The Michigan Daily--Thursday; Jure 11, 1981-Page 15 'M' cagers discuss NBA McGee" moves on to Lo's A ngeles For Mike McGee, Tuesday's draft marked the achievement of a long-time personal goal. "It's like a dream come true," said McGee. "I've worked very hard. When I was growing up, I always saw them playing professional (basketball), and I said to myself 'I want to be a professional basketball player'." As Los Angeles' first round draft choice, McGee will be joining one of the more talented teams in the NBA, despite the fact that last season the Lakers bowed out of the playoffs in the first round. MCGEE IS aware of the fact that Los Angeles is capable of gunning for a championship. "That makes me feel great to go to a team that you know is going to be in the playoffs, that you know has a great, great chance to win the whole thing," said McGee. "I'm just real, real excited about it and I'm just waiting to get this cast off (his ankle which was injured in a pickup game) and play some hall." However, the talent in the Laker line- up will reduce McGee from the star status that he enjoyed at Michigan, to a role player with the Lakers. The 6-5 for'Ward knows that the role he is expec- ted to fill is one in Which he excels put- ting the ball in the basket. "My representative called'me while they (the Lakers) were drafting me, and he explained why they drafted me," said McGee. "He said they needed someone to come off the bench and do some scoring." THE OMAHA, Neb. native said that the Lakers are not pressuring him to play in a summer league. He said that Los Angeles wanta him to just wait and let his ankle get better. According to McGee, "This is their main concern." When McGee hurt his ankle, there was some speculation that this might hurt him in the draft. But this speculation ended early Tuesday after- noon when Laker coach Paul Westhead called McGee tobcongratulate the Michigan star on being Los Angeles' firstround draft choice. While the Lakers certainly aren't happy about McGee's injury, they don't seem overly worried. "We've checked his ankle to the extent that we think he'll be ready to go, if not by the sum- mer, then by October when we start," said a Laker spokesman. "It, is cer- tainly a concern, but not a big concern. And certainly not a big enough concern 1lpass him (up in the initial round of the draft)." Heuerman to try luck at pro ball; shelves law school plans Paul Heuerman was set to go to law school when the Phoenix Suns proved persuasive enough to get the Michigan center to alter his plans - they drafted him in the fifth round of Tuesday's college draft. "I was all set to go to law school in the fall," said Heuerman. Well now if I try out for the team and do well, I may start law school a semester late. Or hopefully, if I make the team, I wouldn't start at all, for a while, and keep playing. Law school will always be there, but this is a chance of a lifetime for me, to try out with an NBA team." GOING INTO the draft, Heuerman had little idea what to expect in the draft. "As far as getting drafted, I wasn't sure if I would get drafted or how soon or how late." The only clue Heuerman had to go on was given to him by another former Wolverine center, Phil Hubbard. "This weekend, I was playing with Hubbard, Campy Russell and (Alan) Hardy and some of those guys ina tour- nament, and Hubbard said that ,he definitely thought I'd get drafted," said Heuerman. "But he wasn't sure (in) what round." ALTHOUGH HE lacks a superstar's credentials, Heuerman is looking for- ward to fighting for a spot on the Phoenix squad. "I'm very excited about the opportunity I have to go out and try out with Phoenix," said .Heuerman. "I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead of me. "I thought it would be nice to just get drafted and try out. It's one last shot before you're done playing. Getting drafted ... (in the fifth round) will give me a real shot at making the team." Heuerman admits that his knowledge of the Phoenix team is limited, but adds that what information he has about the Suns impresses him. "To be quite honest with you, I don't know a whole lot about Phoenix," he said. "I don't have time during the year to watch a lot of pro games. From what I've seen, and whenever I do see them it appears to me that they're a good type of team for myself. They seem to have good coaches and it seems like they've got a good solid club. Maybe I can fit in with the players. who are playing there now. Baseball strike looks inevitable NEW YORK (AP)-Baseball moved full force toward a strike yesterday after U.S. District judge Henry Werker denied a request for an injunction that would have postponed a walkout and the issue of free agent compensation for another year. The Major League Players Association said a strike would begin tomorrow, with one official saying it would come regardless of any appeal by the National Labor Relations Board. TWICE IN THE last 13 months, last-minute agreements have saved the sport from a players walkout. But Werker called a third try "out," and said the question of what compensation' a team receives when it loses a free agent in the re-entry draft should be decided at the bargaining table, not in the courts. Ironically, Werker ended his ruling with the admonition: "Play Ball!" PETER ROSE, associate counsel to the players association, said the union had informed the players that no games would be played "on Friday, June 12, or thereafter until settlement is reached and approveti by the players." Players on teams which are on road trips are making arrangements to fly home tonight, he said. Rose added, however, that "there's more than enough time to reach a settlement if the owners decide they want one." IN OAKLAND, Doug DeCinces, the American League player representative, said an appeal of Werker's ruling would not delay a strike. "There is a possibility of an appeal, but that would not stop the 48-hour deadline," DeCinces, the Baltimore Orioles' third baseman, said of the time limit for calling a strike. Federal mediator Kenneth Moffett called another bargaining session for today, but DeCinces said he saw no chance of negotiations forestalling baseball's third strike in nine years and the first midseason walkout in history. "WHY SHOULD THEY, (the owners) negotiate now," DeCinces said in Oakland, where the Orioles were to play the A's. "They haven't negotiated for 16 months." There was a chance that any appeal filed by the NLRB could contain a request' for further delay. But an NLRB spokesman here said any decision on an appeal would have to be made by William Lubbers, the Board's general counsel in Washington. A copy of Werker's 23-page decision would be sent to Lubbers as soon as possible, the NLRB spokesman said. Lubbers said Werker's decision "will have to, be studied closely"_before the agency decides whether to appeal the decision. AP Photo U.S. DISTRICT COURT Judge Henry Werker ruled yesterday that baseball was innocent of an unfair labor practice charge, a decision that will likely lead to a strike tomorrow. Werker denied a request for an injunction that would have postponed a walkout and the issue of free agent compensation for another year. Werker saidsthe issue of what compensation a team receives when it loses a free agent in the re-entry draft should be decided at the bargainingitable, not in the courts.