Was this already posted somewhere? Suddenly this guy's name pops up again. The Rockets were looking at him a year ago and Oeilpere said (I think) that an offer was made. When we waive Los (team option), won't we have about 15 million or so in cap space? Could we sign this guy as a backup (whether or not we move Cato and sign or don't sign Webber)? AMERICAN EXPAT MAKES GOOD The Next Big European Import Given the shortage of draft choices who are ready to play, every NBA team would like to find its own version of Marc Jackson, the 25 year-old Warriors center who played for three years in Turkey and Spain before returning home to average 13.2 and 5.0 rebounds a game this season and finish third in the Rookie of the Year balloting. The search for "the next Marc Jackson" has led scouts to 26 year-old center Nate Huffman, who was named player of the year in Europe while leading Maccabi-Tel Aviv to the SuproLeague Championship. The 7-foot Huffman has come a long way since 1997, when he went undrafted after leaving Central Michigan as a skinny 220-pound center. Following a couple of unspectacular seasons in the CBA and in the Spanish League, he was discovered by Maccabi assistant coach David Blatt, a Princeton graduate who was intrigued by Huffman's potential. In the past two years Huffman has added 35 pounds to his frame and refined an array of low-post moves to become one of Europe's dominant centers, averaging 17.9 points and 9.2 rebounds (in 40-minute games) over that span. Though Huffman has another year on a contract that is estimated to be close to $1 million annually, he says he will exercise an escape option to sign with an NBA team as a free agent this summer. At least a half-dozen NBA scouts were in Paris two weeks ago to watch Huffman and other prospects in the SuproLeague final four. "His post-up game is good," said one of the scouts. "He was more of an outside player when he came out of college. He's still going to have trouble guarding anybody, but the new rules [allowing zone defenses] will help him." Huffman says he would be willing to accept a role as a backup center with the understanding that he could exploit certain matchups, as he did in Maccabi's 81-67 victory in the final over defending European champion Panathinakos of Greece on May 13. With 21 points and nine boards, he outplayed star Yugoslav center Zeljko Rebraca, whose soft performance (four points, one rebound) might have doomed his chances of joining the Raptors, the team that controls his NBA rights. The only thing that will keep Huffman from coming home is money. He is unlikely to accept anything in the neighborhood of the minimum salary of $320,000 that Jackson received from Golden State. "A couple of people have compared me to him, but the story I've heard is that he didn't really succeed in Europe," Huffman says of Jackson. "I'm looking for something like a two-year deal for $5 million. I think I can get it. I've put up solid numbers, I've been on winning teams and I'm player of the year. To me that's almost better than being a number 1 pick. It means I'm older, more mature and ready to help right away." ============================================= So, what do you think, guys? Worth a shot? Do we have the money, with or without Webber? ------------------
We should bring him here to see him in workouts,if he does well and can fit within Los's contract he might well be worth getting.One question though,has Huffman declared for the draft? ------------------
I don't think declaring for the draft is a factor due to his age. From the article & stats, he's worth a look. ------------------ GATER
He's a free agent. Graduated 4 years ago from Central Michigan. Plays pro in Israel. Doesn't need to declare for the draft. ------------------
Were we the only team who worked him out last year? I had not heard of any other NBA team looking at him. I am sure some did, but was it us that put him on the map before this season in Europe and now his numbers are under more scrutiny? Hard to say if he'd be the player Marc Jackson turned out to be, but it may be worth a shot. ------------------ My doctor says I am bipolar. I am going to get a second opinion. I have never had intimate desires for polar bears.
Looks like Houston may have been caught napping on this one. "I really want to play for <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2001/06/25/SP207625.DTL">Golden State</a>. They're a young team, it's a good opportunity, a great coaching staff and a great area. It's definitely my first choice." [This message has been edited by Swopa (edited June 25, 2001).]
The guy's got issues if he wants to play for Golden State. I'd stay away... something's not stable about the boy... ...what next? "The Bulls are my second choice because they're young"? ------------------ "I had mine chewed off by a boss one time." -- Behad leaves us wondering if he gets hazard pay...
How about if he has relatives in Frisco area and he wants to play with AJ and the guys? How about Golden State being the only team to offer him a contract that is close to the $2+ BigBills a year on a two-three year contract that he is looking for? How about Golden State making him an offer that he turned down and he now wants to revist the talks? Mmmmmmmmmm. Nate was well liked here in Houston. It's not that he asked for too much money prior to this (well maybe a little too much), it was just that we didn't have it give to him. This year is slightly different. Incidently I liken him to a cross hybrid of LaFrentz and Kandiman. Strange,eh? He has a lot less of the bad habits and with just enough of the good parts to make him interesting. His post is where Kandi wants to be, his medium shot is just as good as Raef. He is a little slower than Kandi, but less bulky too. He has better positioning and lateral movement than Raef, but his hook is slow and predictable, and would be swatted left and right in the NBA. ------------------
I wouldn't say he's unstable. Being a fan of Maccabi "Elite" Tel-Aviv I should say I'd like Huffman to stay here. We have quite some trouble finding a replacement for him. He is the SuproLeague MVP this year, after all. I'd like to see him on the NBA, though. He'd also like to be there too. It's his dream. He had an NBA tattoo, you know. He took it off because of NBA rules and got another one instead, so he wouldn't have trouble with the tattoo on the NBA. Anyway, I've gone a little off-course. He said Golden-State is a good choice for him because he would like to get enough play-time to show what he can do. He said told the press here that he would like to be in a team where he could get at least 20 minutes per game. You can understand that, right? Nobody likes the bench all that much. Or Shwartz
I think drafting Troy Murphy makes it much less likely that Golden State will sign Huffman. An item on the Milwaukee Bucks website says he's trying out to be on their summer-league team. ------------------
