Throw Al Harrington Under the Bus
Check out this story from RockyMountainNews.com. Choice stuff from Al "True Professional" Harrington:
This guy is a Buster, capital B. Bench him, get him out of here, whatever. Surprising lack of leadership from the guy that didn't go to college. I thought he was a True Professional, ready to play hard in a contract year. It's obvious he doesn't want to play here, so get him out of here. Trade him to anybody that wants him. I'd say get something in return, but it's going to be hard unless we trade him to a real contender. The rumored trade in that article includes Nene, who could be a real asset to this team next year. As Braves and Birds noted, with Al this team has a 30+ win potential, without we've only got about 20. Neither one is going to get us to the playoffs, and trading Al could get us some value. Forget a contract extension, trade him now.
Harrington said he would welcome a trade to Denver. If that doesn't happen, he said he will consider the Nuggets when he becomes a free agent after the season.
"Definitely, if they got some money out there for me," Harrington said before Atlanta's 110-107 overtime win Sunday against the Nuggets.
"Denver is a place I would love to play. I think they've got a lot of pieces. They might be missing one piece, somebody like myself or Ron Artest."
This guy is a Buster, capital B. Bench him, get him out of here, whatever. Surprising lack of leadership from the guy that didn't go to college. I thought he was a True Professional, ready to play hard in a contract year. It's obvious he doesn't want to play here, so get him out of here. Trade him to anybody that wants him. I'd say get something in return, but it's going to be hard unless we trade him to a real contender. The rumored trade in that article includes Nene, who could be a real asset to this team next year. As Braves and Birds noted, with Al this team has a 30+ win potential, without we've only got about 20. Neither one is going to get us to the playoffs, and trading Al could get us some value. Forget a contract extension, trade him now.
posted by Matt at 12:28 PM
2 Comments:
Linked here from the AJC article, read this post, don't plan on coming back. You're upset because a reporter asked if he'd be interested in playing with the Nuggets should the rumored trade happen, and he said sure. And the possibility of signing there in the offseason? Why not? I suppose you wanted him to say "no, I have no interest in ever playing anywhere except for Atlanta, and despite their losing ways and surplus of small forwards, I expect to sign a contract extension with them, rendering this question moot." Or perhaps respond that he has no interest in playing for the Nuggets, only to be traded there later in the season.
There is nothing wrong with the answers Harrington gave. He understands this is a business, and like any free agent or draft pick, he's showing some sense in saying he'd be happy to play for the team. And it's not out of the ordinary for a player to compliment another organization before a game. He's not requesting a trade. He's not suggesting he doesn't want to play for the Hawks. And his answers no way suggest any of the above, nor should they create even the slightest tension in the locker room. You have to have a real one-sided view of Harrington already to overreact the way you do. Respond if you want, but I won't be back around to read it.
Hey jmar, sorry you won't be coming back. If you haven't noticed, Ron Artest recently talked about wanting to be traded. Is that so different from "welcoming a trade"? When a star on a good team wouldn't mind being traded during the season, it's an obvious affront to the organization he's with.
I don't think it's very professional to discuss playing for other teams in the middle of the season. If he had said something like "Denver is a great organization and I will definitely consider them during the offseason", I wouldn't have written this post. I'm sorry if my reaction has offended you terribly- if this article upset *you*, I would recommend that you stay away from the internet.
Post a Comment
<< Home