F-C Gatling returns to Heat in three-team trade October 26, 2001 CLEVELAND (TICKER) -- For the first time in his well-traveled career, Chris Gatling is returning to an organization. The veteran big man on Friday was included in a sign-and-trade deal, going from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat as part of a five-player, three-team transaction. Gatling, who has played for eight teams in a 10-year career, was a member of the Heat during the 1995-96 season and averaged 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 23.5 minutes in 24 contests. As part of the deal, the Heat sent guard Ricky Davis to the Cavaliers and forward Don MacLean to the Toronto Raptors. The Cavs also acquired forward-center Brian Skinner from the Raptors. The 6-10 Gatling became a free agent after averaging 11.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 74 games for the Cavaliers last season. He joined Cleveland in a three-way deal with Miami on August 30 of last year. This will be Gatling's eighth team change in seven seasons. He began his career with Golden State (1991-96) before making stops in Miami, Dallas, New Jersey, Milwaukee, Orlando, Denver and Cleveland. Gatling's best season came in 1996-97. He averaged 19.1 points and 7.9 rebounds in 44 games for the Mavericks en route to his only All-Star Game, but was traded to the Nets shortly after the mid-season break. The 34-year-old Old Dominion product was the 16th overall pick in the 1991 draft. Davis, a first-round draft pick out of Iowa in 1998, played in seven games for the Heat last season, averaging 4.6 points in 10 minutes per outing. He scored a season-high 11 points against Orlando on April 15. The 6-7 Davis played two seasons for Charlotte before being sent to Miami in a blockbuster nine-player trade in August 2000 and has averaged 4.6 points in 101 career NBA games. Skinner spent the last three season with the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 4.6 points and 4.5 rebounds. He was selected 22nd overall by the Clippers in 1998 after finishing as the all-time leader scoring in Baylor history. The 6-9 Skinner was traded to the Chicago Bulls in June and sent to Toronto in July. Like Gatling, MacLean is a journeyman who is now with his eighth team after prior stints with Washington, Denver, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Seattle, Phoenix and Miami. The 6-10 MacLean appeared in only eight games for the Heat last season, totaling 31 points. In December, he became the first player in NBA history to be suspended for violating the steroids policy. MacLean has averaged double figures five times in his career, including a career-best 18.2 for the Wizards in his second season in the league. He was drafted 19th out of UCLA by Detroit in 1992. "This trade gives us the flexibility to address some of the concerns we had regarding the imbalance of our roster," Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald said. "It was a difficult decision to trade a young and talented player like Briwn, but I know he is looking forward to the opportunity in Cleveland." http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news/20011026/miacletor.html
