Heat's on for Mourning
Traded Nets center appears to be headed for Miami
Saturday, December 18, 2004 BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO
Star-Ledger Staff
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- As it turns out, Alonzo Mourning may be getting exactly what he wants -- a chance to play for a ring, in a comfortable environment.
Though it wasn't confirmed by any of the principals, an Eastern Conference general manager said last night that the former Nets center -- traded to Toronto in the Vince Carter deal yesterday -- is going to be redirected to the Miami Heat, the team he put on the map through the first 12 years of his career.
It was unclear if Mourning would receive a buyout from Toronto and then join Miami as a free agent, or if he would be moved in a follow-up trade for a Heat player who earns something in the neighborhood of Mourning's $5.4 million salary.
The first trade, both the Nets and Raptors said, was even made on the condition that Mourning's physical would be waived.
"We did this trade understanding that his medical condition may mean he never plays for us," Toronto GM Rob Babcock said. "We would do this trade regardless of whether he was in it or not. He was in it to try and balance the trade out and he's a great player, and it's our feeling that if he doesn't play for us it still is a great trade. If he does play for us, then it's a huge bonus."
But nobody expects that to happen. Not even the guy who traded Mourning.
"That was one of the things talked about during the negotiations," Rod Thorn said of waiving the physical requirement. "There's a chance he might not want to go there. But this trade is not contingent on whether he wants to go there."
Mourning, who had sought a buyout from the Nets during the preseason so that he could pursue another job with a contender, probably will negotiate his release from Toronto shortly. Otherwise, Lawrence Frank's remarks about their conversation are nonsensical.
"Alonzo was very appreciative," the coach said, more than once, without elaboration -- probably because Mourning had a deal in place to join forces with Shaquille O'Neal.
And while Frank appreciated the center's extraordinary commitment to the game, management was happy to be rid of him. One front office member was blunt: "He's Toronto's headache now," he said.
And Thorn, who gave Mourning a $22.6 million contract prior to the 2003-04 season -- only to have him play just 30 games in two seasons -- sounded relieved.
"With Alonzo, it just didn't work out," the team president said. "He wanted to be elsewhere. He had some good moments for us this year ... but he just wasn't happy here, and he obviously wanted to be someplace else. And now he gets that opportunity. I want to wish him well."
The Nets were actually more upset, however, with the loss of Eric Williams, who became indispensable as their starting forward this season. And Williams, who had signed a three-year deal to play in his native state, was crushed when informed of the deal in mid-afternoon, because he'll be separated from his 9-year-old son.
"I'm the one guy who loves New Jersey -- I had waited my whole career for this," said Williams, who watched the Nets' game against the Grizzlies as a spectator last night because he didn't want to sit around the team's hotel.
"It was the same time last year, going from Boston to Cleveland. And now I'm leaving the country. I really thought I had stability, you know? At least for three years, anyway. But that's the business, I guess. I'm not bigger than the game.
Traded Nets center appears to be headed for Miami
Saturday, December 18, 2004 BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO
Star-Ledger Staff
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- As it turns out, Alonzo Mourning may be getting exactly what he wants -- a chance to play for a ring, in a comfortable environment.
Though it wasn't confirmed by any of the principals, an Eastern Conference general manager said last night that the former Nets center -- traded to Toronto in the Vince Carter deal yesterday -- is going to be redirected to the Miami Heat, the team he put on the map through the first 12 years of his career.
It was unclear if Mourning would receive a buyout from Toronto and then join Miami as a free agent, or if he would be moved in a follow-up trade for a Heat player who earns something in the neighborhood of Mourning's $5.4 million salary.
The first trade, both the Nets and Raptors said, was even made on the condition that Mourning's physical would be waived.
"We did this trade understanding that his medical condition may mean he never plays for us," Toronto GM Rob Babcock said. "We would do this trade regardless of whether he was in it or not. He was in it to try and balance the trade out and he's a great player, and it's our feeling that if he doesn't play for us it still is a great trade. If he does play for us, then it's a huge bonus."
But nobody expects that to happen. Not even the guy who traded Mourning.
"That was one of the things talked about during the negotiations," Rod Thorn said of waiving the physical requirement. "There's a chance he might not want to go there. But this trade is not contingent on whether he wants to go there."
Mourning, who had sought a buyout from the Nets during the preseason so that he could pursue another job with a contender, probably will negotiate his release from Toronto shortly. Otherwise, Lawrence Frank's remarks about their conversation are nonsensical.
"Alonzo was very appreciative," the coach said, more than once, without elaboration -- probably because Mourning had a deal in place to join forces with Shaquille O'Neal.
And while Frank appreciated the center's extraordinary commitment to the game, management was happy to be rid of him. One front office member was blunt: "He's Toronto's headache now," he said.
And Thorn, who gave Mourning a $22.6 million contract prior to the 2003-04 season -- only to have him play just 30 games in two seasons -- sounded relieved.
"With Alonzo, it just didn't work out," the team president said. "He wanted to be elsewhere. He had some good moments for us this year ... but he just wasn't happy here, and he obviously wanted to be someplace else. And now he gets that opportunity. I want to wish him well."
The Nets were actually more upset, however, with the loss of Eric Williams, who became indispensable as their starting forward this season. And Williams, who had signed a three-year deal to play in his native state, was crushed when informed of the deal in mid-afternoon, because he'll be separated from his 9-year-old son.
"I'm the one guy who loves New Jersey -- I had waited my whole career for this," said Williams, who watched the Nets' game against the Grizzlies as a spectator last night because he didn't want to sit around the team's hotel.
"It was the same time last year, going from Boston to Cleveland. And now I'm leaving the country. I really thought I had stability, you know? At least for three years, anyway. But that's the business, I guess. I'm not bigger than the game.
