In reshaping a franchise that has not won a playoff series in 10 years, Gordon Gund said he has heard rumors that he'd like this season's team to go into the tank in order to get a bona fide chance at James.

James, the 6-7 guard/forward from St. Vincent/St. Mary High School, is expected to be the top pick of the June 2003 draft.

Baloney, said Gund. "The best we could do [to get James] if we tanked it," Gund said, "is get a 25 percent shot at him.

"We are not going to tank it. I am not going to say we are going to win a ton of games, because we are young, but we are not going to tank it. We may have a shot at him, but we are not deliberately going after him."

Gund, who has been the team's principal owner since 1983, said that contrary to speculation over the last six months, he is not actively trying to sell the team.