http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/sports/docs/jackson10.htm Published Monday, Dec. 10, 2001, in the San Jose Mercury News Warriors hit pause on Jackson's career BY MARK EMMONS Mercury News In Marc Jackson's world, he remains the Warriors' starting center. Jackson is having an All-Star season as he averages about 20 points, 12 rebounds and six assists per night. ``And I haven't even told you about my monster games,'' he says. Jackson -- Golden State's feel-good story of last season who now finds himself anchored to the bench -- isn't delusional. The world he's talking about is virtual. In a surreal intersection of reality and video-game technology, Jackson controls a digital version of himself whenever he pops ``NBA Live 2002'' into his PlayStation 2 console. ``Of course I play myself,'' says Jackson, a die-hard gamer. ``I'm pretty good. I put up the same numbers I would if I was on the court.'' Let's just say the computerized Jackson is the only one breaking a sweat this season. It's strange, really, how everything has turned out for Jackson. A 26-year-old forward-center, he blossomed unexpectedly during yet another dreary Warriors campaign last year. He finished third in the voting for rookie of the year and made the first-team All-Rookie squad after averaging 13.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Now he's the forgotten man. Uncharacteristic good health has afforded the Warriors a deep roster this season -- but a side effect has been Jackson scraping up minutes in garbage time. Turn of events Wasn't Jackson supposed to live happily ever after following his breakthrough season? ``I thought I would, too,'' he says. ``But there were some circumstances.'' The business side of basketball got in the way. Yes, the Warriors matched the six-year, $24.4 million contract offer from the Houston Rockets in October to keep Jackson. But it wasn't because they saw him as a vital piece to their future. Rather, the Warriors viewed Jackson as both a pricey insurance policy against one of their usual bouts of catastrophic injuries and also as a nice bargaining chip for trades. So Jackson fully expects to be dealt sometime between Jan. 15, the end of his 90-day trade moratorium, and the Feb. 21 trading deadline. It's a sentiment that Warriors management does little to dispute. Jackson's initial frustration has dissipated. Today, comforted by the realization he is set for life financially, he quietly accepts his fate. He plays hard in practice, patiently counting the days until he changes uniforms. ``I give him credit for being a good citizen,'' Warriors General Manager Garry St. Jean said. ``He could whine and complain, but he hasn't.'' Jackson can see the situation through management's eyes. Teams are about chemistry. There's no point tinkering with a lineup to squeeze minutes for a short-timer. ``The Warriors had a good idea who was going to be their nucleus, and I understand why they didn't want to give me away for free,'' Jackson says. ``I'm assuming I'll be shipped somewhere. Then maybe I'll live happily ever after.'' Despite his place on the bench, Jackson wants to make clear that he is no one-year fluke. But if that is the case, wouldn't Coach Dave Cowens be forced to play him more -- especially now that his team has lost 10 of its past 13 games and a once-promising season teeters on the brink. A lone bright spot The Warriors didn't have much to celebrate as they fumbled to a 17-65 mark last season, but Jackson was near the top of a short list. The star-crossed team was racked by injuries. Frontcourt players Erick Dampier, Danny Fortson and Adonal Foyle went down, opening the door for the 6-foot-10 Jackson. An unpolished player when the Warriors drafted him out of Temple in the second round in 1997, Jackson played three years in Turkey and Spain. He returned vastly improved, with a perimeter game in the tradition of European big men. In 35 starts, Jackson averaged 16.9 points and 9.7 rebounds. His importance was hammered home when he missed the final 20 games because of a groin pull and the Warriors ended the season with a 1-19 spiral. By season's end, Jackson had been acclaimed as a nice guy who paid his dues and deserved the hefty raise he would receive after making the $316,000 rookie minimum. He would get rewarded. But the process would be painful and plant the seeds for what Jackson considers his inevitable departure. The Warriors held the upper hand in negotiations because Jackson was a restricted free agent, which meant that they could match offers made by other teams up to $4.5 million a season. Jackson thought that chilled the interest of prospective suitors. And when the Warriors, waiting to see what the market would bear, didn't make their own contract proposal, Jackson felt unwanted. The Houston Rockets, desperate for a big man after losing Maurice Taylor to a season-ending injury, signed Jackson to an offer sheet in early October. Jackson all but begged the Warriors to set him free. ``Hopefully the Warriors will let me get on with my life,'' he told a Houston TV station. Golden State, of course, matched the deal. St. Jean sounds like he's quoting dialogue from ``The Godfather'' when he explains why. ``This whole situation was about business,'' St. Jean says. ``It isn't personal. It's business. A player is an asset. Why did we want him back? We wanted him back because he's a player.'' Jackson was indignant, calling a return to Golden State his worst-case scenario, but his bitterness has subsided. ``I'm not knocking the Warriors for what they did,'' he says. ``I'm not going to dwell on it and complain. Of course it's frustrating not playing. Just because I've got a little money now, I don't want people to think that I don't care.'' Zeroes not only were added to his salary but also now to his line in the box score. Searching for a role When Jackson rejoined the Warriors before the start of this season, he had a sore calf and wasn't in the best shape. But he's healthy now and still has played just 63 minutes this season, averaging 3.