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If I were fab I'd go to okc.
From a David Aldridge piece on NBA.com.
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/feature...aldridge.0722/Free agent forward Fabricio Oberto will decide on an NBA team by next week, according to his agent, Herb Rudoy, with the Washington Wizards favored to sign him. Oberto, who is at home in his native Argentina deciding what he will do, has also mullng whether to return to the San Antonio Spurs, who sent him to Milwaukee in late June in the Richard Jefferson trade. However, a league source said Wednesday that the Spurs, while keeping their options open, are looking in another direction.
The Wizards have offered Oberto their bi-annual exception, set for next season at $1.99 million. That amount, combined with the $1.9 million that was guaranteed on Oberto's deal next season, would make the four-year NBA veteran financially whole for next year. Despite good Vegas Summer League play from young forwards JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche, Washington still believes it has a gaping need for a veteran big to back up center Brendan Haywood next season.
"He knows he wants to go where he can play on a team that has a chance to win," Rudoy said.
After going to Milwaukee, the 34-year-old Oberto was re-routed to Detroit in exchange for center Amir Johnson. But the Pistons had no intention of keeping Oberto, whose $3.8 million contract for next season was only partially guaranteed. They immediately waived him and collected $1.9 million in cap room, which, combined with letting Allen Iverson go and getting Johnson's contract off their books, helped create enough room for a free agent signing bonanza, including guard Ben Gordon and forwards Charlie Villanueva and Chris Wilcox.
Oberto was the Spurs' starting center on their last championship team two years ago, but injuries limited him to 54 games last season, and San Antonio went with a better perimeter shooter, Matt Bonner, at center. The Spurs effectively replaced Oberto by signing free agent forward Antonio McDyess to a two-year deal in June.
The Suns, Kings and Thunder have also made inquires about Oberto, who came to the NBA as a 30-year-old rookie after a stellar international career for teams in Argentina, Greece and Spain. His greatest achievement, though, may have been his stint with Argentina's teams that won the silver medal at the 2002 World Championships and the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Despite offers to return to Europe to finish his career, Oberto wants to end his playing days in the NBA.
If I were fab I'd go to okc.
Its time to move on.
"However, a league source said Wednesday that the Spurs, while keeping their options open, are looking in another direction."
Any ideas?
^
That could just mean the Spurs want to give minutes to Ian/Blair/Haislip...Does not mean they are looking to sign anyone else.
He needs not to come back to San Antonio, time to move on.
Good luck to Fab in DC if he's not back here.
nice avatarGood luck to Fab in DC if he's not back here.
I'd let Oberto take Bonner's roster spot in a second (if it was possible).
Him and Bowen should go to OKC
I had no problem with cutting ties with Oberto, though I pray that his heart condition doesn't become an issue in the future.
theo instead of him
oberto should go where ever the most money is.
good to know that teams are still interested in him. Good luck Fab!
I'll miss those backdoor lay-ups really. I think he should go to Washington, get more minutes, and hopefully go deeper into the playoffs (most likely the second round)
Unbelievable BSThe Wizards have offered Oberto their bi-annual exception, set for next season at $1.99 million. That amount, combined with the $1.9 million that was guaranteed on Oberto's deal next season, would make the four-year NBA veteran financially whole for next year.
Oberto have now 1.9 million in his Pocket, he can get back to Europe and take the money too, like when Mark Cuban fired and payed the Finley´s Contract
Good Luck Oberto!
Closing In On Oberto
Michael Lee
Wizards Insider
Free agent big man Fabricio Oberto will decide early next week if he will join the Washington Wizards after the team recently made him a formal contract offer, Oberto's agent, Herb Rudoy, said on Thursday. Rudoy added that the 34-year-old Oberto is being courted by about four other teams but is strongly considering coming to Washington after spending the first four years of his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs.
"He's very interested in going to the Wizards," Rudoy said. "They are a mature team, with a mature coach, and he's a big-time winner."
The 6-foot-10 Oberto started on the Spurs' 2007 championship team and would provide a veteran backup for center Brendan Haywood. The Wizards currently have young big men JaVale McGee, who is in Las Vegas for USA Basketball mini-camp, and Andray Blatche slated to back up Haywood.
Sacramento, Phoenix, Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Lakers are also believed to be interested in Oberto, who was released by Detroit earlier this month after being involved in a three-team trade that sent Richard Jefferson to the Spurs.
In addition to the hiring of Flip Saunders and the recent acquisition of Mike Miller and Randy Foye, the presence of former Spurs assistant Mike Wells on Saunders' staff may also help woo Oberto to Washington.
A team source said that the Wizards are optimistic that they can land Oberto. The same source added that the Wizards have offered Oberto the bi-annual exception, which is worth about $2 million. Detroit still owes Oberto the $1.9 million he was guaranteed to receive this season.
Oberto averaged 2.6 points and 2.6 rebounds last season for the Spurs. He is home in his native Argentina. The Pistons used the cap savings from waiving Oberto to sign former Maryland forward Chris Wilcox -- another player with whom the Wizards had been in contact -- to a two-year, $6 million deal. Jamaal Magloire, another player the Wizards considered, re-signed with the Miami Heat on Wednesday. Another option, Joe Smith, recently met with the Atlanta Hawks.
It updated after I posted that.
Oberto Agrees To Join Wizards
Michael Lee
Wizards Insider
I just hung up the phone with Fabricio Oberto's agent, Herb Rudoy, who informed me that his client has agreed to sign with the Washington Wizards. I spoke with Rudoy earlier today and he told me that Oberto was "very interested" and would make a decision by early next week, but Oberto apparently only needed a few more hours. He informed Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld of his intentions a few moments ago.
Oberto called Rudoy to tell him that he was going to join the Wizards. Oberto provides a veteran big man who can play either power forward for center. I asked Rudoy what pushed Oberto toward the Wizards and he said Oberto "thinks they have a chance to have a terrific team. He analyzed the teams that were interested in him and he felt that in Washington, one, he had a good chance to play, two, they have a new, experienced coach and they have terrific players, which is what he was used to in San Antonio. He figured it out. He thinks it is a great opportunity for him to continue winning."
Oberto chose the Wizards over Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Sacramento and the Lakers. He was hopeful for a return to San Antonio, where he spent his first four seasons, but the Spurs signed veteran center Theo Ratliff on Thursday.
Damn.
Good luck to you, Fab.
You were great when we had you, and hopefully Washington will appreciate you as much as we did.
And you were a badass in the 07 Finals.
glad to hear he didn't choose the lakers, if they really extended interest.
@ the lakers
Make some last money, play a little, enjoy a pretty interesting city in Washington, D.C. Ain't bad.
Hope he likes to freeze his ass off.
Translated: "It was the money."
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