http://www.boston.com/sports/basketb...long_way_home/
(The only part that is news is bolded)
BASKETBALL NOTES
Harrington took the long way home
By Shira Springer | August 27, 2006
The completion of the Al Harrington-to-Indiana sign-and-trade last week demonstrated, once again, the strange ways NBA teams do business. Even before a disappointing first-round loss to the Nets in the playoffs, Pacers CEO/president Donnie Walsh and president of basketball operations Larry Bird were intent upon retooling the team. In an offseason that has featured the addition of 11 players, the acquisition of Harrington was the big one.
The Pacers wanted Harrington, and Harrington wanted back on the Pacers after two seasons in the NBA Siberia that is the Atlanta Hawks. It just took longer than expected -- almost two months longer -- for everyone to get what they wanted.
In a press conference to reintroduce the big man to the Indiana faithful, Bird called Harrington ``a fit that's really going to take us to the next level." The New Jersey-raised Harrington talked about how happy his family was to have him ``back home."
``I'm just happy to be back, to finally get to winning again," said Harrington. ``What was it, 39 [wins] in two years is no fun. I'm happy we can get back to not only just the playoffs but to talk about competing for a championship, so I'm very excited about that. I guess at the end of the day, I feel like I should've never left."
That was an obvious conclusion, given how difficult it was for Harrington to return. A week before the deal went through, Harrington told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that his return to Indiana ``doesn't look like it's going to happen" and that ``there comes a time when you have to move on and find a place where you are wanted." Those statements came after the deal had been in limbo for weeks, awaiting the approval of Pacers ownership.
As negotiations started and stopped and started and stopped, Harrington switched agents and eventually agreed to a shorter-term deal than he believed he deserved. He signed for four years and approximately $40 million (the final year is a player option).
``I learned a lot about the business this time around," said Harrington. ``I thought free agency would be a lot more fun. I don't think I ever want to go through free agency again. I was going to ask Larry for an extension right now so I don't have to go through this again."
When asked if he worried the deal wouldn't get done, Bird said, ``We were dealing with a lot of different people. Al switched agents, was dealing with Atlanta. The first go-round, we thought Atlanta was asking too much, so after talking to them a couple weeks, with the involvement of our owner, they came off a lot of what they were asking for so we got it back going. Then Al was wanting a longer term. At this time, we didn't feel like we could do that. When it was all said and done, Al agreed to come, and that's the important thing."
Now the Pacers can continue remaking a team that will be decidedly different from those of the recent past, despite adding a player from that past.
Tricks of the trades
While calls continue to go out from the Celtics to NBA executives, the same cannot be said of intriguing trade offers coming the other way. Chances are, the opening night roster will be some combination of the 17 players already under fully or partially guaranteed contracts.
Training camp officially starts Oct. 3, giving Danny Ainge about six weeks to make a significant move if the team is to develop enough chemistry to make the most of its favorable early-season schedule. But he will not rush into a deal because some real or perceived deadline looms.
``I've been active and trying to get things done," said Ainge. ``I'm not going to do a deal just to do a deal. I'm only going to do good deals. I've offered deals I would do, but I haven't found any takers yet. That's not that surprising because what we're trying to do is not that easy."
Ainge acknowledges the Celtics ``don't have the perfect mix yet," though he likes each player on the roster. Executives around the league don't necessarily share Ainge's confidence about the quality of the Boston roster. A very unscientific poll indicates that other executives believe guys like Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Tony Allen, Kendrick Perkins, and Gerald Green would be good rotation players, but not starters. Ainge unapologetically admits he places a higher value than most on the Celtics' younger players.
``Most of our young players, I probably value them more than others do because I know more about them, because I see them every day," he said. ``I see them in the summer. I know their personalities. Sebastian Telfair, Rajon Rondo, Delonte West, Tony Allen, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins -- that's eight guys under the age of 24. I project every one of those guys as an NBA starter. In the right setting, all of those guys are NBA starters talentwise."
But even if other teams do place a high value on guys like Jefferson, West, Allen, Perkins, and Green et al, there are deal-making obstacles. First and foremost, the relatively low salaries for Jefferson ($1.6 million), West ($1.1 million), Perkins ($1.7 million), Allen ($1 million), Green ($1.3 million), and the other kids make it difficult for the numbers to work, especially when Ainge seems reluctant to part with young talent without receiving an established veteran in return. Any deal would likely involve a third party or Ainge persuading a team to take a player it doesn't want (think Brian Grant). Also, some of the young players remain largely unproven on the court, a result of injuries and other circumstances.
