What happened to that guy? Read all about it
<!-- end pagetitle --><!-- begin bylinebox -->
<!-- firstName = Chris --><!-- lastName = Sheridan -->
By Chris Sheridan
ESPN Insider
Archive
<!-- begin presby2 -->
<!-- end presby2 -->
<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div -->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->Latrell Sprewell is not the only one with a family to feed but with no NBA paycheck to buy the groceries.
There's also a 6-foot-7 forward with nearly 700 career 3-pointers driving dump trucks in North Carolina, a 34-year-old sharpshooter knocking down buckets in his Alabama driveway, and a six-time All-Star trying to knock off a few more pounds after melting 55 away already.
Not to mention about 25 other name guys on the loose.
Here is a look at the free agents still out on the market, what they've been up to and where they stand in terms of regaining employment in the NBA (along with an update on a few of the far-flung places some ex-NBA players have surfaced):
<OFFER>
Sprewell: There still hasn't been a public word spoken since the end of last season by the 13-year veteran, who turned down a three-year, $21 million extension from Minnesota, making the now infamous comment that he had "a family to feed."
His representative, Robert Gist, is no longer listed as Sprewell's agent of record, and his publicist said Spree has been unwilling to speak on the record because writers always twist his words and use them against him.
Miami is the only team with enough of its midlevel exception remaining to offer Sprewell anything resembling what he believes he's worth, but the Heat have maintained they're not interested.
The Wolves can still do a sign-and-trade, but there would first have to be a team willing to give Sprewell a three-year contract -- the minimum for sign-and-trades.
At this point, the most likely scenario appears to have Sprewell sitting out until late February or early March, then becoming a hired gun -- probably an underpaid one, at least in his opinion -- for a playoff-bound team.
Rodney Rogers: Last seen hoisting 76 3-pointers for the 76ers last season, Rogers is running his construction company in Durham, N.C., while beginning to put in a few workouts in an effort to shed the excess weight he added over the summer.
"Our goal is to have him with a team by late December, early January," agent Butch Williams said.
Wesley Person: Having played for five teams over the past two seasons, Chuck's younger brother is back in Brantley, Ala., waiting for a team seeking a shooter to call.
Agent Herb Rudoy said he expects the phone to start ringing after Dec. 15, the date players who signed over the summer become eligible to be traded.
George Lynch: After being waived by the Hornets earlier this season, the 35-year-old forward and 12-year veteran was hoping to be signed by Dallas before the Mavs settled instead on Adrian Griffin.
"He can still defend, still play three positions. At this point in his career, he's trying to help a good team win," agent Steve Kaufman said.
Darvin Ham: Darvin the Dunker was last spotted at the NBA Finals, logging a total of 11 minutes in five games for the Pistons and grabbing three offensive rebounds.
Word around the league is that Philadelphia might be interested in becoming Ham's seventh team in nine seasons.
Dajuan Wagner: There was a sighting of the former prep phenom (who once scored 100 points in a high school game, lest we forget) at a Memphis-Duke game at Madison Square Garden during the NIT, but NBA teams aren't biting on a player who shot 32 percent in 11 games for Cleveland last season, even if he was the sixth pick in the draft just three years ago.
Jay Williams: After working out for the Rockets, Heat, Hawks and Raptors, Williams decided he wasn't yet ready to come back from his near-fatal motorcycle crash.
He's now in Los Angeles trying to strengthen his left leg, according to agent Kevin Bradbury, and he plans to reassess his options some time around Jan. 1.
Ron Mercer: The Nets' amnesty cut over the summer, he underwent knee surgery with Dr. James Andrews three weeks ago -- his second such procedure in the past year.
"People have inquired and I've told them he's had to have the surgery done first to get things correct," agent Andy Miller said.
Andrew DeClercq: The 10-year veteran was cleared Friday to resume full workouts after he underwent knee surgery. A big body with experience, there will undoubtedly be a job for the former Gator somewhere by the end of January.
Shawn Kemp: The Reign Man has reportedly shed 55 pounds in his effort to make a comeback 2½ years after he logged his last NBA minute for the Orlando Magic. A report over the weekend said Toronto and Denver were interested, but Raptors GM Rob Babcock said the 36-year-old is not a fit for a 1-14 team on a youth movement.
