Rumor is that Alonzo is trying to negotiate a buyout with the Nets so he can join a contender. Does anybody think this guy could play PF? Ewing? Van Gundy? Rockets??????????
Sources: Zo wants buyout Doubts Nets can win ring BY OHM YOUNGMISUK DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Alonzo Mourning hints at wanting to join Shaquille O'Neal and Miami Heat. CHICAGO - Obsessed with winning a championship, Alonzo Mourning has been trying to negotiate a buyout with the Nets to join a team with a better chance of winning a title, according to four league sources. However, both parties are millions apart from coming to an agreement. Mourning has more than $17 million and three years left on a fully guaranteed contract. Two sources said Mourning would be willing to give up perhaps a few million knowing that if he were set free, he likely would command only the 10-year veteran's minimum of $1.1 million for one season from any other team. No team is willing to risk any more money on a 34-year-old center who underwent kidney transplant surgery last December. And that is the reason why a trade is unlikely. Mourning might even be willing to do a buyout similar to the one Eddie Robinson agreed to with the Bulls for $10.5 million of the $14.1 million remaining on Robinson's contract. The Nets, however, would buy Mourning out only if the center was willing to surrender millions more, according to three sources. After signing Mourning to a four-year contract worth $22.6 million two summers ago when other teams were afraid of his deteriorating kidney condition, the Nets don't see any reason why they should pay him to play for somebody else. The Nets did just that with Dikembe Mutombo, buying out Mourning's pal last preseason for $27 million of the $37 million remaining on his contract. However, the Nets do have some incentive for buying out Mourning. Besides the fact that Mourning consistently has criticized management and ownership's offseason moves, the Nets can rid themselves of further risk with Mourning's health. If Mourning plays more than 10 games this season and then suffers a rejection of his new organ (Mourning says there is a 30% chance of that for transplant patients) or an injury in the future, the Nets are not eligible to take his salary off their cap next summer, according to a league source. After Wednesday's loss to the Heat, Mourning said he was uncertain about how long he would be a Net. While president Rod Thorn could not be reached about a buyout, he was asked earlier yesterday about Mourning's postgame comments. "To speculate on who may be (here) or who may not be is an exercise in futility," Thorn said. "We expect him to be here, but you never know." Mourning's agent, Jeff Wechsler, did not return phone calls. Mourning also could not be reached as he traveled with the team to Chicago last night. "They are going to pay him the money either way," one source said. "After 10 games, he is on the cap forever." While Mourning's contract is guaranteed, the Nets were hoping that he would not attempt a comeback so they could take his salary off the cap. "They were hoping that he would quit," one team source said. "But let's look at the list of things that he has quit in his life. After having surgery, people said (his basketball career) should be over. Did he quit? No." Mourning, who was cleared by doctors to play, wants to win a championship so badly that he returned to basketball despite the objections of his family and friends. However, Mourning - one of the most charitable players in the league - is not willing to give up several million dollars to leave the Nets because of his health. Mourning has said that the longest a transplant patient has survived after surgery is "38, 39 years." There is a chance that the kidney disease he was diagnosed with in 2000 (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis) can afflict his new organ as well. Mourning looked good in his return, scoring seven points and grabbing five rebounds in 14 foul-plagued minutes against Miami. He can help the undersized Nets this season. And the Nets have been happy to help Mourning raise awareness and funds for kidney research, even donating $25,000 to "Zo's Fund for Life" on Wednesday. But the Nets aren't contending for a championship anytime soon. And that is why Mourning would like to part ways now. After the Nets' 100-77 loss to Miami, Mourning talked at length about how his old team could use a capable backup for Shaquille O'Neal. When asked if Miami could use Mourning, the center replied: "I'm not saying that. You said that. All I know is they are a team that is extremely vulnerable." "I'm still extremely optimistic of the chances of the team (Nets)," added Mourning, who still has a home in Miami. "But I don't know where my tenure lies here. I really don't, to tell you the truth. Time will dictate all that."
I would hope the Rockets would go get him. He seems to be the perfect JVG-type player to play PF next to Yao. Getting him on the cheap would prevent us from being screwed if his kidneys act up again.
so what so we can have the former NY center trio (ewing,deke and zo-nj is close enough to NY) as well as the Hoya Triumvirate? I'd only want Zo if he signs for the vet min here and he just might do that so he can return the favor for the bite marks left on his leg by a certain coach
Yeah, if he wants a buyout, then I'm guessing it's to go back to Miami. At the beginning of the season, the Nets were really hoping Zo would stay retired. As suggested by this article, the Nets won't really compete for a title this year, so they don't wanna spend $ on Zo. Likewise, at this stage in his career, I doubt he's interested in helping the team rebuild.
Hmmmm......, I wonder if NJ would be interested in this trade? Houston sends Howard/Nachbar to NJ. NJ sends Zo/Planinic to Houston. NJ gets a solid 17/7 PF, with the ability to be a 20/8 PF, that would be less likely to embarrass the club in the media. Howard's contract is 2 years longer, but he's still got game. Nachbar gives them a taller SF to groom for the future & he's more suited to a running team than a half court team. Since we'd be taking a chance on Zo's kidney holding up, would they be willing to part with Planinic? He's shown a lot of potential & could platoon at the SF position with JJ. I like Howard, but I'd have to do this deal & bring Taylor back off the bench. If NJ would do it, would you?
Zo as a PF would be a nice addition. As long as he is healthy and puting up numbers like last night (6 Blocks) then he would be a great fit along side Yao. He would help him on the weakside defense greatly.
We talked about this in the summer. Zo seems to be performing well. It's a new kidney. I thought in the summer he was certainly worth Mo T or the full TE. I think NJ would be more interested in the TE. I'd guess he ends up in Miami, though. That's a much easier fit for him.
That would be cool too see. Shaq and ZO together...at one point they were the next crop of centers that would duel it out for years to come and they wer living up to that, until Zo got hurt of course.
Hasn't the TE expired already? I'd have no problem giving them Taylor. Even though Howard hasn't done much as of yet, he still has the better game imo.
I thought we had traded our old TE for someone else's, which expires later on this year. Don't quote me on that... Hopefully someone will come in here and correct me or tell me I'm right.
Teams can consume only part of a traded player exception, in which case they can still use the remainder in a future trade. For example, if a team trades a $4 million player for a $2 million player, they gain a $2.1 million trade exception. If they later trade a draft pick for a $1 million player, they still have $1.1 million remaining to acquire more players and complete the trade (until one year from the date of the original trade).
