Free Agent: Alonzo Mourning

[timvp]

http://media.nba.com/media/playerfile/alonzo_mourning.jpghttp://media.nba.com/heat/images/heat_logo.gif

Here is an interesting name as a free agent. He's obviously sick and his career may be over but if he can come back to 80% of what he was, he'd be a very good compliment for Tim Duncan. He's a very good defender and I think he'd be able to defer to Duncan.

Hmm:smokin2

[alamo50]

Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!

I am sorry, but I just never liked the guy.
I feel very sorry for him with his dissease and his awfull childhood, but no way I wanna see him in silver and black.

He is even more of an actor than Rick Fox is.......not that you would have to make a realy big effort to accomplish that by the way.

[timvp]

I don't like him either. He said some BS things about Robinson back in the day.

But if he's ever 80% again and you can get him for a reasonable amount, don't you have to look at it?

[timvp]

'Zo: 'The only thing that can stop me is my body'

MIAMI -- Alonzo Mourning intends to play basketball next season, as long as his body cooperates.

"My intentions are to play. The only thing that can stop me is my body," Mourning said Wednesday in a telephone interview from Chicago. "Other than that, I know I can play."

Mourning, who was forced to miss the 2002-2003 NBA season with a kidney ailment, was in Chicago to speak with hospital patients as part of an educational campaign called Rebound from Anemia. Anemia is a frequent byproduct of chronic illnesses like kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

"Basketball has helped give me a great lifestyle," Mourning said. "I've been doing it for 20 years, and it's difficult to turn off the switch. I want to leave on my own terms. I don't want to be forced out by anything."

Sitting out the season was tough on Mourning, especially having to watch from the sidelines as the Miami Heat dropped into last place in the Atlantic Division.

"It was difficult to sit around and watch your team suffer and leave it all out there, and know that you can still contribute to those games," Mourning said.

Mourning was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in October 2000, and missed most of that season before making a surprising return. He was able to play the entire 2001-2002 season, and made his seventh All-Star team appearance.

"I want to send out a message to people that this, too, can happen to you," Mourning said about his work in trying to raise awareness about anemia and kidney disease. "You, too, are a target if you don't take care of your body."

Dr. Patrick Murray, a University of Chicago Medical Center kidney specialist accompanying Mourning on his visit, said Mourning is a role model for patients.

"He's pretty much a dream patient because he's very serious about his care, and was in wonderful shape going in," Murray said.

Mourning said he did not let rumors surrounding the Feb. 20 trading deadline distract him from his recovery. His expiring contract, which paid him $20.6 million for this season, was attractive to teams trying to open up salary cap space for next season.

"The trade rumors happen every year, with everybody," Mourning said. "The only thing I can control is Alonzo Mourning playing next year. The distraction, to tell the truth, is having to deal with my own body."

Mourning would not speculate whether he would be back with the Heat next year, or for how much money he might sign for next season given the questions about his health.

"Whatever the market provides," he said.

Mourning sounded confident about his prospects next season, but remained cautious given his relapse before the 2002-2003 season.

"I know that I'm ready," he said. "But anything can happen."

espn.go.com/nba/news/2003...30043.html (http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0326/1530043.html)





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I ask again ... would you consider Mourning at the right price?

:smokin2

[rednecksbasketball]

I think ZO would be a good back-up on a decent team, he isnt going to be a star anymore, so if he took a pay cut he might work out with the Spurs.

[SanAntonioBard]

I think that his minutes would have to be managed much like David's were (25-30), but if he's mostly healthy, he could be huge. I don't think he could carry the load for a team anymore, which is what would be expected in Miami. He wouldn't have to here. I love the toughness factor, added to Willis and Bowen. If we could get him for exception money and still have 9-10 M left to shop, that would be HUGE.

[Patrick Davis]

I think a Zo who could play 25 - 30 minutes and Keon Clark to play the rest would be amazing.

[timvp]

It's weird how this option is never talked about. If he can play at 80%, he'd give the Spurs close to what Robinson gives the Spurs.

He's not too old so if he can figure out a way to play with his disease, he could be a very good 25-30 minute player.

This would especially be good if the Spurs can get him for around $5-6M.

