Damn, pretty classless move by the Heat, especially after his family issues. Hope he comes back to the NBA next season .
As an adult, you are required to inform the people you work for that you aren't going to be there. While I feel bad for Rafer having an ill family member, all it took was a simple phone call or, better still, walking into the GM's office and telling him what was going on and what you felt you had to do. I'm finding it difficult to believe that he couldn't manage to do that, if that's what his problem was.
They probably just don't want to pay him for the remainder of the season. The Heat are a luxury tax paying team, and at this point in the season, they can't cut him or anything without paying him the remainder of his salary.
I still think he is better PG than Arroyo or Chalmers. He has playoff experience and brings so much to the table.
Let's see, last year we had Airballston and TSlack as our starting one and two. Rafer Airballston can't even play backup on even the worst of teams. TSlack is stinking it up and making the Knicks much worse (if one can even imagine that). No wonder we got so much better once TSlack called it quits and Airballston got sent away.
Umm? He actually contributed on a Finals caliber team in the Magic. If Nelson hadn't came back and destroyed team chemistry in the Finals, the Magic woulda one. Alston stepped up in the Magic series against the Celtics. Get ur facts straight, brah! Alston actually has proven to be clutch at certain times.
I definitely agree. I think the magic would have been better off with Alston starting in the finals than Nelson. Alston was a huge part of the Magic success in last years playoffs.
I'll add that Rafer still hasn't contacted the Heat about his departure. How many days has he had to make the phone call? The notion this is completely about his sister is nonsense. Obviously Rafer took the benching personal and wasn't man-enough to handle it well. I think he's using his sister's illness as a crutch (excuse) to leave the team in such a jerky manner. He clearly is holding a grudge against the Heat.
Nah, its the principle....In agreeance with Deckard, Anyone that you work for, no matter what the job is....that's unacceptable. I know he probably signed for the minimum or something cause of the Nets buying him out, but if he plans on playing for a N.B.A team next season that was a bad move. I'd be on the bench stopping every peanut man, hotdog, juice man........
Yeah, I was dancing around coming out and just saying that. It's pretty bizarre that Alston's career has played out this way, post-Rockets. One has to at least wonder if another team will take a flyer on him after this, especially as a potential starter. Rafer may have burned his bridges as a starter for an NBA team. Who would want the possible disruption in team chemistry, if a role change might produce a reaction like this? Rafer may end up being what I always thought of him as being... an excellent backup point, nothing more.
It's kind of like T-Mac not notifying the team that he would have surgery. You tell your employer whats going on, and you look forward to next year. Instead you end up playing for a crappy Knicks team. I'm hoping Rafer meets the same fate, just so we can move up the draft board.
What Rafer did here is much worse than McGrady last year. 1. Rafer was actually on the team. 2. It's later in the season. 3. Rafer's team is in the middle of a heated playoff race 4. He abandoned the Heat without notice and STILL hasn't contacted them. Lastly, 5. Rafer is using his ill sister as a crutch to justify himself going AWOL, which I think is very despicable. The Heat have done nothing "classless" here at all. That is Rafer's role in this mess. Skip to my Lou won't be in the NBA next season. He's pretty much good for nothing at this point.
Rafer got what he deserved....whining about losing his job, then dissappearing, come on....... I am sure he was worried about his sister, but to not tell the organization.... Rafer knew exactly what he was doing, he is not stupid. Not surprised. What will be surprising is to see if he gets another contract... DD
