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September 18, 2002 - Image 12

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The Michigan Daily, 2002-09-18

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12 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 18, 2002

Ex-Spartan returns to
Kings after bad physical

Ewing leaves NBA with no title,
but joins Jordan in Washington

CLEVELAND (AP) - A week
after trading for Mateen Cleaves, the
Cleveland Cavaliers sent the point
guard back to Sacramento yesterday
after he failed his physical.
Still hoping to shore up their back-
court, the Cavs traded a future second-
round draft pick to the Phoenix Suns
for guard Milt Palacio.
The Cavs traded small forward
Jumaine Jones for Cleaves last week,
hoping the former Michigan State
standout could help replace Andre
Miller at point guard.
"When we made the trade, we felt
good about it. Mateen did, and
Jumaine was going to a good team.
We've got four very disappointed par-
ties in this," said Cavs general manag-
er Jim Paxson.
Team spokesman Bob Price said the
trade was contingent on both players
passing their physicals. The Cavs will
now get Jones back to play in their
crowded frontcourt.
Meanwhile, the Cavs also are deal-
ing with Zydrunas Ilgauskas' legal

problems. The 7-foot-3 center was
arrested early Sunday on a DUI charge
and must appear in court today.
Paxson said he has spoken with
Ilgauskas, but declined to comment
about his traffic stop.
The 6-foot-3 Palacio will help fill
the void created when the Cavs traded
Miller to the Los Angeles Clippers in
July for forward Darius Miles. The
deal left Binbo Coles as the only true
point guard on the Cavs' roster.
Coles, a 12-year veteran, played just
33 games last season before knee sur-
gery.
The Cavs also have first-round draft
choice DaJuan Wagner, but the team
would prefer to have the rookie from
Memphis remain at shooting guard.
Cleaves began his NBA career in
Detroit after leading the Spartans to an
NCAA title in 2000.
He averaged 5.4 points and 2.7
assists in 78 games as a rookie, but
was traded to Sacramento before last
season for guard Jon Barry and a first-
round draft pick. Cleaves averaged 2.2

Lear'n amo rganly conser'vation efforts
on campus and how you can helpi!
Eueruy Est 23021

AP PHOTO
Mateen Cleaves was shipped back from
Cleveland after a failed physical.
points in 32 games for the Kings.
Paxson wouldn't say why Cleaves
failed his physical, which he took
Monday. Cleaves' agent, Charles
Tucker, said his client likely didn't
pass because of a foot injury that
forced him to miss time last season
and required surgery about two
months ago.
Tucker hadn't talked to Cleaves, but
predicted he would be upset.
"It's disappointing because he want-
ed to play," Tucker said. "There's no
time in Sacramento. We've got to
come up with something."
The 6-8 Jones averaged 8.3 points
and 6.0 rebounds in his first season
with the Cavs, who acquired him
along with forward Tyrone Hill in a
five-player deal with the Philadelphia
76ers.
If he's not traded again, he'll com-
pete for playing time with Lamond
Murray and Miles.
"Part of the reason we were willing
to trade Jumaine is he might be the
odd guy out," Paxson said. "Now he
has a chance to come back here and
prove us wrong."
The 24-year-old Palacio averaged
3.8 points and 1.6 assists in 28
games last season for the Suns, who
acquired him along with Joe John-
son and Randy Brown from Boston
in February for Tony Delk and Rod-
ney Rogers.
$290
CUSTOM PRINTED

