ploto
10-08-2006, 12:51 PM
Message from Michael
One of the more curious episodes this past week was the surprise return of Michael Olowokandi. Over the summer, Ainge had told Olowokandi's former agent, Bill Duffy, that the Celtics would welcome the big guy back on a make-good contract. Duffy, understandably, thought Olowokandi deserved something better. Olowokandi got nothing better and then, two days before Media Day, Duffy called Celtics basketball operations assistant Frank Burke and told Burke to expect Olowokandi in camp. Burke then told Ainge, who knew nothing of the situation. But the matter got dicier when the Celtics received a call from another prominent agent, whose specialty is placing players in Europe, asking about Olowokandi's whereabouts. That call came on Monday. The response: He's here.
Asked about playing for a minimum make-good deal, Olowokandi said, "Honestly speaking, what is enough for everyone? That's a highly personalized process and I think I've come to terms with what is enough for me. Playing now is not about the financial incentives. I can go on the record and actually say that. Over the summer, there was a point where I had a conversation with my agent and told him to tell [teams] that I would play as long as they cover my costs." No wonder he's acting as his own agent. Four percent of nothing is, I believe, nothing. Olowokandi's name has been removed from the list of clients on Duffy's website. The two had been together since 1998, when Olowokandi was the No. 1 pick in the draft. "I have nothing but respect and admiration for Bill Duffy," Olowokandi said . .
The Celtics' thinking regarding the Monday call for Olowokandi was that the agent was going to find a place for Olowokandi to play overseas, possibly in Athens. The Greek city is hosting the 2007 European Final Four and, thus, the top Athens-based teams, notably rivals Panathinaikos and Olympiakos, have beefed up their rosters, hoping to be among the participants in the annual spring affair. Old friend Tony Delk has signed on with Panathinaikos, as has Lithuanian big man Robertas Javtokas, who the Spurs were thinking (hoping?) might come across the pond and play for them this year. (He was the team's second-round pick in 2001, the same year they drafted Tony Parker.) Another old friend, Scoonie Penn, is one of several new faces on Olympiakos, joined by Alex Acker, who was on the Pistons' roster last year (the last pick of the second round of the 2005 draft) and played 35 minutes for the conference runners-up. Olympiakos also signed Lithuanian sharpshooter (is that redundant?) Arvydas Macijauskas, but he tore his left Achilles' tendon two weeks ago and is out for at least five months.
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2006/10/08/the_skinny_is_on_his_side/?page=2
One of the more curious episodes this past week was the surprise return of Michael Olowokandi. Over the summer, Ainge had told Olowokandi's former agent, Bill Duffy, that the Celtics would welcome the big guy back on a make-good contract. Duffy, understandably, thought Olowokandi deserved something better. Olowokandi got nothing better and then, two days before Media Day, Duffy called Celtics basketball operations assistant Frank Burke and told Burke to expect Olowokandi in camp. Burke then told Ainge, who knew nothing of the situation. But the matter got dicier when the Celtics received a call from another prominent agent, whose specialty is placing players in Europe, asking about Olowokandi's whereabouts. That call came on Monday. The response: He's here.
Asked about playing for a minimum make-good deal, Olowokandi said, "Honestly speaking, what is enough for everyone? That's a highly personalized process and I think I've come to terms with what is enough for me. Playing now is not about the financial incentives. I can go on the record and actually say that. Over the summer, there was a point where I had a conversation with my agent and told him to tell [teams] that I would play as long as they cover my costs." No wonder he's acting as his own agent. Four percent of nothing is, I believe, nothing. Olowokandi's name has been removed from the list of clients on Duffy's website. The two had been together since 1998, when Olowokandi was the No. 1 pick in the draft. "I have nothing but respect and admiration for Bill Duffy," Olowokandi said . .
The Celtics' thinking regarding the Monday call for Olowokandi was that the agent was going to find a place for Olowokandi to play overseas, possibly in Athens. The Greek city is hosting the 2007 European Final Four and, thus, the top Athens-based teams, notably rivals Panathinaikos and Olympiakos, have beefed up their rosters, hoping to be among the participants in the annual spring affair. Old friend Tony Delk has signed on with Panathinaikos, as has Lithuanian big man Robertas Javtokas, who the Spurs were thinking (hoping?) might come across the pond and play for them this year. (He was the team's second-round pick in 2001, the same year they drafted Tony Parker.) Another old friend, Scoonie Penn, is one of several new faces on Olympiakos, joined by Alex Acker, who was on the Pistons' roster last year (the last pick of the second round of the 2005 draft) and played 35 minutes for the conference runners-up. Olympiakos also signed Lithuanian sharpshooter (is that redundant?) Arvydas Macijauskas, but he tore his left Achilles' tendon two weeks ago and is out for at least five months.
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2006/10/08/the_skinny_is_on_his_side/?page=2