Five Down
These are five free agents with names we all know too well
who have come to or at least very near the end of their NBA career. Surprisingly, even though many of these guys
are older and very little left in the tank, all five of these players have
proven they can be effective in limited minutes. However, their attitude has left teams
scrambling to find less talented players who are hard working professionals. Often NBA fans forget the importance of a
good practice player and a helpful teammate.
But since all fans see are the actual games, this is to be expected. Here is my list of 5 guys that are just about
out the door.
Eddy Curry
If Andrew Bynum wants to know what his career will be like
if he doesn’t take care of his body and just loafs around, just look to Eddy
Curry. What was once a young man with
the potential to be the next Patrick Ewing is now a washed up, out shape, and
unmotivated big looking to get a 4th “2nd chance.” Even worse he isn’t even doing it for the
right reasons. Since his inability to ever come to camp in shape has illustrated a truly unmotivated player we can only assume he just wants to milk
this cash cow as long as he can. The man lacks
both love for the game and a professional attitude.
I would lack the sight to explain why any team would offer
him a contract. If a center can’t crack
the rotation in Miami, it’s hard to see where they could. I think his NBA days are done, but we’ll
see. Crazier things have happen.
Gilbert Arenas
Speaking of things a little crazier, enter Agent Zero. One of my all-time favorite players to watch
just doesn’t really have a place in the league anymore. The days of hanging 60 on Kobe, in LA, are
long over. Arenas is an end of the bench
kind of player who gets hired more for ticket sales (e.g. Hype) than actual
expected on-court contributions.
However, Arenas offers very little else, so little, I think no one
bits. Terms like: “Leadership,” “having
a coach on the court,” or even “works really well with our young guys” are all
terms that have never been paired with Gilbert Arenas’ name.
Although, I think Agent Zero is an all around good guy, his
hope/desire/ability to contribute in other ways to help a team win seems lacking. Terms like “drama,” “odd,” “selfish” are more
commonly associated with Arenas. I don’t
know Gilbert personally, but if you believe birds of a feather flock together
than it is interesting to acknowledge that Arenas’ most noteworthy NBA
friendship as of recent has been Dwight Howard.
Tracy McGrady
McGrady is a player that proved over the last two years that
he can be effective in very limited minutes.
The work he did playing the point-forward position in Detroit was a
prime example of this. His previous year
in Atlanta was far less impressive.
Rumors following McGrady say he is not the best guy to share a locker
room with. I find this personally surprising
as Tracy is usually a very delightful person in public, and most writers have
only good things to say about him.
For too long McGrady has not been able to stick with a
team. I think he ends up on a team this
year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if all 32 teams take a pass. If he does get a contract I expect this to be
his final season. An impressive career nonetheless.
Allen Iverson
Practice?
Brian Scalabrine
The White Mamba, the true G.O.A.T, the Ginger Ninja, however
you like it Brian Scalabrine is a cult icon in the NBA world. I hear he still wants to play, but I think
Scal leaves and cashes in on his fame.
He has been seen doing some commentating, and if he is good I could
really seem him making a name for himself as an announcer. He was a high draft choice, played on a
championship team, but also has that average Joe feel if for nothing else then
because he almost never played. Rather
he was always on the far outside trying to peer in with a telescope. Other than for a practice player and a fan favorite
I don’t see why a team would give Scalabrine a contract, and I think there is a
chance he has a brighter future for him in media.
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