Christian Laettner: The last active member of the 1992 Dream Team is living comfortably in Florida, and it's anyone's guess as to whether he still has the desire to play professional ball.
"Several teams have inquired. It's a question of what he wants to do," agent Lon Babby said.
Rodney White: The ninth pick of the 2001 draft was cut by the Clippers at the end of training camp. He averaged 8.8 points and 17.0 minutes for Los Angeles in eight preseason games.
Marcus Fizer: Had 21 points and nine rebounds and then 15 points and seven rebounds in his first two games for the Austin Toros of the NBDL, which also is the current home of former NBA players Cezary Trybanski, Andre Barrett, Andre Emmett and Theron Smith.
Glenn Robinson: The first overall pick of the 1994 draft, who made a cameo for the Spurs at the end of last season, is home in Atlanta.
Agent Charles Tucker said four teams have called to inquire over the past month, and added, "He's ready to go, his mind is right and he's ready to move forward."
Clarence Weatherspoon: Unemployed since the Rockets made him their amnesty cut over the summer, Spoon is working out in Houston with John Lucas. Agent Jimmy Sexton said two or three teams have made preliminary inquiries, but nothing serious.
Jermaine Jackson: A victim of the numbers game in Chicago after being sent from the Knicks to the Bulls in the Eddy Curry trade. "He'll end up doing what he always does, hooking up with somebody," Kaufman said.
Qyntel Woods: Not a peep from the Staffordshire terrier fan since he was dumped by Boston on the first day of training camp.
Erick Strickland: Cut by the Mavericks in training camp, thought he might be headed to Milwaukee before the Jamaal Magloire trade went down. Still hoping to get a call.
Robert Traylor: A heart defect was discovered during a physical when Traylor was getting ready to sign with the Nets, and he underwent surgery last week to repair an enlarged aorta -- the same defect that afflicted Timberwolves guard Fred Hoiberg and Lakers draft pick Ronny Turiaf.
Travis Best: Unwilling to wait until midseason for an NBA team to call, he's plying his trade in Russia, where team owners are throwing money around the way the Greek teams did seven or eight years ago. One of Best's teammates on Unics is Lithuanian forward Saulius Stombergas, a player Spurs coach Gregg Popovich once compared to John Havlicek.
Vin Baker: Opened a restaurant (Vinnie's Saybrook Fish House) in Old Saybrook, Conn., Monday, but says he's open to the idea of returning to the NBA around the All-Star break, or next season. Reportedly agreed to a buyout of his contract with Houston, which would have paid him $3.5 million. He's still being paid $5.2 million by the Celtics.
Reggie Miller: Despite incessant chatter among Pacers fans that he'll return late in the season, Miller insists he's done. If he were to change his mind, he couldn't return to Indiana this season because it waived him under the amnesty rule.
Keon Clark: Back living in his hometown of Danville, Ill., he recently told the Toronto Star that the Pacers had called in October. But Clark said he has no interest in returning to the league, preferring to live comfortably off the money he banked during his six-year career.
Others: Not that we should expect to see them back in the NBA, but a few notable names playing in far-flung locations include Dickey Simpkins (Lebanon), Chris Herren (Iran), Ben Handlogten (South Korea), Gary Trent (Italy), Chris Morris (Jordan), Todd Day (Qatar), Chris Washburn (Switzerland) and Jelani McCoy (China).
Domestically, Rodney Buford is in the CBA with Sioux Falls, and former prep stars Lenny Cooke and Ronnie Fields are teammates on the Rockford Lightning.
Former Heat guard Tim Hardaway was Player of the Week in the ABA, where he is the player-coach for the Florida Pit Bulls. We can only hope he eventually gets a chance to play against Dennis Rodman and the Tijuana Dragons.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- end pagetitle --><!-- begin bylinebox -->
<!-- firstName = Chris --><!-- lastName = Sheridan -->
By Chris Sheridan
ESPN Insider
Archive
<!-- begin presby2 -->
<!-- end presby2 -->
<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div -->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->Latrell Sprewell is not the only one with a family to feed but with no NBA paycheck to buy the groceries.
