Notebook

BY JESSE BARKIN
Mercury News Staff Writer

OAKLAND -- Garry St. Jean's self-imposed deadline to trade Latrell Sprewell -- next week's start of training camp -- is looming, and the Warriors general manager is focusing on Miami, Indiana and New York, as well as another team he wouldn't name.

``If we can make this deal with this new team, I'll be very excited,'' said St. Jean, who declined to identify the team.

San Antonio remains the fail-safe option, although the Warriors would consider it a disappointment if they wound up taking Spurs G.M. Gregg Popovich's long-standing offer of Sean Elliott and Will Perdue. Milwaukee and Cleveland have dropped to darkhorse possibilities, said a source close to the situation.

The most likely deal, with Miami, would bring Jamal Mashburn, Brent Barry and Dan Majerle to the Warriors.

A deal with Indiana probably would net Travis Best and either Dale Davis or Antonio Davis.

A New York deal would get them Chris Childs and/or Chris Mills, and perhaps John Starks.

St. Jean, who was at his office until 11 p.m. Wednesday and expected another long day Thursday, said he will continue to work the phones but hopes to have a deal in place by Sunday.

``There's going to come a point here where we say, `Thank you for your interest,' and move on,'' St. Jean said. ``I want to be able to watch the (NFL playoffs) doubleheader in peace.''

P.R. GIANT: Despite standing just 5-foot-3, guard Muggsy Bogues has been a giant for the Warriors and the NBA in terms of positive public relations. He signs autographs before and after games and makes more public appearances than any other player. He was by far the most popular Warriors player last season, and not just because of his physical stature.

Bogues has always said NBA players need to give back to the community, but now more than ever because the lockout reinforced the image of selfish professional athletes. With that in mind, he has a message for NBA players who in the past have avoided fans.

``You've got to take that extra second, because all it takes is an extra second to sign an autograph,'' Bogues said. ``If you do that, people can see another side of you. Because you don't want people to look at you as just a basketball player, because that's not who we are.

``An autograph can lead to a five-minute conversation, and during that time you can let them know you're more than just a basketball player.

``(Some players) feel that taking that time is taking something away from them, which is not the case. It lifts the spirits of the person who asks for the autograph, and it gives you the means to feel that you're doing something special; even though you don't have to do it, you're doing it anyway, because that's who your parents want you to become.''

Bogues credits his family for making him the man he is today.

``My parents did a great job of instilling the value that I should treat others as you'd want them to treat you,'' Bogues said. ``I know that I've been blessed. Even though no one really did any favors for me -- that I made it here on my own -- I'm blessed in so many ways, and thankful that I am here today and am able to lift someone's spirits. At the same time, it lifts my own spirits up.

``I don't take this for granted. I don't say, `I'm a professional basketball player and I'm owed this money.' That's not who I am, that's not who my mom raised me to be. I think a lot of (players) were taught that at some stage of their life, but once they got to a level they kind of forgot about it.''

Posted at 1:03 a.m. PST Friday, January 15, 1999