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A metta marquee moment
TweetJUST when you start wondering whether the NBL salary cap should include the provision for one marquee player outside of it and conclude “no”, Metta World Peace comes on the market.
If ever there was a case to follow the A-League’s marquee player formula, MWP makes it.
As you probably know, Metta was amnestied by the LA Lakers a few days ago. What that means is the franchise has released him but is obliged to pay him the $7.7 million of the last year of his contract and that is only compromised if he signs with another NBA team.
So far the NBA’s No.1 character – although Baron Davis’ alien story has him soaring up the “character charts” with a bullet – has tweeted he’s going to play for Yao Ming’s team in China, or the LA Kings, while various reports link him to New York Knicks and LA Clippers.
(Wow. Imagine listening in on Metta and Baron chatting on the Knicks bench. “Yeah, they probed me too man.”)
Point is though, right now if we had the marquee player/salary cap exemption, an NBL club could put together a deal that would have the former Ron Artest playing on courts around Australia and Auckland.
His personality and ability to grab headlines – plus he still has game – would make him invaluable as a marketable commodity for the NBL.
Every club would gain from his presence in the league and, you would think, the club he played for could counter the million-dollar costs of signing him through sponsorships, media deals, speaking engagements, clinics … use your imagination.
His presence wouldn’t harm the league’s cred either because, although his very best is in the rearview mirror, he is still an NBA level starter.
Won't happen, I know. Just saying if there was a marquee player cap exemption, then it could.
Meanwhile, speaking of the Lakers, Nick Young believes he should be pencilled in for Metta’s starting small forward spot in 2013-14.
Young, 28, averaged 17.4 points in 2010-11 and 16.6 points in 2011-12 for the Washington Wizards.
He has been a minor player since for the Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers and joined the Lakers on a one-year, $1.2 million contract.
“I'm still learning,'' Young said. He plans to learn as much as he can from his idol, Kobe Bryant.
Young will wear No.0 with the Lakers because he is starting “ from the bottom again”.
Friend Jordan Farmar also told him he plans to take back the No.1 singlet he previously wore with the Lakers, Young having worn #1 himself before arriving in LA.
Farmar is finalising a buyout with his former Turkish club Anadolu Efes and will join a backcourt that includes Steve Nash, Steve Blake, Jodie Meeks and Bryant.
Quick shots:
CHRIS Goulding saw 1:07 of action today for the Cavs in their 69-58 win over Memphis at the NBA Las Vegas summer league.
ERIN Phillips is back on the floor in the WNBA and had 12 points with three assists as Indiana Fever smacked New York Liberty 74-53.
JENNA O’Hea had seven points at 100 per cent and blocked a shot in 13:28 as LA Sparks saw off Phoenix Mercury 88-76.
PENNY Taylor had 10 points and three assists in 16:51 for the Mercury in that same WNBA outing, much like Phillips, still finding her way back from injury.
LIZZIE Cambage had 13 and eight for Tulsa as it lost 75-83 to Minnesota, Rachel Jarry hitting the court late for a handful of time.
BARON Davis has tweeted his story about alien abduction was a joke but many are suspecting if he wins a new NBA contract next season, he realised 41 road crowds would give him an out-of-body experience.
In case you forgot, here’s Baron playing his part at the NBA Slam Dunk competition with an assist to Blake Griffin when he was still an LA Clipper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yslwuACHNdM
AS expected, the SEABL today agreed the officials in the Knox-Mount Gambier game on Friday “got it wrong” by allowing Ben Allen’s post-siren basket to stand but could not rescind the officials’ decision. Word here is the umpires believed there was no pay for overtime…
GREG Vanderjagt is the last piece of the Crocodiles' puzzle, though Townsville is still awaiting official approval to add him to its 2013-14 roster: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/the-townsville-crocodiles-have-used-their-last-pick-to-secure-experienced-veteran-greg-vanderjagt/story-fnii0aj1-1226679690289
AUSTRALIA's budding scientists, physicists and doctors takes on Serbia tonight at the World University Games after taking down Lithuania.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/australia-has-continued-its-hot-basketball-form-at-the-world-university-games/story-fnii09gt-1226679615581 should bring you uptospeed.
