said Sam Goldfeder, Moiso's agent. Moiso and Goldfeder are expected to meet with Orlando Magic officials later this week. The Hornets remain among the teams Moiso is considering, but they haven't had serious negotiations. "I have had a couple of good conversations with Bob, but I wouldn't call it negotiations," Goldfeder said. "We have fielded calls from several teams; we'll see how it goes." Moiso, a 6-10 forward-center, showed potential last season as a shot-blocker and inside scorer. He played in 51 games, starting once, and averaged 4.0 points and 3.5 rebounds. According to team sources, the Hornets are unlikely to re-sign Anderson, whom they obtained in a midseason trade with the Seattle Supersonics for center Elden Campbell. Neither Anderson nor his agent, Jeff Wechsler, could be reached for comment Monday. Pack, whom the Hornets signed on Jan. 10 for the remainder of the season after extending him two 10-day contracts, said he wants to return. However, it's uncertain if the Hornets will offer him a contract. Pack, a New Orleans native and 12-year veteran, averaged 5.2 points and 2.9 assists in 28 games last season. "We'll just have to wait to see how things go," said Bartelstein, who is Pack's agent.
