A 'comeback' for Banks?
- From: "$Bill" <news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 05:22:23 -0700
A 'comeback' for Banks? BY ROSS SILER, Staff Writer
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_3992398
If only Gary Payton had reported for his physical in Boston two summers ago,
the Lakers never would have had to take the rare step of amending a trade and
returning Marcus Banks, a promising young point guard, to the Celtics.
For one week in August 2004, Banks belonged to the Lakers. He was about to get
the chance to play for the closest thing to a hometown team for a kid from Las
Vegas. But all that changed when Payton balked at the trade.
Now Banks could get his second chance at being a Laker. His agent, Michael
Higgins, said Wednesday that Banks would have definite interest in coming to
the Lakers when the free-agent negotiating period begins Saturday.
"He's always been a Lakers fan, " Higgins said. "He likes the situation there
with Kobe (Bryant) and Phil Jackson. He's looking at it from his standpoint
where it's definitely a viable option for him."
The Lakers cannot start negotiating with Banks until Saturday. Teams cannot
sign players until July 12, after the NBA's moratorium period ends.
Banks, who won't turn 25 until November, was traded from the Celtics to
Minnesota in January and went on to start in 28 games for the Timberwolves,
averaging 12.0 points, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals.
Banks is a strong defender and might be the best free-agent point guard
available, after Jason Terry and Mike James. Jackson has talked about the
team's need to upgrade in areas of speed and defense.
"I think he just wants an opportunity, " Higgins said of Banks. "He got a
little taste of starting in Minnesota and obviously he played really well. He
doesn't have to start, but he definitely wants to play."
The Lakers long have had interest in Banks, with general manager Mitch Kupchak
scouting him in college at UNLV. Kupchak wanted to trade up in the 2003 draft
to get Banks, who was selected at the end of the lottery and acquired by Boston.
Kupchak then traded for Banks after his rookie season, saying at the time that
he could see Banks as the Lakers' point guard of the future. They had to take
Jumaine Jones instead of Banks, however, when Payton failed to report and the
trade was amended.
Higgins said other teams that could be interested in Banks include Atlanta and
Cleveland. Banks will be looking for the full midlevel exception ($5 million
last season) and Higgins said he expected a deal to happen quickly during the
negotiating period.
Banks also could return to Minnesota and has a good relationship with coach
Dwane Casey, Higgins said.
"They're the incumbent, " Higgins said. "Obviously, he knows the system and he
played pretty well the second half of the season. Clearly, if he goes back to
Minnesota, he knows what's in store for him and knows he can be the starter."
Higgins also was asked how Banks views the amended trade now. He is a free
agent only because the Celtics declined the fourth-year option on his contract
before the start of last season.
"I think he likes to try to forget about it, " Higgins said. "He was
disappointed. In his mind he thought L.A. was a place he would have played."
.
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