There's also a 6-foot-7 forward with nearly 700 career 3-pointers driving dump trucks in North Carolina, a 34-year-old sharpshooter knocking down buckets in his Alabama driveway, and a six-time All-Star trying to knock off a few more pounds after melting 55 away already.
Not to mention about 25 other name guys on the loose.
Here is a look at the free agents still out on the market, what they've been up to and where they stand in terms of regaining employment in the NBA (along with an update on a few of the far-flung places some ex-NBA players have surfaced):
<OFFER>
Sprewell: There still hasn't been a public word spoken since the end of last season by the 13-year veteran, who turned down a three-year, $21 million extension from Minnesota, making the now infamous comment that he had "a family to feed."
His representative, Robert Gist, is no longer listed as Sprewell's agent of record, and his publicist said Spree has been unwilling to speak on the record because writers always twist his words and use them against him.
Miami is the only team with enough of its midlevel exception remaining to offer Sprewell anything resembling what he believes he's worth, but the Heat have maintained they're not interested.
The Wolves can still do a sign-and-trade, but there would first have to be a team willing to give Sprewell a three-year contract -- the minimum for sign-and-trades.
At this point, the most likely scenario appears to have Sprewell sitting out until late February or early March, then becoming a hired gun -- probably an underpaid one, at least in his opinion -- for a playoff-bound team.
Rodney Rogers: Last seen hoisting 76 3-pointers for the 76ers last season, Rogers is running his construction company in Durham, N.C., while beginning to put in a few workouts in an effort to shed the excess weight he added over the summer.
"Our goal is to have him with a team by late December, early January," agent Butch Williams said.
Wesley Person: Having played for five teams over the past two seasons, Chuck's younger brother is back in Brantley, Ala., waiting for a team seeking a shooter to call.
Agent Herb Rudoy said he expects the phone to start ringing after Dec. 15, the date players who signed over the summer become eligible to be traded.
George Lynch: After being waived by the Hornets earlier this season, the 35-year-old forward and 12-year veteran was hoping to be signed by Dallas before the Mavs settled instead on Adrian Griffin.
"He can still defend, still play three positions. At this point in his career, he's trying to help a good team win," agent Steve Kaufman said.
Darvin Ham: Darvin the Dunker was last spotted at the NBA Finals, logging a total of 11 minutes in five games for the Pistons and grabbing three offensive rebounds.
Word around the league is that Philadelphia might be interested in becoming Ham's seventh team in nine seasons.
Dajuan Wagner: There was a sighting of the former prep phenom (who once scored 100 points in a high school game, lest we forget) at a Memphis-Duke game at Madison Square Garden during the NIT, but NBA teams aren't biting on a player who shot 32 percent in 11 games for Cleveland last season, even if he was the sixth pick in the draft just three years ago.
Jay Williams: After working out for the Rockets, Heat, Hawks and Raptors, Williams decided he wasn't yet ready to come back from his near-fatal motorcycle crash.
He's now in Los Angeles trying to strengthen his left leg, according to agent Kevin Bradbury, and he plans to reassess his options some time around Jan. 1.
Ron Mercer: The Nets' amnesty cut over the summer, he underwent knee surgery with Dr. James Andrews three weeks ago -- his second such procedure in the past year.
"People have inquired and I've told them he's had to have the surgery done first to get things correct," agent Andy Miller said.
Andrew DeClercq: The 10-year veteran was cleared Friday to resume full workouts after he underwent knee surgery. A big body with experience, there will undoubtedly be a job for the former Gator somewhere by the end of January.
Shawn Kemp: The Reign Man has reportedly shed 55 pounds in his effort to make a comeback 2½ years after he logged his last NBA minute for the Orlando Magic. A report over the weekend said Toronto and Denver were interested, but Raptors GM Rob Babcock said the 36-year-old is not a fit for a 1-14 team on a youth movement.
Christian Laettner: The last active member of the 1992 Dream Team is living comfortably in Florida, and it's anyone's guess as to whether he still has the desire to play professional ball.
"Several teams have inquired. It's a question of what he wants to do," agent Lon Babby said.
Rodney White: The ninth pick of the 2001 draft was cut by the Clippers at the end of training camp. He averaged 8.8 points and 17.0 minutes for Los Angeles in eight preseason games.
