Kori Ellis
12-14-2004, 04:02 AM
Malone camp pursues Spurs
Web Posted: 12/14/2004 12:00 AM CST
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA121404.1F.BKN_Malone.4cfe578.html
The agent for unsigned forward Karl Malone contacted the Spurs over the weekend hoping to arrange a conversation between Malone and Gregg Popovich, the Spurs' coach and executive vice-president.
Presumably, that conversation will be about Malone signing to play for the Spurs this season.
Malone, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, has yet to recover from surgery on his right knee in July. He was presumed to be leaning toward re-signing with the Lakers but last week said he would not play for them again because of a disagreement with star guard Kobe Bryant.
The Spurs for months have acknowledged their willingness to sign Malone, 41, if he decides to continue playing. Popovich promised to keep a roster spot available if, and when, he decided he wanted to play for the Spurs.
"It's up to Karl to decide what he is going to do and with whatever team," Popovich said. "I'm just waiting, trying to be patient, and seeing what he wants to do. When he's ready to start talking to people about wanting to play, I will be ready to talk to him.
A spokesperson in the office of Dwight Manley, Malone's agent, issued a "no comment" Monday on the agent's behalf to all questions about the forward.
Malone, a veteran of 19 seasons and the No. 2 scorer in NBA history, injured his right knee last season and missed 40 regular season games. He returned for the playoffs, during which his defense on the Spurs' Tim Duncan was instrumental in the Lakers' 4-2 elimination of the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. He re-injured the knee in Game 2 of the Finals against the Detroit Pistons.
Manley recently declared Malone's knee 100 percent sound and said the player soon would announce a decision about his basketball future.
Manley spoke Sunday with Spurs general manager R.C. Buford, who has been out of San Antonio on a scouting trip, and with director of basketball operations Danny Ferry.
"Everything was just very general, that's all," Ferry said. "There were no specifics talked about. It was just setting up an opportunity for Pop and Karl to talk."
No date or time has been scheduled for such a talk. Popovich said he was awaiting word from either Malone or Manley as to when he could speak with Malone
"I don't want to talk to anybody but Karl. I don't need to talk to Manley or anybody else," he said. "I gave that job up a couple years ago. R.C. and Danny can handle that part."
Ferry said the Spurs would not press Manley for a discussion about Malone.
"They're driving the process," Ferry said. "Obviously, we are listening. I don't know what their goal is. It's more to keep contact, as much as anything else. He's still thinking about playing and wants to maintain contact with one of the teams he's interested in discussing that with."
The feud between Malone and Bryant may well be driving Malone toward a decision to return. Sunday, Bryant alleged to reporters that Malone had made inappropriate comments to Bryant's wife, Vanessa. Malone, through Manley, denied Bryant's accusations.
"Karl did not do what he was accused of," Manley told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday. "He never hit on (Bryant's) wife. This is a soap opera that is affecting the best power forward ever and a gigantic franchise. Karl did not want to get sucked into it as much as he has. It's all the Bryants' soap opera.
"It's a personal matter between Kobe and his wife, and Karl got drawn into it like a pawn."
Web Posted: 12/14/2004 12:00 AM CST
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA121404.1F.BKN_Malone.4cfe578.html
The agent for unsigned forward Karl Malone contacted the Spurs over the weekend hoping to arrange a conversation between Malone and Gregg Popovich, the Spurs' coach and executive vice-president.
Presumably, that conversation will be about Malone signing to play for the Spurs this season.
Malone, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, has yet to recover from surgery on his right knee in July. He was presumed to be leaning toward re-signing with the Lakers but last week said he would not play for them again because of a disagreement with star guard Kobe Bryant.
The Spurs for months have acknowledged their willingness to sign Malone, 41, if he decides to continue playing. Popovich promised to keep a roster spot available if, and when, he decided he wanted to play for the Spurs.
"It's up to Karl to decide what he is going to do and with whatever team," Popovich said. "I'm just waiting, trying to be patient, and seeing what he wants to do. When he's ready to start talking to people about wanting to play, I will be ready to talk to him.
A spokesperson in the office of Dwight Manley, Malone's agent, issued a "no comment" Monday on the agent's behalf to all questions about the forward.
Malone, a veteran of 19 seasons and the No. 2 scorer in NBA history, injured his right knee last season and missed 40 regular season games. He returned for the playoffs, during which his defense on the Spurs' Tim Duncan was instrumental in the Lakers' 4-2 elimination of the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. He re-injured the knee in Game 2 of the Finals against the Detroit Pistons.
Manley recently declared Malone's knee 100 percent sound and said the player soon would announce a decision about his basketball future.
Manley spoke Sunday with Spurs general manager R.C. Buford, who has been out of San Antonio on a scouting trip, and with director of basketball operations Danny Ferry.
"Everything was just very general, that's all," Ferry said. "There were no specifics talked about. It was just setting up an opportunity for Pop and Karl to talk."
No date or time has been scheduled for such a talk. Popovich said he was awaiting word from either Malone or Manley as to when he could speak with Malone
"I don't want to talk to anybody but Karl. I don't need to talk to Manley or anybody else," he said. "I gave that job up a couple years ago. R.C. and Danny can handle that part."
Ferry said the Spurs would not press Manley for a discussion about Malone.
"They're driving the process," Ferry said. "Obviously, we are listening. I don't know what their goal is. It's more to keep contact, as much as anything else. He's still thinking about playing and wants to maintain contact with one of the teams he's interested in discussing that with."
The feud between Malone and Bryant may well be driving Malone toward a decision to return. Sunday, Bryant alleged to reporters that Malone had made inappropriate comments to Bryant's wife, Vanessa. Malone, through Manley, denied Bryant's accusations.
"Karl did not do what he was accused of," Manley told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday. "He never hit on (Bryant's) wife. This is a soap opera that is affecting the best power forward ever and a gigantic franchise. Karl did not want to get sucked into it as much as he has. It's all the Bryants' soap opera.
"It's a personal matter between Kobe and his wife, and Karl got drawn into it like a pawn."