Training camps for the NBA have been pushed back one more day at least. And that means the Nets’ backup point guard solution has been delayed by one more day at least.
While the NBA had hoped to send its teams into the joys of two-a-day workouts today, the fine print in the new collective bargaining agreement has delayed the formal signing of the deal. And that in turn delays the formal signing of free agents. So the answer to who would fill that reserve point-guard spot for the Nets is also on hold.
Figure it to be either the incumbent, Sherman Douglas, or Eric Murdock, a New Jersey resident and Miami free agent. Barring a trade, it should be one or the other. And either would make perfect sense for the Nets, who have Sam Cassell to start and have several emergency stop-gap guys with Kerry Kittles, Kendall Gill or Lucious Harris.
“I just think Eric and Sherman are linked,” said Keith Glass, the agent for Murdock. “Everything is waiting for this thing to break. Until then, nothing is certain. If two teams are talking to Eric Murdock’s guy and say they’ll have him, well, one obviously is going to be wrong. Same with everybody. Three teams think they’re getting Scottie Pippen. Two of those are going to be wrong.”
Douglas proved his worth for the Nets last year and is familiar with the system. His agent, Eric Fleisher, says the same, but that until signing embargoes are lifted, until the new collective bargaining agreement is officially in place, nothing is certain.
Both Douglas and Murdock have drawn interest from a host of teams, including the Clippers. In L.A., officials have proclaimed the desire for defense over offense, which would nudge Murdock into the lead. But to go there, Murdock would probably need more money than the $1.75 million exception the Clippers have. Misery has a price.
And so like the rest of the NBA universe, the Nets must wait to start. Players have been coming in and out of the practice facility for the past week. Yesterday’s group included Harris, Chris Gatling, Don MacLean, Brian Evans, Keith Van Horn and free-agent hopefuls forward Sherell Ford (late of Seattle and the CBA), center Kevin Salvadori (ex-King), Earl Boykins (a 5-5 waterbug who averaged 25.7 ppg for Eastern Michigan) and center Steve Goodrich (of Princeton).
“It gets frustrating because a couple of weeks ago, we were looking forward to starting on the 18th and now the 18th has passed,” said Van Horn. “We all know it’s going to start eventually. You keep that hope within you. it’ll be soon.”
“I think we’ll be fine because we all know each other even though we haven’t played in a while,” Van Horn continued. “I know how everyone plays. I’d rather be in the situation that we are now, having a team that’s played five-on-five rather than never having played before. We’ve played a season together. We’ll be fine.”
And they’ll be even better when they settle the point-guard roster spot.