Marcus Fizer: Had 21 points and nine rebounds and then 15 points and seven rebounds in his first two games for the Austin Toros of the NBDL, which also is the current home of former NBA players Cezary Trybanski, Andre Barrett, Andre Emmett and Theron Smith.
Glenn Robinson: The first overall pick of the 1994 draft, who made a cameo for the Spurs at the end of last season, is home in Atlanta.
Agent Charles Tucker said four teams have called to inquire over the past month, and added, "He's ready to go, his mind is right and he's ready to move forward."
Clarence Weatherspoon: Unemployed since the Rockets made him their amnesty cut over the summer, Spoon is working out in Houston with John Lucas. Agent Jimmy Sexton said two or three teams have made preliminary inquiries, but nothing serious.
Jermaine Jackson: A victim of the numbers game in Chicago after being sent from the Knicks to the Bulls in the Eddy Curry trade. "He'll end up doing what he always does, hooking up with somebody," Kaufman said.
Qyntel Woods: Not a peep from the Staffordshire terrier fan since he was dumped by Boston on the first day of training camp.
Erick Strickland: Cut by the Mavericks in training camp, thought he might be headed to Milwaukee before the Jamaal Magloire trade went down. Still hoping to get a call.
Robert Traylor: A heart defect was discovered during a physical when Traylor was getting ready to sign with the Nets, and he underwent surgery last week to repair an enlarged aorta -- the same defect that afflicted Timberwolves guard Fred Hoiberg and Lakers draft pick Ronny Turiaf.
Travis Best: Unwilling to wait until midseason for an NBA team to call, he's plying his trade in Russia, where team owners are throwing money around the way the Greek teams did seven or eight years ago. One of Best's teammates on Unics is Lithuanian forward Saulius Stombergas, a player Spurs coach Gregg Popovich once compared to John Havlicek.
Vin Baker: Opened a restaurant (Vinnie's Saybrook Fish House) in Old Saybrook, Conn., Monday, but says he's open to the idea of returning to the NBA around the All-Star break, or next season. Reportedly agreed to a buyout of his contract with Houston, which would have paid him $3.5 million. He's still being paid $5.2 million by the Celtics.
Reggie Miller: Despite incessant chatter among Pacers fans that he'll return late in the season, Miller insists he's done. If he were to change his mind, he couldn't return to Indiana this season because it waived him under the amnesty rule.
Keon Clark: Back living in his hometown of Danville, Ill., he recently told the Toronto Star that the Pacers had called in October. But Clark said he has no interest in returning to the league, preferring to live comfortably off the money he banked during his six-year career.
Others: Not that we should expect to see them back in the NBA, but a few notable names playing in far-flung locations include Dickey Simpkins (Lebanon), Chris Herren (Iran), Ben Handlogten (South Korea), Gary Trent (Italy), Chris Morris (Jordan), Todd Day (Qatar), Chris Washburn (Switzerland) and Jelani McCoy (China).
Domestically, Rodney Buford is in the CBA with Sioux Falls, and former prep stars Lenny Cooke and Ronnie Fields are teammates on the Rockford Lightning.
Former Heat guard Tim Hardaway was Player of the Week in the ABA, where he is the player-coach for the Florida Pit Bulls. We can only hope he eventually gets a chance to play against Dennis Rodman and the Tijuana Dragons.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
THanks for tje article, interesting stuff.
Keon Clark would be a valuable palyer for many teams. I guess he was just a tall athletic guy with pretty good skills that played basketball just because he was natural meant to play. But he really didn't like the game much.
Alos suprised no teams have taken the chance on Wagner, I would imagine Wags is too stubborn to even want to try to become more of a point gaurd type player or I'm sure some teams would ahve taken a chance with him.
Wouldn't mind seeing Spoon back in the league either, always liked that guy.
Keon Clark would be a valuable palyer for many teams. I guess he was just a tall athletic guy with pretty good skills that played basketball just because he was natural meant to play. But he really didn't like the game much.
Alos suprised no teams have taken the chance on Wagner, I would imagine Wags is too stubborn to even want to try to become more of a point gaurd type player or I'm sure some teams would ahve taken a chance with him.
Wouldn't mind seeing Spoon back in the league either, always liked that guy.