Guard for hire
Kenny Anderson wishes NBA teams could publish ``help wanted" ads. The veteran point guard, who last played in the league for the Clippers in the 2004-05 season and spent last year competing in Lithuania, wants to return to the NBA. He just can't figure out why no teams have expressed interest.
``Sometimes I'm like, `Maybe I've played enough,' " said Anderson. ``Then, there's days when I work out and I want that team environment.
``I just need that opportunity. I'm in shape. I haven't had any major injuries. I'm young, only 35. I didn't want to retire at 34 or 35. I've still got that hunger. I want to be 100 percent sure that I can't help a team when I finish, and I'm not there yet.
``I don't know why I'm not getting a harder look. I think everybody knows I know how to run a team. I'm not going to be a cancer on a team. I've always been a good leader. Why doesn't somebody say, `Hey, why not bring Kenny into camp?' "
To make sure he is ready if a call comes, Anderson trains four days a week near his home in Fort Lauderdale. Occasionally, Penny Hardaway joins him for workouts.
If the NBA doesn't work out, Anderson will be in shape to play overseas, preferably in Italy or Spain. When his competitive days are finally done, Anderson would like to coach at the college level.
``I really want to be around the game," said Anderson. ``[College] is where I want to coach at. You're more than a coach to [college players]. I'm willing to do that for 5-10 years trying to become a head coach."
Humble and hungry
Proving that even a little international experience can go a long way, Carmelo Anthony is second on Team USA in scoring with 19.6 points per game through the preliminary round at the World Championships, including a 35-point game versus Italy. Anthony used the disappointment of a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics as motivation.
``I was disappointed and embarrassed at the same time to play the way we did," said Anthony. ``We played like we didn't really want to be there at that time and that we were better than anyone else. We realize we can't do that anymore. We have to be humble but we also have to be hungry.
``Once they asked me to be a part of it again, it was like a new life. I wanted to go over and redeem myself. It's organized better now.
``In 2004, they just called me and LeBron [ James] and Amare [ Stoudemire] together and asked us to be a part of it. We didn't know what to expect and we came late. Me and LeBron were rookies. Amare was in his second year. But now that we've been through it, we feel we are the veterans and have to take that role."
---------------------
...sounds like Larry was doing more than getting Donnie's coffee, fluffing his pillow, and polishing his shoes...
(The only part that is news is bolded)
BASKETBALL NOTES
Harrington took the long way home
By Shira Springer | August 27, 2006
The completion of the Al Harrington-to-Indiana sign-and-trade last week demonstrated, once again, the strange ways NBA teams do business. Even before a disappointing first-round loss to the Nets in the playoffs, Pacers CEO/president Donnie Walsh and president of basketball operations Larry Bird were intent upon retooling the team. In an offseason that has featured the addition of 11 players, the acquisition of Harrington was the big one.
The Pacers wanted Harrington, and Harrington wanted back on the Pacers after two seasons in the NBA Siberia that is the Atlanta Hawks. It just took longer than expected -- almost two months longer -- for everyone to get what they wanted.
In a press conference to reintroduce the big man to the Indiana faithful, Bird called Harrington ``a fit that's really going to take us to the next level." The New Jersey-raised Harrington talked about how happy his family was to have him ``back home."
``I'm just happy to be back, to finally get to winning again," said Harrington. ``What was it, 39 [wins] in two years is no fun. I'm happy we can get back to not only just the playoffs but to talk about competing for a championship, so I'm very excited about that. I guess at the end of the day, I feel like I should've never left."
That was an obvious conclusion, given how difficult it was for Harrington to return. A week before the deal went through, Harrington told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that his return to Indiana ``doesn't look like it's going to happen" and that ``there comes a time when you have to move on and find a place where you are wanted." Those statements came after the deal had been in limbo for weeks, awaiting the approval of Pacers ownership.
As negotiations started and stopped and started and stopped, Harrington switched agents and eventually agreed to a shorter-term deal than he believed he deserved. He signed for four years and approximately $40 million (the final year is a player option).
``I learned a lot about the business this time around," said Harrington. ``I thought free agency would be a lot more fun. I don't think I ever want to go through free agency again. I was going to ask Larry for an extension right now so I don't have to go through this again."
When asked if he worried the deal wouldn't get done, Bird said, ``We were dealing with a lot of different people. Al switched agents, was dealing with Atlanta. The first go-round, we thought Atlanta was asking too much, so after talking to them a couple weeks, with the involvement of our owner, they came off a lot of what they were asking for so we got it back going. Then Al was wanting a longer term. At this time, we didn't feel like we could do that. When it was all said and done, Al agreed to come, and that's the important thing."
