alamo50
12-08-2005, 11:29 AM
By Roscoe Nance, USA TODAY
It appears as though five-time All-Star swingman Latrell Sprewell will be home for the holidays shooting hoops and not for an NBA team. Sprewell, who turned down a three-year, $21 million contract extension from the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, is among several prominent veterans who are still unsigned and is in Milwaukee, his hometown, working out and waiting for a team to call.
"We're sort of waiting to see which teams feel they need to make adjustments in their roster," Bob Gist, Sprewell's agent, says.
Money and teams' needs are the main reasons Sprewell is unsigned. Detroit and Denver were interested in signing him for the full midlevel exception over the summer. However, Sprewell didn't want to be the Pistons' sixth man, and the Nuggets didn't offer him a contract. Houston also contacted Sprewell.
New Orleans and Atlanta are the only teams that still have their full midlevel exception. However, they both need big men more than a perimeter player. Other teams could sign Sprewell for the veteran minimum ($1.1 million) or do a sign-and-trade deal with Minnesota.
Gist says Sprewell isn't interested in playing for the veteran minimum.
Other veteran free agents still available include forward Glenn Robinson, who has averaged 20.7 points for his 11-year career; swingman Ron Mercer, the sixth pick in the 1997 draft; swingman Wesley Person, who is tied for sixth in career three-point field goal percentage (.418); former All-Star forward Tom Gugliotta; and forward/center Christian Laettner, the last active member of the original Dream Team.
"There are a lot of good players still available," Hawks general manager Billy Knight says. "It seems to happen every year. (But) there seems to be more name guys left. It's just the way things played out this year."
Look for several veterans to sign in the next month after teams get a clearer picture of how their offseason moves are working out, and also because all player contracts become guaranteed Jan. 10
Within the last two weeks, the Los Angeles Clippers signed point guard Howard Eisley, the Dallas Mavericks signed swingman Adrian Griffin and the Toronto Raptors signed point guard Darrick Martin.
Gist is optimistic that Sprewell won't be out of work much longer, and he is confident that his client can help a contending team get over the top.
"Houston is a Latrell away from winning the Western Conference," he says. "The same thing for Denver. Detroit is a Spree away from assuring itself another ring. (And) there a lot of teams with 2-10, 4-9 records. A lot of GMs and coaches are rethinking their roster. Time is still on our side."
Link (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2005-12-08-unsigned-vets_x.htm)
It appears as though five-time All-Star swingman Latrell Sprewell will be home for the holidays shooting hoops and not for an NBA team. Sprewell, who turned down a three-year, $21 million contract extension from the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, is among several prominent veterans who are still unsigned and is in Milwaukee, his hometown, working out and waiting for a team to call.
"We're sort of waiting to see which teams feel they need to make adjustments in their roster," Bob Gist, Sprewell's agent, says.
Money and teams' needs are the main reasons Sprewell is unsigned. Detroit and Denver were interested in signing him for the full midlevel exception over the summer. However, Sprewell didn't want to be the Pistons' sixth man, and the Nuggets didn't offer him a contract. Houston also contacted Sprewell.
New Orleans and Atlanta are the only teams that still have their full midlevel exception. However, they both need big men more than a perimeter player. Other teams could sign Sprewell for the veteran minimum ($1.1 million) or do a sign-and-trade deal with Minnesota.
Gist says Sprewell isn't interested in playing for the veteran minimum.
Other veteran free agents still available include forward Glenn Robinson, who has averaged 20.7 points for his 11-year career; swingman Ron Mercer, the sixth pick in the 1997 draft; swingman Wesley Person, who is tied for sixth in career three-point field goal percentage (.418); former All-Star forward Tom Gugliotta; and forward/center Christian Laettner, the last active member of the original Dream Team.
"There are a lot of good players still available," Hawks general manager Billy Knight says. "It seems to happen every year. (But) there seems to be more name guys left. It's just the way things played out this year."
Look for several veterans to sign in the next month after teams get a clearer picture of how their offseason moves are working out, and also because all player contracts become guaranteed Jan. 10
Within the last two weeks, the Los Angeles Clippers signed point guard Howard Eisley, the Dallas Mavericks signed swingman Adrian Griffin and the Toronto Raptors signed point guard Darrick Martin.
Gist is optimistic that Sprewell won't be out of work much longer, and he is confident that his client can help a contending team get over the top.
"Houston is a Latrell away from winning the Western Conference," he says. "The same thing for Denver. Detroit is a Spree away from assuring itself another ring. (And) there a lot of teams with 2-10, 4-9 records. A lot of GMs and coaches are rethinking their roster. Time is still on our side."
Link (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2005-12-08-unsigned-vets_x.htm)