www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2008/01/27/second_chance_points?mode=PFSecond-chance points?
Drug violator takes shot at reinstatement
By Peter May | January 27, 2008
On the night of Jan. 25, 2006, before a capacity crowd at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, the San Antonio Spurs cruised past the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, 84-68, a game utterly unremarkable save for one item that was not known at the time: It would be the Hornets' Chris Andersen's last game for at least two years.
Andersen played the type of game for which he had become well-known and reasonably well-compensated by NBA standards ($13 million over four years), accumulating 5 rebounds, 4 blocked shots, and 2 steals in 16 minutes off the bench. He had 1 point, missing all three of his field goal attempts and five of his six free throws. That season, his fifth in the NBA, he was averaging 5 points and 4.8 rebounds a game.
Two days later, Andersen was dismissed from the NBA for violating the league's drug policy. Under the terms of the policy, Andersen lost his contract (he was into the first year of the $13 million deal) and could not apply for reinstatement for two years. Tomorrow, a day after the two-year anniversary of his dismissal, the papers for his reinstatement will be delivered to both the NBA and the NBA Players Association. And Andersen, who is still only 29, will then wait to see what his fate will be.
Andersen has been working out diligently in Las Vegas and Denver, and has hardly been a wallflower while serving the suspension. He has attended several Nuggets games and at least one Hornets game this season. He completed a rehabilitation program in Malibu, Calif., and has said he hasn't had a drink or taken drugs since the suspension. He also developed a friendship with Kevin Garnett while working out in Las Vegas.
Andersen was the first player to be suspended under the drug program since Stanley Roberts in 1999 and is the first to file for reinstatement since Roy Tarpley, who was banned in 1995. Tarpley's request was denied, so Andersen could be the first to be suspended and then return and contribute.
Andersen's agent, Steven Heuman, confirmed by phone from Israel that the reinstatement papers will be submitted tomorrow and he is hoping for a quick (and favorable) decision. According to the CBA, what the league and Players Association decide is binding and cannot be appealed.
There's no denying Andersen's appeal and popularity among fans and teammates. The player universally known as "Birdman" has a Varejao-esque game, with the requisite amount of energy, athleticism, and enthusiasm. Said former teammate Andre Miller, "He brought a lot of energy to the game and he's a good guy to be around. He's going to get a second chance to prove himself and I know he's prepared.
"He'll be good for a team that's looking for a guy who can bring energy, athleticism, rebounding, hustle, and get the crowd involved. That's what he did when we played together in Denver."
The Hornets have the first crack at Andersen once his application is approved. They have 30 days in which to make an offer, and if they do, it will have to be no less than a one-year offer, prorated, for the same amount Andersen was making in 2005-06 (roughly $3.5 million).
The big issue is when that 30-day period begins. If the Hornets choose not to make an offer, then Andersen becomes an unrestricted free agent, whereupon all teams would have a crack at him and could use whatever exceptions they have. Realistically, if it comes to that, Andersen is looking at a veteran minimum offer, prorated, which works out to around $600,000.
The Hornets aren't tipping their hand. They do have roster space, and the money they would give to Andersen would not put them into Luxury Tax Land. It has generally been assumed that the Hornets will take a pass on Andersen, but with their surprising success this season, maybe they feel he can help. And he's an undeniable asset.
"We wish Chris the best of luck in his application for reinstatement to the league," Hornets GM Jeff Bower said in a statement. "We will monitor the process that is set forth by the NBA, but will have no further comment until their decision has been made."
For Andersen, that decision can't come soon enough.
Calling up the reserves
The starters for the All-Star Game were announced Thursday, the only real surprise being when the California returns came in and Allen Iverson had overtaken Tracy McGrady for a starting guard spot in the West. T-Mac had talked about staying home and resting up. With Iverson passing him, he may not have a choice. As Doc Rivers said, "I'm glad I don't have to vote in the West."
There are a number of terrific guards who will be victims of the numbers game, as well as a big man or two. The only real intrigue in the East is whether Ray Allen can get enough love from the coaches to make an eighth All-Star appearance. The reserves, selected by the coaches, will be announced this Thursday, but we always like to give them a little encouragement and wisdom to ease the burdensome process.
EASTERN CONFERENCE: Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Caron Butler, Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Antawn Jamison, Allen.
Explanation: It's pretty much a lock that Shaquille O'Neal's string of 12 straight All-Star selections is kaput. So, too, for Vince Carter, who has been chosen to play every year since entering the NBA in 1998. (He, like Shaq, missed one because of injury.) The Nets/Heat are just too disappointing/awful to warrant two players. Butler has been a beast for the Wizards in the absence of Gilbert Arenas, but, so, too, has the solid Jamison, who leads Eastern Conference forwards in rebounding and is second in double-doubles. He's one of five 20-10 guys in the league. Billups and Hamilton get the nod to represent the Pistons, who also are deserving of two players. That leaves Allen, who may not be having his best statistical year but has been critical to the Celtics' success. He gets the nod over the likes of Joe Johnson, Richard Jefferson, and Orlando surprise Hedo Turkoglu. (Disclosure: This was written before Allen's horrible game Friday night.)
WESTERN CONFERENCE: Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, Carlos Boozer, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Brandon Roy, Manu Ginobili.