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. That's because the Warriors (somebody knock on wood) have steered clear of broken bones and torn ligaments. Dampier, Fortson, Foyle and rookie Troy Murphy have combined to help make Golden State the top rebounding team in the league. ``We've got a heck of a crew of bigs,'' St. Jean says of the Warriors' frontcourt. ``It's a tough decision, but somebody's not going to play.'' There's also a school of thought that preaches the statistics Jackson racked up last season were something of an illusion. Even on a bad team, somebody has to score and rebound. Indiana Pacers President Donnie Walsh doesn't buy it. Last summer Walsh explored the possibility of making a run at Jackson but didn't because he figured the Warriors would match his offer. ``I like the kid and I like his game,'' Walsh says. ``But they came back a different team. Fortson and Dampier are OK now. They've got Troy Murphy and Foyle. It's not a knock on Jackson. They've just got a lot of players at big positions that have made them better.'' There are teams in need of a big man, and Jackson can rattle them off. Indiana is one. Minnesota, Phoenix, Denver and New York are others. ``I just want to play, and it's not going to be here,'' Jackson says. ``So I have to go. If I had a choice, I want to go to a team that's going to use me.'' Actually, he does have a choice. Once he becomes eligible come mid-January, Jackson must consent to any deal the Warriors wish to make. (Houston, though, can't trade for him until next October.) Jackson's veto power lasts one year. Cowens insists it's a mistake to assume that Jackson will be dealt. Maybe, he says, somebody else will be traded, clearing room for Jackson to play. ``He was a pretty unique story last year,'' St. Jean adds. ``In the short term, he's not playing much. But in the long run, it's all going to work out really well for Marc Jackson.'' Awaiting resolution In a November game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Jackson came on in the final few, meaningless minutes. Shaquille O'Neal, his night finished, began yelling at Jackson from the Lakers' bench. `` `Marc, they're not even playing you! Why are you there?' '' Jackson recalls Shaq shouting. ``I told him I'm just enjoying the life and waiting to see what happens.'' For now, Jackson must settle for playing against Shaq on a computer game while he waits for that happy ending.
I hope he screws with Golden State. Remember its business. I'd veto any trade for one year. In the end, whoever trades for him after one year will definitely use him.
Interesting. Marc Jackson is sitting back and taking money from the Warriors while his trade value drops. I wonder if he's going to peacefully veto any trades so that he can sit back on the bench and collect those fat checks.
I doubt he will veto trades for a year, but wouldn't it be interesting if he did so until the Rockets could make an offer for him next October. KT and Moochie for Jackson and Richardson???
Good luck to the guy Phoenix would appear and great place for him to play and then Indiana Swopa - i read somewhere that something like "When will Cowens realise Fortson and Jamison can't play together" what do you think, any chance one will be traded???
Sorry for the dumb question, but why can't Houston trade for M.Jackson until next year? Did their trade exemption run out? Did they spend it on someone else? thanks in advance!
There is a rule that states if you have an offer sheet to a restricted FA signed that is then matched by their old team, you are not allowed to trade for that player (even if he's traded to 12 teams in the meantime) for a year.
I'd say (as I said last year when this issue came up) that it's more a question of Cowens figuring out how to use Jamison. To some extent Fortson isn't the ideal PF in general, but that issue will likely resolve itself as Troy Murphy matures ... and eventually takes over as the starter. By the way, look ... the bidders for Marc Jackson are starting to line up.
Now, that would really suck. First they beat us out of Jackson by matching our offer & then they'll get our #1 pick in exchange for him. I'm starting to really hate Golden State.
I think we blew it on that one anyway. Soon after the free agent period started or after we were to trade Hakeem, the Rockets could have went after Jackson for about 5.5 per yr. Then we could have had a guy to play 4 or 5. He could have played the 4 until griffin was ready, then moved to the 5 so we could ship Cato's ass out of town. Everyone on clutch bbs was like we don't need a big man, we are a guard team and all the big man will get is scraps. It would be nice to see us healthy and can come down, dish it into the post and get either a double team or a good shot without all the excessive dribbling. I sure hope the Cippers don't get smart on us and offer Kandi man for Jackson. We'll really be in trouble then.
