This guy puzzles me. He stays in Orlando, expressing his happiness and loyalty to them and signs a small, putrid one year contract after being offered a lot more to play in LA, thus missing out on money AND a ring. Now he jumps ship for Utah?? I guess Orlando doesn't need him, but I'd rather have Amaechi as my backup to Ewing instead of Haywood. Weird. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news/20010719/uthamaechi.html Jazz agree with free agent C John Amaechi July 20, 2001 SALT LAKE CITY (TICKER) -- The Utah Jazz continued their search for a center Thursday by agreeing in principle on a multi-year contract with John Amaechi, who had been with the Orlando Magic. Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor said Amaechi would undergo a physical and meet the media on Friday. Late Thursday night, Amaechi's web site, www.meech.org, still had him in the uniform of the Magic. He averaged 7.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 82 games last season, splitting time with Andrew DeClercq. The Jazz have grown increasingly frustrated with Greg Ostertag, who averaged 4.5 points and 5.1 rebounds last season but has not lived up to expectations. For the last two years, they have primarily used Olden Polynice, who averaged 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds last season but is a free agent who likely will not be re-signed. The 6-10 Amaechi has a mid-range jump shot that neither Ostertag nor Polynice have. However, he shot just 40 percent from the field last season. Amaechi, 30, also was a free agent after the 1999-2000 season and turned down a $17 million offer from the Los Angeles Lakers to re-sign with the Magic for one year and $611,000. Since the end of the season, Orlando has traded for rookie center Brendan Haywood and signed veteran center Patrick Ewing, making Amaechi expendable. In three years, Amaechi has averaged 8.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 190 games. He spent his rookie campaign with Cleveland. ------------------ My doctor says I am bipolar. I am going to get a second opinion. I have never had intimate desires for polar bears. [This message has been edited by HOOP-T (edited July 20, 2001).]
I like Amaechi's attitude, effort and solid though unflashy game. This really stinks because the Spazz now have a player I somewhat like. Maybe when his motives for this move surface, I won't think quite so highly of him. ------------------ Raef to Rocks in '01-'02! [This message has been edited by GATER (edited July 20, 2001).]
Amaechi is a horrible rebounder for a man his size. Only asset is his shooting and size (hard to get around) but has no clue when it comes to defense (rebounding or blocking). ------------------
He may have no D, but he's still a better option than Postertag. I think he went there to get a pay rise - seems funny to say considering he's only earning 2.25mill per year, but he took a massively smaller salary to stay with the Magic last year (600K I think) instead of going to the Lakers. He probably considers it a slap in the face of his loyalty that Ewing was signed and another center obtained through the draft.... ------------------
Two things even more puzzling: 1. He actually named his website "meech.org"? 2. Ostertag had expectations to live up to? ------------------ "Do you know what nemesis means? 'A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent'. Personified, in this case, by a horrible c***: ME." - Brick Top, Snatch
When you are stuck with the Tag, you get to debut another second tier center every year!! Amaechi is a grinder. Can't jump at all but is smart and tenacious. Another Vandy guy who later transferred to (I think) Penn before graduating.
The real deal is this 1. Amaechi last year was given the old "wink wink" deal last year. "We NEED to sign Grant and Tracy, take one for the team this year at 600,000 and well hit you up next year" (ahem Shandon Anderson) 2. The Magic then signed Patrick, and Horace. 3. They then reniged on a deal with Amaechi. I was actually on a radio sports show today talking about this. The fans and some of the media are tearing up the Magic for doing this. I guess Amaechi was about to play for the Lake show for quite a bit more last year, and the Magic presented the ol "Shandon Anderson" promise. He contributes a rather LARGE sum of his income to charity hear in Orlando so he decided to stay, with a promise in hand. He is now out of money. Supposedly he dumped it all into his charity work, expecting a better deal soon, and now the Magic basically said. If you find any deal out there grab it. ------------------ "I have amazing, powers of observation"...Pink
I've read his website here and there and the guy seems really intelligent and nice. I don't basketball is his goal of life. He's studying to get his PHD in child psychology. So it wouldn't be a big suprise to see him out of the league soon. Kind of like Robert Smith, who could still get payed out his ass in millions but just didn't want to play football anymore and wanted to pursue other interests. I think Edgarrin James is another one of these possibilities. He's not a bookworm like meech or Smith but he just likes chillin...it's his life philosophy, so in his own words he'll probably quit football in a few years cause he just wants to chill. But more on subject, meech is smart, but he's no good at hoops. He's not horrible, but he was by far uneffective last year to the point that he rode the pine when management really wanted him to start. He's a big body and can shoot okay, but that's about it. He's not a tremendous upgrade over Oyster and Police man, so I'm not shakin in my boots or anything about this Jazz signing. ------------------ Oh, and he lives in Arizona, so that might be a reason. Pretty close to Utah. Here's meech and his mom. [This message has been edited by Kim (edited July 23, 2001).]
