July 2, 1999

SEATTLE (AP) - Horace Grant intends to be better next season. For the Seattle SuperSonics' sake, he'd better be.

"This season wasn't my best season," said the 12-year NBA veteran, who played at Clemson from 1983-87. "In this business, you're going to have peaks and valleys. I'm not the one to give excuses. It just wasn't my best season. But I plan on having one of my best seasons here."

The Sonics, looking to strengthen their front line after missing the playoffs, acquired Grant from Orlando on Wednesday by sending four players to the Magic, including draft choice Corey Maggette from Duke.

Grant averaged 13.9 points and 8.0 rebounds and shot 59.8 percent from the field in 122 career games at Clemson. In his senior season, Grant led the ACC in points (21.0), rebounds (9.6) and field goal percentage (.656). He also led the league in rebounding in his junior season, snaring 10.5 boards per game in 1986.

Grant averaged 8.9 points and 7 rebounds this season in the NBA, below his career averages of 12.4 points and 8.7 rebounds.

The 6-foot-10 power forward was traded for the first time in his NBA career, but took it in stride. He will be 34 on Sunday.

"I've been doing this a long time so I know it's a business," he said. "Of course, I left some friends back there, but this gives me a chance to make some more friends. It really didn't bother me."

The Sonics landed Grant, who played for the Magic for five years, in a trade in which they also gave up veterans Billy Owens, Don MacLean and Dale Ellis. Orlando sent second-round draft choices in 2001 and 2002 to Seattle to complete the deal.

The Sonics picked Maggette, a 6-foot-6 forward who left Duke after his freshman season, with the 13th selection in the draft at Orlando's request.

Grant signed with the Magic as a free agent after the 1993-94 season after playing his first seven years with Chicago. He helped the Bulls and Michael Jordan win three NBA championships.

With two seasons left on his contract at $6.5 million and $7 million, Grant was not surprised to be sent all the way to the West Coast by Orlando. He helped the Magic reach the playoffs, playing in all 50 of his team's games.

"I think the Magic just wanted to go in another direction - a youth movement," he said. "They don't know what's going on down there in terms of Penny (Hardaway). So I think it worked out for both sides. I'm extremely happy to be here."

After missing the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons, the Sonics needed to get a veteran front-line player. They could lose forward Vin Baker and Detlef Schrempf as free agents, and they're not expected to bring back center Olden Polynice. Polynice averaged 8.9 rebounds per game this past season.

The Sonics will try to re-sign Baker and they also hope to talk Schrempf into coming back for a 15th NBA season.

In Seattle, Grant joins a team that went 25-25 this season, finishing ninth in the Western Conference. The Sonics are led by Gary Payton, who tied for sixth in the league in scoring with 21.7 points this season.

"From what I know, he's excited about the trade and having me here," Grant said of Payton.

Grant said he thinks he can help the Sonics, mainly on defense.

"I think my best asset would have to be my defense," he said.

"Watching the Sonics this past year, they really needed that toughness. That's what made the Sonics. I think with me being here anchoring their defense, which I'm known for, I think we'll get back to it."

The Sonics are counting on having Baker back.

"They'll be out there together a lot," coach Paul Westphal said. "Horace operates really comfortably around the top of the key and Vin likes the low post. So offensively I don't see them bumping into each other or anything. I just see them as really complementing each other."

Team president and general manager Wally Walker said: "We're taking Vin at his word that he wants to be back here and we're his No. 1 choice. We definitely want to re-sign him. So based on that, we think there's a high likelihood he'll be back here."

In addition to Polynice, the Sonics are expected to renounce the rights to free agents Aaron Williams, Drew Barry and John Crotty. But they're not ready to do it until Aug. 1, when teams can start signing free agents.

"We won't do any renouncing of players until we have a free agent that we want to sign," Walker said.