Raptors targeting Muggsy

    Knicks pitch for Oakley

             By BILL HARRIS, TORONTO SUN
      The Raptors may wind up addressing their little point guard
    problem by adding a little point guard.

    Meanwhile, Charles Oakley spent yesterday pondering whether
    he can go home again. Turns out he can ... but at a considerable
    pay cut.

    On Day 3 of the NBA's free-agent signing period, numerous
    league sources indicated the Raptors have expressed more than a
    passing interest in 5-foot-3 veteran Muggsy Bogues.

    Raptors representatives allegedly met with Bogues last month and
    want to do so again. He certainly isn't Plan A for the club, but
    he's being considered as a workable Plan B.

    Bogues, 34, played most of the past two seasons with the
    Golden State Warriors. He was on the injured list for a month
    last season with chicken pox, which in an odd way suggests he
    has maintained at least some of his youthfulness.

    Bogues averaged 5.1 points and 3.7 assists per game last season.
    Through his 12-year career, the product of Wake Forest has
    averaged eight points and eight assists per game.

    As far as the Raptors' own free agents are concerned, news has
    surfaced that the Knicks -- for whom Oakley played for 10
    seasons -- have offered him a three-year contract worth $6.6
    million US (their $2-million salary cap exception, with annual
    percentage increases).

    Oakley could make almost that much in one season with the
    Raptors, who have a three-year, $16.5-million proposal on the
    table. Therein lies the dilemma for Oakley, who feels the Raptors
    owe him more than what they've offered.

    "I can confirm we've met with the Knicks but I can't discuss the
    details," said Billy Diamond, Oakley's main spokesman.

    Oakley was in Los Angeles yesterday meeting with Lakers
    management, as well as players Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe
    Bryant. O'Neal apparently cut short a family vacation upon
    hearing Oakley was in L.A.

    Lakers sources said a decision from Oakley does not appear to
    be imminent, but they expect him to make up his mind by the end
    of the month.

    SEE THE CBA: Isiah Thomas wants to turn the Continental
    Basketball Association into a true minor league for the NBA.
    "What we would like to achieve is to one day form affiliates with
    NBA teams," said Thomas, a former general manager of the
    Raptors, who has signed a letter of intent to buy the nine-team
    CBA for $10 million US. Thomas plans to transform the CBA
    into a single-entity operation, much like the WNBA.

    AROUND THE NBA: Ron Mercer, Popeye Jones and Dwayne
    Schintzius were traded from the Celtics to the Nuggets for Danny
    Fortson, Eric Washington, Eric Williams and a first-round draft
    choice ... Bo Outlaw re-signed with the Magic for one year at $2
    million US ... Derek Fisher signed a seven-year, $24-million
    contract with the Lakers ... The Kings re-signed Jon Barry and
    Scot Pollard, and completed a trade that sends Tariq
    Abdul-Wahad and a first-round pick to Orlando for Nick
    Anderson ... The Nets waived centre Rony Seikaly.