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CTKnicksfan
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http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/249636p-213784c.html
Sources: Zo wants buyout
Doubts Nets can win ring
BY OHM YOUNGMISUK
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Alonzo Mourning hints at wanting to join Shaquille O'Neal and Miami Heat.
CHICAGO - Obsessed with winning a championship, Alonzo Mourning has been trying to negotiate a buyout with the Nets to join a team with a better chance of winning a title, according to four league sources.
However, both parties are millions apart from coming to an agreement. Mourning has more than $17 million and three years left on a fully guaranteed contract. Two sources said Mourning would be willing to give up perhaps a few million knowing that if he were set free, he likely would command only the 10-year veteran's minimum of $1.1 million for one season from any other team.
No team is willing to risk any more money on a 34-year-old center who underwent kidney transplant surgery last December. And that is the reason why a trade is unlikely. Mourning might even be willing to do a buyout similar to the one Eddie Robinson agreed to with the Bulls for $10.5 million of the $14.1 million remaining on Robinson's contract.
The Nets, however, would buy Mourning out only if the center was willing to surrender millions more, according to three sources.
After signing Mourning to a four-year contract worth $22.6 million two summers ago when other teams were afraid of his deteriorating kidney condition, the Nets don't see any reason why they should pay him to play for somebody else. The Nets did just that with Dikembe Mutombo, buying out Mourning's pal last preseason for $27 million of the $37 million remaining on his contract.
However, the Nets do have some incentive for buying out Mourning. Besides the fact that Mourning consistently has criticized management and ownership's offseason moves, the Nets can rid themselves of further risk with Mourning's health.
If Mourning plays more than 10 games this season and then suffers a rejection of his new organ (Mourning says there is a 30% chance of that for transplant patients) or an injury in the future, the Nets are not eligible to take his salary off their cap next summer, according to a league source.
After Wednesday's loss to the Heat, Mourning said he was uncertain about how long he would be a Net. While president Rod Thorn could not be reached about a buyout, he was asked earlier yesterday about Mourning's postgame comments.
"To speculate on who may be (here) or who may not be is an exercise in futility," Thorn said. "We expect him to be here, but you never know."
Mourning's agent, Jeff Wechsler, did not return phone calls. Mourning also could not be reached as he traveled with the team to Chicago last night.
"They are going to pay him the money either way," one source said. "After 10 games, he is on the cap forever."
While Mourning's contract is guaranteed, the Nets were hoping that he would not attempt a comeback so they could take his salary off the cap.
"They were hoping that he would quit," one team source said. "But let's look at the list of things that he has quit in his life. After having surgery, people said (his basketball career) should be over. Did he quit? No."
Mourning, who was cleared by doctors to play, wants to win a championship so badly that he returned to basketball despite the objections of his family and friends.
However, Mourning - one of the most charitable players in the league - is not willing to give up several million dollars to leave the Nets because of his health.
Mourning has said that the longest a transplant patient has survived after surgery is "38, 39 years." There is a chance that the kidney disease he was diagnosed with in 2000 (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis) can afflict his new organ as well.
Mourning looked good in his return, scoring seven points and grabbing five rebounds in 14 foul-plagued minutes against Miami. He can help the undersized Nets this season. And the Nets have been happy to help Mourning raise awareness and funds for kidney research, even donating $25,000 to "Zo's Fund for Life" on Wednesday.
But the Nets aren't contending for a championship anytime soon. And that is why Mourning would like to part ways now. After the Nets' 100-77 loss to Miami, Mourning talked at length about how his old team could use a capable backup for Shaquille O'Neal.
When asked if Miami could use Mourning, the center replied: "I'm not saying that. You said that. All I know is they are a team that is extremely vulnerable."
"I'm still extremely optimistic of the chances of the team (Nets)," added Mourning, who still has a home in Miami. "But I don't know where my tenure lies here. I really don't, to tell you the truth. Time will dictate all that."
DONE DEAL: The Nets and Lawrence Frank finalized his contract extension yesterday, which is believed to be for four years and $10 million.
"This is a great day for us," Thorn said.
Yesterday's announcement was reflective of Frank's low-key character. He negotiated the extension without an agent, and his wife didn't attend the news conference.
"I'm extremely grateful for what the organization has done for me, but I don't like to make it bigger than it really is," Frank said. "The focus shouldn't be on me."
Darren Everson
Originally published on November 5, 2004
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...yea, and zeke would get gm of the decade....lol
10/31/2004 11:34 AM