May: Big O2 Coming To Boston; Fizer Dropping

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

Imagine if Fizer was available at 11? That's a wee too steep of a
decline,
but stranger things have happened. And I think I agree with Peter's
conjecture about
Evil Jerry possibly planting that story about Mihm's bad performance at
the
Bulls tryout...
Ray


Boston Globe - June 10, 2000
Peter May

The Celtics are scheduled to get an up-close-and-personal look at one of
the more intriguing players in the June 28 draft, 6-foot-10-inch Olumide
Oyedeji. He's rocketed into lottery contention after a standout
performance at the Nike Hoop Summit in April during Final Four weekend.
The consensus is that the Mavericks have the hots for him at No. 12,
which makes sense, given that Don Nelson and son Donnie love foreign
players. The Mavericks already have worked out Oyedeji and Donnie Nelson
did a clinic in Nigeria, the 19-year-old's native land. This past
season, Oyedeji played in Germany for the same team Mavericks forward
Dirk Nowitzki played for a couple of seasons ago. He would be the third
Nigerian to play in the NBA after Hakeem Olajuwon and Obinna Ekezie (who
played at Worcester Academy and the University of Maryland). Oyedeji
won't be the only foreigner the Celtics will check out next week. Also
scheduled for a visit is Hidayet Turkoglou, a 6-8 swingman who played
for Efes Pilsen in Turkey. Unlike Oyedeji, who is free to sign with an
NBA team, Turkoglou has a buyout clause in his long-term deal with Efes
Pilsen ... Shot Across The Bow Dept.: AEK Athens has notified the NBA it
will not sit by idly if Iakovos ''Jake'' Tsakalidis continues to insist
he is a free agent and can immediately join an NBA team after the draft.
The big Georgian (as in former USSR) has a long-term deal with his Greek
team and there is some dispute - as there always seems to be in these
cases - over his contract. AEK insists it holds Tsakalidis's rights and
last week, the team's coach, Dusan Ivkovic, said he was upset that no
one contacted him about the possibility of Tsakalidis leaving for the
NBA. ''Even Drazen Petrovic or Vlade Divac asked for my permission
before looking for an NBA career,'' Ivkovic said. ''It seems there's
someone behind the entire affair. As far as I know, he's still under
contract with AEK and the management should do what is needed to protect
the team.'' Tsakalidis's agents were in Chicago at the predraft camp
assuring prospective drafters the contract was no big deal, which is
what you would expect them to say. One interesting twist is that if
there is a buyout clause, an NBA team that is over the cap and drafts
Tsakalidis (as would be the case for just about any team) could pay no
more than $350,000 to secure the 7-2 center's release. Tsakalidis
already has worked out for Vancouver, which holds the second pick but
may be willing to move down. Both Chicago and Orlando hold multiple
lottery picks and would be willing to move up because it (a) would give
them a better player and (b) would free up cap room ... Speaking of
Chicago, can we believe reports that the Bulls were not pleased with
Chris Mihm? GM Jerry Krause never says a thing about such matters, so
could it be that the man they call ''The Sleuth'' (among other things)
purposely leaked it so Chicago might be able to get Mihm at No. 4?
Meanwhile, Marcus Fizer may be one of those players who could really
mess things up. The word is he's measuring in at 6-6. He is not expected
to go No. 1 or No. 2 and, if the Clippers don't take him at No. 3, he
could drop. Chicago (Nos. 4 and 7) wouldn't need him with Elton Brand
around, although it might be hard for Tim Floyd to pass up the guy he
basically discovered and brought to Iowa State. The Hawks (No. 6)
already have Alan Henderson and Lorenzen Wright at the position. If
Orlando passes at No. 5, Fizer could drop to Houston (No. 9). But that's
a reach. And, in addition, in the words of one scout at Chicago, ''He's
the only guy in the draft who can draw a double-team.''