The Sabas Network: Ink and words and text...

The Sabas Network
http://www.sabonis.com

Arvydas Sabonis Articles.
Click on one of the following years.

home | pre-nba | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001

Sabonis remains undecided on his future with Blazers

By Jim Beseda | The Oregonian staff | June 6, 2001

SABONIS A free agent on July 1

The agent for center Arvydas Sabonis said he doesn't know if the soon-to-be free agent plans to return to the NBA next season, or if his client wants to continue playing for the Trail Blazers.

Herb Rudoy said Tuesday "there's absolutely no rush at all" for Sabonis to make a decision about next season. The only timetable is the one being set by Sabonis.

"Arvydas said he's thinking about what he wants to do and he would let me know," Rudoy said from Chicago. "I suppose when he knows, I'll be the second person to know, but he has not indicated to me either way what he plans to do. I think he's just sort of resting and enjoying himself right now."

Sabonis, 36, becomes a free agent on Sunday, July 1, at which time he can begin listening to offers from other teams. But if the 7-foot-3 center is considering testing the market, his agent said he has yet to tell him.

"We haven't discussed it," Rudoy said. "I asked him and he told me he'd let me know. That was good enough for me. So I can't even give you a hint because I don't have a clue as to what he has in mind. I don't know.

"I know he's going to go fishing in Alaska and he's got some things planned, and I suppose then he'll give some thought as to what he wants to do. At this time, your guess is as good as mine."

Blazers president Bob Whitsitt said last week that he, too, is waiting to hear from Sabonis.

"I've made contact with Arvydas and all that, and at the right time, we'll sit down and see where we go," Whitsitt said. "It's really his timetable, not mine."

There has been speculation Sabonis someday would return home to Kaunas, Lithuania, and continue playing for Zalgiris, the team on which he began his professional career in 1981 and which he now is part owner. Zalgiris recently won the Lithuanian championship for the seventh time in eight years.

Sabonis started 42 of the 61 games he played for the Blazers last season, averaging 10.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 21.3 minutes.

What's New | Career | Images | Articles | Club | Shop | Misc. | Contact