[外電] Looking for an exit Unhappy Jaric meets with Taylor, wan
Looking for an exit Unhappy Jaric meets with Taylor, wants trade
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16456000.htm
Veteran guard Marko Jaric has told Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor he is
unhappy and wants to be traded.
Jaric met with Taylor at Target Center after Wednesday night's game against
the Los Angeles Clippers to discuss his role on the team and requested a
trade, according to a source close to the team.
Asked about Jaric's trade request, Taylor said through team spokesman Mike
Cristaldi, "That's not what we talked about." Taylor declined to elaborate on
the meeting.
Minnesota acquired Jaric in 2005, but his addition to the team hasn't
produced the relationship either side had hoped. The Wolves made a
significant commitment to Jaric when they acquired him. And Jaric has
expressed frustration with his role since he was replaced as the team's
starting point guard last season, his first with the team after he signed a
six-year, $38 million contract.
Caught in a logjam at guard this season, Jaric has been a reserve in all 31
games in which he has played. His average of 21.6 minutes a game is his
lowest since his rookie NBA season with the Clippers in 2002-03. That lack of
playing time has reflected on his statistics. He is averaging career lows of
5.7 points and 1.9 assists.
Less than two hours before Saturday night's game against the New Jersey Nets,
Jaric declined to comment. He did not play in the game because of a sprained
right thumb. Taylor didn't return a message left at his home. But Jaric's
agent, Bill Duffy, downplayed the seriousness of his client's conversation
with Taylor.
"I'm certain it was in a respectful tone and was received in a respectful
tone," Duffy said. "I think the basis of it was Marko was just curious with
his situation and he had a comfort level with Mr. Taylor. There was nothing
of an aggressive nature like that (a trade request). Obviously Marko is
frustrated. That's not a secret."
Jaric left the Clippers via a sign-and-trade deal to join the Wolves and be
their point guard of the future. The Wolves traded Sam Cassell and a
conditional first-round pick to the Clippers in exchange for Jaric.
Critics labeled the inclusion of the draft pick as a questionable move. It
became costlier in December, when Allen Iverson requested a trade and the
Philadelphia 76ers shipped him to Denver. The Sixers received Andre Miller,
Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round draft picks.
The Wolves, who were interested in acquiringIverson, didn't have the
necessary first-round draft picks to offer Philadelphia. The Clippers are
still waiting to receive theirs from Minnesota, and a subsequent
first-rounder was traded to Boston last January along with Wally Szczerbiak
in a multiplayer deal.
Minnesota, which also reportedly didn't want to trade rookie Randy Foye,
probably would have needed to get a third team involved in a trade to get
Iverson because the Sixers also wanted salary cap relief via the trade.
That's another issue with the Wolves' roster. Most of their guards are locked
into long-term contracts, which can hamper the team's ability to make trades.
If the Wolves move Jaric by the league's Feb. 23 trade deadline, Minnesota
would have to find a team to absorb the remaining four seasons on his deal
worth more than $27 million. He is making $5.5 million this season.
The Wolves said in training camp that Jaric could be used as a point guard,
shooting guard or small forward. But he has played mostly at small forward as
a defensive specialist who gets rebounds and steals. Occasionally, he has
been able to provide scoring punch as an alternate option within the flow of
the offense.
The Wolves acquired Foye on draft night 2006, and he quickly has become the
team's backup point guard behind starter Mike James. Foye is considered a key
building block and figures to garner more playing time as merited.
If shooting guard Rashad McCants returns from a knee injury this season,
playing time could be even more difficult to divide.
Before Jaric was replaced in the starting lineup last February, he was
shooting about 42 percent from the field and experienced difficulties at
times guarding shorter, quicker point guards.
The Wolves decided to make Marcus Banks the starter down the stretch in place
of Jaric. But Banks left via free agency this past summer, and the
organization signed James to a four-year deal to be the answer at point guard.
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