Gerry McNamara released

Im suprised. I thought he was a pretty good college player. I dont know why no one in the NBA picked him up as a 3rd point gaurd, he was so clutch in college.

USA Today

Former Syracuse standout McNamara released by Greek team
Posted 11/29/2006 10:43 AM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Subscribe to stories like this Subscribe to stories like this
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Former Syracuse standout Gerry McNamara has been given his release from the Greek basketball team Olympiakos B.C., according to his agent.

McNamara had played less than a minute in the team's first five games and faced the prospect of even less court time after Olympiakos (4-1) signed another point guard to fill the roster spot of injured standout Arvydas Macijauskas, said McNamara's agent, Bill Neff of Saga Sports.

"Gerry was fourth or fifth in a rotation and thus was not going to play," Neff said Tuesday. "He tired of that quickly and asked to be released."

McNamara signed a one-year deal with Olympiakos in September worth approximately $200,000. The deal included both team and player options for a second year. McNamara had already been paid approximately 45% of his contract, Neff said.

"He's in great shape, he did everything that was asked of him and he played 30 seconds," Neff said. "He could have stayed and taken the money, but he wants to play."

Neff said Olympiakos officials liked what they saw of McNamara, but he was caught in a playing-time numbers crunch.

"They weren't going to release him, but I told them they were just wasting their money and his time," the agent said.

McNamara and his fiancee planned to return to the United States on Wednesday. Neff said the NBA remains McNamara's ultimate goal.

McNamara could attempt to strike a deal with another European team, but Neff suggested that the more likely option would be to join a team in the National Basketball Development League.

The Albany Patroons of the Continental Basketball Association selected McNamara in that league's draft in late September. The Patroons, knowing McNamara had already signed with Olympiakos, took McNamara with their sixth-round pick, the 60th and next-to-last pick in the entire draft.

The popular McNamara ended his four-year career at Syracuse as the school's career leader in three-point field goals made, free-throw percentage, and minutes played. He was one of only six players in school history to score 2,000 points. McNamara led Syracuse in assists in each of his four seasons.
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