The main gossip involved a three-team swap that would send Philadelphia 76ers forward Charles Barkley to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for forward James Worthy and center Elden Campbell. The 76ers then would send Worthy to the Charlotte Hornets for guards Kendall Gill and Rex Chapman.

"Wherever I play, I'll play well," said Barkley, a perennial All-Star who leads the 76ers in scoring and rebounding. "I'd rather stay in Philadelphia, but that is not my decision." If Barkley goes, it will be because of [Harold Katz]'s impatience with his superstar's impetuous ways.

Money talk: Detroit's Isiah Thomas, who has no great affection for Michael Jordan, took a swipe at the Bulls' superstar for forbidding the NBA to use his likeness on league apparel. Jordan says Nike has its exclusive use. Thomas, president of the NBA Players Association, noted that a percentage of the money the league makes from sales goes to the players pension fund.