This was no April Fools' joke.
The timing was a surprise -- who cuts a guaranteed contract with nine games left in the season? -- but Kareem Rush's divorce from the Charlotte Bobcats was inevitable. The Bobcats released him Saturday, issuing a brief press release that included this cutting comment from coach-general manager Bernie Bickerstaff:
"The Bobcats are about two things -- hard work and maximum effort. With that in mind, we think that it is best to go in a different direction with Kareem.''
NBA teams don't typically take parting shots at their players. When I asked Bickerstaff to expand on that quote, he offered a bit more perspective:
"The young man has an abundance of talent, and I hope he realizes that.''
Three times in the past six weeks, I asked Rush what he thought of his future here. He was playing under a one-year contract, worth $3 million, with a team option beyond this season.
Each time Rush would respond with a detached shrug, and say he anticipated employment somewhere in the NBA next season, however it worked out.
I'm convinced that trait -- detachment -- doomed Rush here. Rush is a nice guy -- there's nothing malicious or mean-spirited in his personality -- but he left you thinking basketball was his job, not his passion.
Rush disputed that perception in an e-mail to the Observer Saturday night: "As for my work ethic being questioned, I feel people mistake my calm demeanor for a lack of effort, which is not the case."
When Bickerstaff was hired, he said the one thing he'd demand from his players was passion for their work. They'd inevitably be inferior in talent and experience most nights, so they had to try harder.
Generally, the Bobcats live by that standard. Gerald Wallace frequently crashes headfirst into the stands, chasing after loose balls.
Raymond Felton played two days after a car accident that would have left the rest of us sipping chicken soup under a soft down comforter.
Rush isn't a crash-into-walls kind of guy. But he had skills -- the ability to create and make a jump shot with the 24-second clock dying -- that the Bobcats severely lacked when Bickerstaff acquired him last season.
Bickerstaff cut a player of some use (Eddie House) to make room for Rush and sent two second-round picks to the Los Angeles Lakers to complete the transaction.
From then on, Rush was the closest thing the Bobcats had to a golden child. Miss shots? He still played. Hurt a lot? He still played. Poor shape entering training camp? He still played.
I asked Bickerstaff on Saturday why Rush ultimately failed here. Again, the coach's reply was brief.
"It's probably my fault,'' Bickerstaff said.
An attempt at translation: Bickerstaff indulged Rush long enough that the shooting guard must have felt he'd get an endless supply of second chances.
Saturday, the second-chance well ran dry.