NEW YORK (AP) - As Patrick
Ewing talked about his retirement,
there was a softness in his eyes, a
relaxed look replacing the glare he
used while establishing himself as
one of the 50 greatest players in
NBA history.
Then Ewing saw old pal Charles
Oakley in the back of the room and
his eyes danced. "My hit man, Oak!
We had some times, didn't we, Oak?"
Ewing shouted from the podium.
Indeed they did.
And for a fleeting moment yester-
day, Ewing was back under the basket
with Oakley, the two battling for bas-
kets and bounces, trying to put the
New York Knicks over the top.
They never quite got there, but
they had fun trying.
For 15 years, Ewing was the cen-
terpiece of the Knicks, New York's
go-to guy. There were two wrap-up
seasons with Seattle and Orlando,
footnotes to a career as one of the
league's most dominant centers.
The 40-year-old Ewing finishes his
NBA career with 24,815 points and
11,606 rebounds. He'll move on to
become an assistant coach for
Michael Jordan and the Washington
Wizards.
The 11-time All-Star holds a num-
ber of Knicks records, including lead-
ing scorer (22.8 points) and leading
rebounder (10.4). Most of the time,
Oakley was right there with him.
"He came to work every day," Oak-
ley said. "He put a lot of effort into
what he wanted to coo, what he want-
ed to accomplish."
Also attending Ewing's farewell
news conference were ex-teammates
Charley Ward, Allan Houston, Herb
Williams and Mark Jackson; coaches
Mike Jarvis, Don Chaney and Jeff
Van Gundy; and Miami's Alonzo
Mourning, out for the season with the
Miami Heat because of his kidney
condition.
Ewing was asked how he wanted to
be remembered.
"As a hard hat," he said. "A hard
nose. The work ethic I brought, I gave
it 110 percent. I thought I had a great
career. I have no regrets. I wouldn't
trade it for anything. I enjoyed every
minute."
The NBA championship was the
missing piece of the puzzle for the
man who led Georgetown to three
NCAA finals, including the 1984
title, before becoming the No. 1 pick
in the first NBA lottery draft.
"I'm disappointed I never won a
championship - in the pros," Ewing
said. "We did the best we could to

help'the franchise win one. It didn't
happen. That's life. You've got to
move on."
In 1994, Ewing led New York to a
3-2 lead over the Houston Rockets
in the NBA Finals before losing in
seven games. He said his greatest
memory was converting a putback
on a shot by John Starks that beat
Indiana for the Eastern Conference
title and put the Knicks in those
finals.
Ewing was injured in 1999 when
the team lost in the finals in five
games to the San Antonio Spurs.
Now, he'll be an assistant coach
with the Wizards, Jordan's team.
After general manager Wes Unseld
signed him, Ewing was asked about
the irony of working with Jordan,
who often denied him his shot at an
NBA title.
"Instead of needling me from afar,
he'll be needling me in the same
town. We'll be in the same organiza-
tion," Ewing said.
Pat Riley, who coached Ewing and
the Knicks to the finals in 1994, said:
"I'm sure that his next career in

coaching will be just as successful as
his playing career."
For owner Abe Pollin, the signing
of Ewing brings an important asset to
.the Wizards.
"It will be a unique opportunity for
our players to be tutored by three of
the 50 greatest players of all time -
Michael Jordan, Wes Unseld and
now, Patrick Ewing," he said.
Ewing said he had thought hard
about retiring, discussing it thorough-
ly with friends and family.
"It's still a hard decision," he said.
"It's still 50-50. Should I play?
Should I retire? I felt I could still
play.
"It's time to move on. It was a great
ride."
So what happens if sometime next
season some NBA team decides it
needs help in the middle? Is Ewing
available?
He laughed at the question.
"A few teams called," he said. "I
made this decision anyway. Unless
one of the Wizards goes down and
they tell me, 'Put down the pad, we
need you to go get some shots .."

*I

0

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 19

11:00 A.M.

- 2:00 P.M.

CENTRAL CAMPUS DIAG

L

i ve Mus i c *"Pr i zes -*G iveaway
Sponsored by the Utilities and Plant Engineering
Department and the Center for Sustainable Systems

S

AP PHOTO
in hopes ofteeping his kn healthy, Pattick-I!WingipVft'a 17-year NBA career
yesterday. He will take up an assistant coaching job in Washington.

L

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z

A

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D1

Cordially invites Michigan University Juniors and Seniors
to a presentation and reception
On
Tuesday, September 24th, 2002
Michigan Room
4:30 PM
Career Analyst Interviews: Wednesday, October 23rd, 2002
Summer Analyst Interviews: Thursday, January 23rd, 2003
Seniors interested in interviewing for Analyst positions
in our Investment Banking Group
should submit resumes and cover letters through MTRAK
by October 2nd

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