[baseline bum]

Zo basically has no market value due to his illness, and he could be a low-risk opportunistic signing. He'd have a shot at a title without the pressure of carrying a team. Zo, if healthy, is by far the best defensive big in the game. Portland could cockblock though by offering MCX. Otherwise, I don't see him getting paid much.

[KoriEllis]

timvp, I thought you hated Alonzo.

I'm a big 'Zo fan. If he's healthy, he'd be great in a Spurs uni at a reduced cost. I'm not sure if I could be sold that he is healthy, though.

[pfc2002]

if he's health he'll play for Miami. Zo loves Pat Riley and Riley said point blank he'll play for Miami if healthy.

[spursman50]

Mourning would be a solid acquistion if healthy. I just don't know if he's really going to be healthy.

[kohai]

pfc - I'm just curious. Do you even read the posts above yours in a thread, or do you just read the topic, and spout your 2 cent's worth? From the text of the article above...


Mourning would not speculate whether he would be back with the Heat next year, or for how much money he might sign for next season given the questions about his health.

"Whatever the market provides," he said.

Mourning sounded confident about his prospects next season, but remained cautious given his relapse before the 2002-2003 season.

"I know that I'm ready," he said. "But anything can happen."

No matter what, I think Miami would expect him to be "the guy", and he would have to carry that sorry ass team. Pop is used to managing minutes for a center not in the best of health. Riley is not, and tends to use his older players a bit too much. See: Tim Hardaway, who basicly played his knee into a "bone on bone" condition for Riley, and then was unceremoniously dumped.

[freak]

patrick davis, why do people such as yourself covet keon clark so much?

i think zo would actually be a nice fit for the spurs. zo actually reminds me of a younger kevin willis. same body type with an edge in arm and foot size to zo. both have similar jumpers and think they can shoot the hook.

i wouldn't be as surprised as pfc would be though if he left miami. miami will only continue to lose. pat riley has built that team to the terrible collection you see to day.

zo never really carried miami anyway, so it's pretty obvious the spurs wouldn't need him to provide much of a scoring threat.

zo at 100 million is outrageous, zo at 4 million a year could become contagious.

nice thought timvp.

i think this is one of the rare times everybody needs to

stay tuned...

[kohai]

zo at 4 million a year could become contagious

Niiiice. :smokin2

[pfc2002]

pfc - I'm just curious. Do you even read the posts above yours in a thread, or do you just read the topic, and spout your 2 cent's worth? From the text of the article above...

you know Malik Rose said that he wanted to see what the Market offered and David Robinson said the same thing. You know Matsui, for the Yankees, before signing said that he dying to play for the Yankees then abruptly changed his tune (I'm sure after his agent talked to him)... He's saying that stuff not to torpedo his contract.

Stick to your (weak) haikus bro....

[Patrick Davis]

I like Keon Clark as a bench player. He is a great help defender and rebounder. Things we will miss from David. I don't think he should make a lot of money, but he'd be a nice guy to have on our team.

[freak]

patrick, fair enough.

pfc, i don't know about hideo nomo, but dave and malik did get market value.

haiku is right, zo isn't a lock for miami.

[Ruby Ridge]

It's only a matter of time before ESPN or NBA.com start reporting Zo to the Lakers rumors.

:shootme

[pfc2002]

pfc, i don't know about hideo nomo, but dave and malik did get market value.

the point is those guys weren't going anywhere. they wanted to be in SA and they signed. Pat Riley indicated that he wants Zo so that's why I put it will happen even after reading the article...

[freak]

pop doesn't budge on the sub princely sum of 20 million and malik rose isn't on the spurs.

don't be so sure.

[spurster]

While we are at it, maybe the Spurs should try to see if they can pick up Grant Hill real cheap: "if he can come back to 80% of what he was, he'd be a very good compliment for Tim Duncan."

[freak]

the spurs pick up hill and mourning and we'll turn into a freak show.

like a bargain basement dream team or something.

[SanAntonioBard]

Um, Hill's contract, which has 4 years left, is by definition NOT cheap.

[freak]

i know hill isn't a free agent this season. i was only speculating at an earlier comment.

