BASKETBALL

HEAT TRADE ANTOINE WALKER TO MINNESOTA IN 5-PLAYER DEAL

Antoine Walker’s turbulent time with the Miami Heat is over.

The Heat traded the three-time All-Star forward to the Minnesota Timberwolves yesterday in a five-player deal that came one day after Miami completed a winless preseason.

Walker, backup center Michael Doleac, oft-injured forward Wayne Simien and a conditional first-round draft pick were sent to Minnesota for former Miami swingman Ricky Davis and center Mark Blount.

The deal gives Miami the third scoring option it wanted in Davis. The Heat will try to fit him in alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade — the 2006 finals MVP who’ll miss a few more weeks while recovering from knee and shoulder surgeries.

Walker helped the Heat win the 2006 NBA title but hasn’t always had the easiest time dealing with Heat coach Pat Riley’s strict conditioning standards. He was briefly suspended last year because his body-fat measurement wasn’t within team limits, and he came to training camp this month not in the shape Riley wanted.

FOOTBALL

VILMA MISSES PRACTICE WITH KNEE INJURY; STATUS UNCERTAIN

Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma missed practice yesterday with a knee injury and underwent tests to determine how long it might keep him sidelined.

Coach Eric Mangini said Vilma was injured during the Jets’ 38–31 loss at Cincinnati on Sunday, but didn’t specify when it occurred or to which knee.

“We’re going to get some more tests done here today,” Mangini said. “I’ll update you on his status or you’ll be updated on his status through the injury report.”

GARRARD’S ANKLE INJURY FORCES GRAY UNDER CENTER

When the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to release quarterback Byron Leftwich a week before the season, they were counting on David Garrard to stay healthy.

It was a calculated risk then. It may spoil the season now.

Garrard could be sidelined up to a month with a badly sprained left ankle, leaving inexperienced backup Quinn Gray under center as the Jaguars (4-2) try to rebound from an embarrassing loss to Indianapolis while facing the daunting task of playing the NFL’s only three-game road trip.

NFL ADDS $10M FOR MEDICAL AID TO RETIRED PLAYERS

The NFL added $10 million to its medical fund for retired players yesterday, designating the money for joint replacement surgery, cardiovascular screening, and assisted living.

The sum will be added to a $7 million fund agreed upon in July by the league and its players’ union. It will be supplemented by money from player fines, plus contributions from the NFL Players Association and other retired players groups.

This is the latest step in a dispute concerning retired players and their pensions. Last year, a group of prominent retirees targeted Gene Upshaw, the NFLPA’s executive director, for paying too much attention to current players and not enough to former players.