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 A z A R 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