Mourning not expected to play for Toronto

[ducks]

Mourning not expected to play for Toronto

By ROB GILLIES, For the Associated Press
December 18, 2004
TORONTO (AP) -- Alonzo Mourning won't be reporting to the Toronto Raptors next week -- and may never play for them.

Mourning, acquired from New Jersey in a trade for Vince Carter on Friday, is in Miami undergoing medical tests and will be there through Christmas, Toronto general manager Rob Bab said Saturday.

The 34-year-old center, who underwent a kidney transplant Dec. 19, 2003, does not have to report to the Raptors or pass a physical for the trade to go through.

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``We waived that because there was no way he'd probably pass a physical,'' Bab said.

Mourning stopped playing earlier this month because of what he said were hip, knee, hand and leg problems. He also was openly unhappy with the Nets' offseason moves, and had demanded a trade to a contender. The Nets and Mourning discussed buying out his contract, but the two sides were too far apart.

Nets president Rod Thorn said Friday there's a chance Mourning would not report to Toronto because he wants to play for a winner.

Bab claimed Saturday he hasn't discussed a buyout with Mourning's agent, and won't until his medical situation becomes clearer.

``He's going through a lot of medical things with his kidneys, evaluations and so forth,'' Bab said. ``Things they do on a regular basis, and some stuff that they may have concerns with.''

If Toronto does buy Mourning out, there's been speculation he could sign with the Miami Heat, his old team, if a deal can be reached. The Raptors also could trade him to the Heat.

A Heat spokesman declined to comment about a reported deal involving the teams.

Calls to Mourning's agent, Jeffrey Wechsler, were not returned.

Bab said Mourning was only included in the trade so that the salaries would match up. Toronto also acquired forwards Aaron Williams and Eric Williams, and two first-round draft picks for Carter.

``Alonzo was a secondary part of this trade,'' Bab said. ``What we're focused on is the rest of the trade, which is the reason that we made this trade and that's getting Aaron and Eric Williams in here right away.''

Toronto coach Sam Mitc said he wouldn't blame Mourning if he didn't report, considering the team is rebuilding and that his career could be over soon.

Mourning started the season on New Jersey's active roster, becoming the second pro athlete to return from a kidney transplant. Former San Antonio Spurs swingman Sean Elliott played 71 games over two seasons after undergoing a transplant in 1999.

He was hindered by an assortment of injuries in 18 regular-season games. An aching right hip makes his leg weak. His right pinkie has torn tendons, and his right knee and right Achilles' tendon are sore.

Mourning averaged 10.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in 25.4 minutes. The Nets signed him to a four-year, $22.6 million guaranteed contract in July 2003. But he played only 12 games before retiring Nov. 24 because of complications from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a kidney disease that was first diagnosed in 2000.

[manustarting2gd]

Zo' going back to MIA???? Snaq and Zo , who would have ever thought?!