The fun’s just begun in Jordan-less NBA

FOR a while there I thought the NBA and the Players’ Association were never going to complete the details of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Thank goodness the agents and GMs finally know the rules. Now they can really get down to business and start to figure how to bend, circumvent or subvert them.

Naturally, the NBA would’ve had order on their court six months ago had commissioner David Stern insisted on cost certainty on hourly charges by the law firms representing both sides. Probably the only reason they reached an agreement as quickly as they did is because the league (roughly $25 million lighter) and the union were about to run out of money. Had the minor issues taken any longer to negotiate, NBC and TNT would’ve been asked to give the owners an advance on the second year of their TV deal.

Forget about what Michael Jordan means to the survival of the league in terms of aptitude and appeal. Once his right index finger is surgically repaired (that’ll teach him not to keep Lorena Bobbitt on his payroll), if Our Savior doesn’t push away that rock from in front of his retirement cave one last time and pick a numbered jersey other than 23 and 45 for the league to hawk, it’ll never get out of hock.

But enough about Michael and his miracles. Enough about the NBA and its prayers that he perform them again for the benefit of mankind.

If you ask me, any man who can drive his kids to their Chicago private school in the morning, play golf in Palm Springs at the same time (granted, there is a two-hour zone difference) and be back home by nightfall to tuck them into bed, is wasting his wonder on sports.

Although he humbly admits he can’t save the world, if he’s really God’s gift to the globe, His Airness should dedicate himself to doing something especially meaningful, like trying to discover a cure for paternity suits.

If Jordan thinks that’s a challenge, he should be in front of my computer over the next few days trying to explain why certain teams and players have done what they’ve done and will do what they do. *Ican understand the indignation of New Yorkers had the Knicks traded Chris Mills, John Starks and Terry Cummings for Adonal Foyle. I just hope all those outraged by Latrell Sprewell’s acquisition maintain that clean-up-Times Square image at the line of scrimmage when the team becomes a hot ticket. Maybe then I’ll finally be able to buy decent season tickets.

Let’s see all the moralists under the influence of Disney and the mayor, who’ve now vowed to become Nets fans, make more than one trip to the Meadowlands this season through the Lincoln Tunnel at rush hour.

Everyone’s so quick to anoint Jayson Williams their new folk hero, and deservedly so for the smart things he’s saying and the hard work he’s done. At the same, if you’re going to condemn Sprewell, let’s not be so fast to forget Williams’ lengthy rap sheet a few short seasons ago.

There’s only one difference between Sprewell and Williams. Jayson was lucky enough to have people around him who could talk him out of assaulting his coach.

Sprewell did the crime and he’s done the time. Nobody has to tell him he has a lot to prove. For his sake and that of the Knicks, hopefully he won’t try to prove too much all at once.

Should Sprewell prove Knick management was correct to give him a chance to regain his reputation and return to his glory days (All-NBA First Team), it’ll be biggest shoplift in franchise history.

And should Sprewell prove he’s the bad actor we’ve learned to loathe and led to believe he’ll always be? What if he continues to reject counsel and disrespects authority and teammates?

At worst, the Knicks are financially obligated to pay him $5M this season and $9M the next, then he’s gone. Meanwhile, they unloaded $30M worth of Mills ghastly salary over the next 5 seasons, and dumped Starks, who lost his assassin’s license soon after signing for important money several years ago.

To prove Sprewell has cleaned up his act, I’m informed he plans to write a recommendation for fired and sued former agent Arn Tellem on his sneakers. *WHY did Antonio McDyess almost choose the Nuggets over the Suns before reconsidering late yesterday afternoon?

His agent and Nick Van Exel have made it very clear, yet people don’t seem to comprehend what they’re saying. Real of imagined, on purpose or by accident, his feelings were hurt. It’s about being dishonored. Those close to him say the numbers don’t lie.

Coach Danny Ainge simply didn’t play McDyess nearly as much his one season in Phoenix (just under 30 minutes per game) as those whispering in his ear over the summer told him he deserved.

Moreover, when the game was on the line, McDyess often found himself on the bench. Not the way you want to treat your franchise player-in-construction if the idea is to re-sign him for the future.

Of course, Ainge had more important things than McDyess’ sensitivity to worry about, more on his mind than catering to one player to the team’s detriment. Believe it or not, he was actually hired to win games, reach the playoffs, position his team as high as possible and maybe win a round.

Still, despite overt defects in rebounding and toughness and a lack of grasp for the game, the Suns remain big fans of McDyess, truly a good guy and a star unafraid to sweat. Management stills sees him and Jason Kidd as the team’s foundation and is begging to pay McDyess accordingly and patch up any problems he might’ve had with Ainge.

The thing is, because teams weren’t allowed to talk to their players until the last few days, the Suns haven’t had the luxury to get close to McDyess. At least not the way the Nuggets have, in the form of Van Exel and even assistant coach John Lucas who apparently tutored him (not that I’m suggesting tampering) over the summer in Houston.

Now it’s the Suns turn to recruit. Owner Jerry Colangelo tells me Kidd and Rex Chapman were on the way to Denver last night to whisper some sunny nothings of their own in his ear. This is bad for the Nuggets, particularly if McDyess makeshis decision immediately after their meeting. From what I’ve always heard, McDyess is the kind of guy who pays strict attention to the last person who gives him advice.

Not that the Suns have imposed any kind of a time limit on McDyess. “We didn’t have any players at today’s practice and we won’t have any players at tomorrow’s practice,” Colangelo said.

In the meantime, Tom Gugliotta was expected in Phoenix late last night for a no promises-no obligation interview with Colangelo and his staff.

Nothing has changed here. Despite a maximum contract on the table for him in Minnesota, sources say Gugliotta prefers the Lakers should the Timberwolves want to re-sign him and trade him there. If not, the Suns are his second choice should McDyess reject their final advances.

Why would Gugliotta choose Kidd over Stephon Marbury? That’s easy. Kidd still thinks pass first and shot second. Marbury thinks shoe deal first, entourage second, power third, respect fourth and winning next.