The NBA trading deadline passed yesterday without the flurry of movement that many had expected. But six deals went through involving 15 players, including 1995 Penn graduate Jerome Allen. The Denver Nuggets were the busiest team, making two deals, including the exchange of rookie power forward Darvin Ham to Indiana for Allen. The Pacers had struggled this season with Travis Best at point guard. Apparently, Allen was not judged to be part of the answer. The ex-Quaker was averaging 3.2 points and 2.1 assists in 51 games. He started once and averaged 13.6 minutes per game per contest. Allen -- the 1993 and 1994 Ivy League P layer of the Year, as well as, 1992 Co-Ivy Rookie of the Year -- is already considered one of the greatest players in Quakers history, having earned first-team all-Ivy recognition in his last three seasons. Allen was selected in the second round of the June 1995 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves and spent one season there. Allen's playing time decreased dramatically after Flip Saunders replaced Bill Blair as Minnesota coach in the middle of last season. On August 16, the 6-foot-4 guard signed as a free agent with the Pacers. The day's biggest trade, in terms of volume, sent Mark Jackson and LaSalle Thompson from Denver back to their former team, the Pacers. In return, Indiana sent Vincent Askew and Eddie Johnson to the Nuggets along with two second-round draft choices. Denver also traded veteran guard Ricky Pierce to the Charlotte Hornets for guard Anthony Goldwire and center George Zidek. In Jackson, the Pacers get back the playmaker who helped them reach the conference finals in 1994 and 1995. Jackson currently leads the league in assists. Pacers general manager Donnie Walsh said Indiana made the deal because the team lost the winning attitude that it once had with Jackson at the point. ''This trade can help return the kind of feeling that we want on our basketball team,'' Walsh said. ''We were losing confidence as a club, and we needed something to help us get back on track.'' The Nuggets used the trading deadline to rid themselves of Jackson's long-term contract, which has three years remaining after this season. Denver had wanted to free as much salary cap room as possible. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.