Explanation: How do you keep Baron Davis off the team? Or Deron Williams? Or Marcus Camby (can't have three Nuggets; they're not that good). Or Tyson Chandler? The easiest picks are the first five, especially Paul, who should be starting given the year he's having (and the Hornets are having). I have to give Roy a slot, even though his age may work against him with the coaches, who tend to be fuddy-duddies in these kinds of things. But someone has to represent Portland; the Trail Blazers are a wonderful story and Roy is their undeniable leader (with LaMarcus Aldridge right there riding shotgun). Ginobili gets the final spot because he is well on his way to winning the Sixth Man Award and is crucial to the Spurs' success. He's having a better year than Tony Parker (although Parker had a better summer because he married Eva Longoria). Josh Howard might get some support as the most consistent Maverick this season. Chandler and even David West might get strong consideration as well; the Hornets had the conference's best record heading into yesterday's games. And in the West, that's saying something.
Etc.
Singing his praises
Each year, enterprising marketing folks for various NBA teams send out information touting their players for selection to the All-Star team. (Why they send them to writers is beyond me. We don't vote, and the next coach who says he listens to what the writers say will be the first one.) Occasionally, the information is cleverly packaged, but the Trail Blazers lapped the field this year by sending out iPod Nanos with 10 pictures of Brandon Roy with four accompanying songs. The Blazers sent one to each coach in the Western Conference (somehow, I'm having trouble picturing Jerry Sloan with one) and some more to various writers. It would cost you $149 at the Apple Store to buy the Nano in question.
Passage to India
It's all about the rupee. Or, that's sure what it looks like from a distance. The NBA announced this past week that it is taking its Basketball Without Borders campaign to India. It'd be a stretch to call India a basketball hotbed, even with its huge population. The big sport in the subcontinent is cricket, with field hockey second. FIBA, the world's governing body for basketball, ranks India's national team at a Duncan Hunter-esque 46th in the world, tied with Syria, and behind such titans as Iraq, Taipei, Tunisia, Kazakhstan, and Jordan. But during the visit to India next July NBA players will instruct many of the young players in Asia (not just India) not only in basketball, but in education and healthy living choices. Bollyball anyone?
Jordan's rules
Doc Rivers made only one appearance in an NBA All-Star Game as a player, having been a coach's selection for the 1988 game in Chicago, which happened to coincide with some of the most brutally cold weather in the history of that great city. "All I can remember from that weekend, other than the cold, was that Jordan was ticked off at halftime," Rivers recalled, referring to, ahem, Michael Jordan. "He didn't want to lose in his own building and he went off because guys were screwing around. So he gave a talk and said, 'If you guys want to have some fun' - then he looked at [coach] Mike [ Fratello] and said, 'put somebody else in. Because I'm not losing in this building.' " Jordan went on to score 40 points (in 29 minutes) and left the old Chicago Stadium a happy fellow because the East emerged victorious, 138-133. Rivers came off the bench for the East (as did Danny Ainge, who hoisted 11 shots in 12 minutes) and finished with 9 points and 6 assists in 16 minutes. He also missed 6 of 11 free throws.
Avert your eyes
As if the nightly beatings and the plummet in the standings aren't enough for the poor Miami Heat, now the NBA television weenies have turned on the 2006 champions as well. You know things aren't going well when the directive from the league office arrives informing you of a change in starting times because the networks no longer want you. (Conversely, you know things are going well when you get the same message and the networks suddenly can't do without you.) The Heat got whacked twice this past week, with two games (against the Nets and Wizards) taken off ESPN. Expect to see further moves as the season winds down (like, possibly, the March 26 ESPN game against the Knicks). ABC kicks off its Sunday coverage today, and the Heat are scheduled for four appearances on that network. Those things can be changed as well, as the Celtics discovered last year.
Tough criticism of Mavericks
This Thursday, the Celtics will finally play one of the real powers in the West when the Mavericks make their only Boston appearance. The Mavs are once again among the top teams in the Western Conference, but ever since back-to-back playoff collapses (Miami, Golden State), Dallas has been fighting the perception that it isn't tough enough to go all the way. (The Mavericks, naturally, dismiss such talk.) Last Thursday, Magic Johnson delivered a zinger on TNT when he said, "The toughest thing with Dallas is they are not mentally tough. That's why they can't win." Ouch. Charles Barkley, for what it's worth, has been urging the Mavericks to make a trade if they want to win anything. The Mavs have been only a so-so team on the road, splitting their first 20 games, and winning on the road has been a trademark of theirs in the last two years. (They were 31-10 on the road last year and 26-15 the year before.)
Newspaper Clippings
The gloves are off in Los Angeles, but it's not the usual suspects who are doing the fighting. It's Clippers owner Donald Sterling and his coach, Mike Dunleavy, who are squaring off, verbally of course, on the pages of the Los Angeles Times. (Owners always win these, but coaches usually leave with their wallets padded, and Dunleavy will be no exception.) The Donald, who a few years back swore under oath in a deposition that he never intervened in basketball matters, suggested that Dunleavy and GM Elgin Baylor weren't doing their jobs well enough and that changes might be in the offing. Dunleavy shot back, saying firing him "would be the biggest mistake you ever made." Hmm. I think not. Dunleavy obviously needs a crash course in Clipperology 101. Sterling also said he thought the Clippers were a player away from making a splash, if not a playoff appearance. Dunleavy said unless that player was Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, forget about it. "I would only make deals to help our future - anything else is suicide," Dunleavy told the Times. "Anything else and you become the New York Knicks." Finally - a man talking some sense.
