More NBA miscellaneous from the Dallas Morning News:


8/6 Les Alexander, the new Rockets owner, fired Calvin Murphy.
Murphy had been the team's community relations liaison and special
assignments coach since 1989.

8/6,8/13 The Mavs shocked many by loosening the purse strings and
buying out Ron "Popeye" Jones' contract with Milano Teorematour
and signed Jones' to a one-year contract with an option for a 
second year.  He will earn ~$350,000 this season.  Jones should
give the Mavs some needed help on the boards - the need being 
greater with Terry Davis injured.  (Now, if they'd only _start_ 
working on getting Mashburn signed.  Rumor has it that they have 
been sitting on their hands and doing nothing so far to make an 
offer much less start the negotiations with Mashburn.)


8/12 Houston signed their first-round pick, Sam Cassell, to a
5-year contract that guarantees him $2.4 million over his first 
3 seasons.