[timvp]

If you are going to try to replace what Robinson brings to the table, getting Mourning at a reduced price might be the way to go.

[Patrick Davis]

I doubt he will be able to play. But if he can he will not only add the David factor, but he will also add a little more toughness to this team.

[freak]

alonzo's not as tough as the media makes him out to be. if you want a tough guy, look no further than sean elliott, he played with a much worse case of what alonzo has. in the '99 playoffs, nobody even knew.

patrick davis = one who believes everything he hears.

[Patrick Davis]

I didn't mean toughness as in fighting illness. I meant toughness as he has been in many fights. He is tough on the court. And I never said anything bad about Sean. His toughness is a main reason we have banner up in the rafters.

[Big Syke]

Fights?!?:lol

Like the time his pussy was almost exposed when he got in that cat fight with Larry Johnson.

[freak]

nah, i never said you didn't think sean was tough, but i am saying he's the poster boy for toughness.

i think you're wrong about zo though. i mean ewing went to dinner with him, then dunked on him game time and treated like him a ho on the court. that's not being tough.

plus big syke already said the other thing i was going to say.

[timvp]

i think you're wrong about zo though. i mean ewing went to dinner with him, then dunked on him game time and treated like him a ho on the court. that's not being tough.

:lol :drunk

[SanAntonioBard]

David treated his azz like a ho on a few occasions, too. Doesn't mean that if he's healthy he's STILL not one of the top 3-4 centers next year.

[timvp]

Robinson scored 56 on Alonzo when he was a rookie. And then the next season Alonzo said, "Robinson tends to shy away from contact."

How soon he forgot:drunk

[mrcoon]

Okay, I don't want to read 2 pages about Zo, so just by the title of this thread I submit my response in regards to any subject concerning Zo: :flipoff

[SanAntonioBard]

Okay, I don't want to read 2 pages about Zo...

Nothing like making an informed decision...:lol

[mrcoon]

Gotta go with the gut!! :wink You know over the years ya pick up things here and there and the mind just stores it for occasions like this: you see a name/word and instantly know how ya feel. :p

[Big Syke]

Duncan dunked all over him in an all-star game ... I wonder if Zo is still shivering from the thought of seeing Duncan. I heard that's why he got sick:o

[timvp]

Zo is an option the Spurs can't overlook. Of all the players available, he might be the easiest to fit in.

His defense is close to Robinson's too.

[Marcus Bryant]

A very intriguing possibility. He strikes me as too risky but for the right price the potential upside might be worth it. The Spurs are certainly familiar with what his medical condition requires.

[timvp]

Yes, Sean Elliott might be able to give him some tips.

This is risky, but the reward is huge.



P.S.


timvp, I thought you hated Alonzo.

I'm a big 'Zo fan.

Yes, SpursWoman is a big Ferry fan.

[alamo50]

Ok let me put it this way.
The moment Zo suits up in silver and black I am not a Spurs fan anymore.

[SanAntonioBard]

We'll miss you. Seriously, I've never understood your total hatred for 'Zo. He's not exactly my favorite, but the Spurs have gone out on bigger limbs before (Rodman), and improved the team. There just are NO David Robinson's out there. Pop may have to "put up" with a guy who brings most of David's on court qualities, and is NOT getting in trouble on a regular basis with the law.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I think the only reason Zo talked smack about Robinson is that Zo was Robinson's biotch back in the day.

I remember Zo's rookie year when Robinson lit him up for something like 56 points one game.

I'd talk some smack too, just to save face.

Do I want him as a Spur? Not really.

[Mark in Austin]

Unless Zo and Riley have had a falling out and managed to keep it completely out of the press, Iseriously doubt Zo would leave Miami.

[SpursWoman]

P.S.


Quote:
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timvp, I thought you hated Alonzo.

I'm a big 'Zo fan.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Yes, SpursWoman is a big Ferry fan.


:lol



I'd be too concerned about his illness. Even the minimum would be too much to pay someone to sit on the IR. Especially if it meant passing on someone who could contribute.

[Big Syke]

Even if Mourning is injured a lot ... the Spurs are used to it with DRob being out so much.

Don't you think?