Now the Pacers can continue remaking a team that will be decidedly different from those of the recent past, despite adding a player from that past.
Tricks of the trades
While calls continue to go out from the Celtics to NBA executives, the same cannot be said of intriguing trade offers coming the other way. Chances are, the opening night roster will be some combination of the 17 players already under fully or partially guaranteed contracts.
Training camp officially starts Oct. 3, giving Danny Ainge about six weeks to make a significant move if the team is to develop enough chemistry to make the most of its favorable early-season schedule. But he will not rush into a deal because some real or perceived deadline looms.
``I've been active and trying to get things done," said Ainge. ``I'm not going to do a deal just to do a deal. I'm only going to do good deals. I've offered deals I would do, but I haven't found any takers yet. That's not that surprising because what we're trying to do is not that easy."
Ainge acknowledges the Celtics ``don't have the perfect mix yet," though he likes each player on the roster. Executives around the league don't necessarily share Ainge's confidence about the quality of the Boston roster. A very unscientific poll indicates that other executives believe guys like Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Tony Allen, Kendrick Perkins, and Gerald Green would be good rotation players, but not starters. Ainge unapologetically admits he places a higher value than most on the Celtics' younger players.
``Most of our young players, I probably value them more than others do because I know more about them, because I see them every day," he said. ``I see them in the summer. I know their personalities. Sebastian Telfair, Rajon Rondo, Delonte West, Tony Allen, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins -- that's eight guys under the age of 24. I project every one of those guys as an NBA starter. In the right setting, all of those guys are NBA starters talentwise."
But even if other teams do place a high value on guys like Jefferson, West, Allen, Perkins, and Green et al, there are deal-making obstacles. First and foremost, the relatively low salaries for Jefferson ($1.6 million), West ($1.1 million), Perkins ($1.7 million), Allen ($1 million), Green ($1.3 million), and the other kids make it difficult for the numbers to work, especially when Ainge seems reluctant to part with young talent without receiving an established veteran in return. Any deal would likely involve a third party or Ainge persuading a team to take a player it doesn't want (think Brian Grant). Also, some of the young players remain largely unproven on the court, a result of injuries and other circumstances.
Guard for hire
Kenny Anderson wishes NBA teams could publish ``help wanted" ads. The veteran point guard, who last played in the league for the Clippers in the 2004-05 season and spent last year competing in Lithuania, wants to return to the NBA. He just can't figure out why no teams have expressed interest.
``Sometimes I'm like, `Maybe I've played enough,' " said Anderson. ``Then, there's days when I work out and I want that team environment.
``I just need that opportunity. I'm in shape. I haven't had any major injuries. I'm young, only 35. I didn't want to retire at 34 or 35. I've still got that hunger. I want to be 100 percent sure that I can't help a team when I finish, and I'm not there yet.
``I don't know why I'm not getting a harder look. I think everybody knows I know how to run a team. I'm not going to be a cancer on a team. I've always been a good leader. Why doesn't somebody say, `Hey, why not bring Kenny into camp?' "
To make sure he is ready if a call comes, Anderson trains four days a week near his home in Fort Lauderdale. Occasionally, Penny Hardaway joins him for workouts.
If the NBA doesn't work out, Anderson will be in shape to play overseas, preferably in Italy or Spain. When his competitive days are finally done, Anderson would like to coach at the college level.
``I really want to be around the game," said Anderson. ``[College] is where I want to coach at. You're more than a coach to [college players]. I'm willing to do that for 5-10 years trying to become a head coach."
Humble and hungry
Proving that even a little international experience can go a long way, Carmelo Anthony is second on Team USA in scoring with 19.6 points per game through the preliminary round at the World Championships, including a 35-point game versus Italy. Anthony used the disappointment of a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics as motivation.
``I was disappointed and embarrassed at the same time to play the way we did," said Anthony. ``We played like we didn't really want to be there at that time and that we were better than anyone else. We realize we can't do that anymore. We have to be humble but we also have to be hungry.
``Once they asked me to be a part of it again, it was like a new life. I wanted to go over and redeem myself. It's organized better now.
``In 2004, they just called me and LeBron [ James] and Amare [ Stoudemire] together and asked us to be a part of it. We didn't know what to expect and we came late. Me and LeBron were rookies. Amare was in his second year. But now that we've been through it, we feel we are the veterans and have to take that role."
---------------------
...sounds like Larry was doing more than getting Donnie's coffee, fluffing his pillow, and polishing his shoes...
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