Fast Break

NBA

NBA great Johnson dies

Dennis Johnson, the star NBA guard who was part of three championships and teamed with Larry Bird on one of the great postseason plays, died Thursday after collapsing at the end of his developmental team’s practice. He was 52.

Johnson, coach of the Austin Toros, was unconscious and in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived at Austin Convention Center, said Warren Hassinger, spokesman for Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.

Johnson, a five-time All-Star and one of the top defensive guards, was part of the last Boston dynasty. He spent 14 seasons in the league and retired after the 1989-90 season. He played on title teams with the Celtics in 1984 and 1986 and with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979, when he was the NBA finals MVP.

Johnson played at Pepperdine and was drafted by Seattle in 1976. Johnson was traded to Phoenix in 1980 and to Boston in 1983.

NFL

Seahawks put tag on Brown

The Seattle Seahawks may have learned from their mistake of a year ago, designating clutch kicker Josh Brown as their franchise player.

Unless a long-term contract can be reached, Brown will receive the one-year, $2.078 million tender offer for the 2007 season – the average of the top five paid kickers in the NFL.

Last year, Seattle chose not to use the franchise tag on Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson. Instead, it used the transition designation on him. That move would have saved about $600,000 – but backfired when the Minnesota Vikings signed away Hutchinson.

By designating Brown a franchise player, another team would have to surrender two first-round draft choices were they to sign him – a steep price for a kicker.

NBA

Sonics staying at least one more season

Even if a new arena proposal doesn’t win the support of lawmakers, the Seattle SuperSonics will remain in the Pacific Northwest for at least one more season.

The Sonics won’t file paperwork with the NBA to potentially relocate the franchise by the NBA’s March 1 deadline, team spokesman Tom Savage confirmed Thursday night.

Owner Clay Bennett has said that if state lawmakers do not agree to help fund a $500 million new arena in the south Seattle suburb of Renton, he would relocate the team, possibly to Oklahoma City, where he is a prominent businessman.

But it won’t happen until the 2008-09 season at the earliest.

“They have no intention on filing,” Savage said.