Olowokandi gets lookPaul CoroThe Arizona RepublicSept. 11, 2006 11:21 PMFormer No. 1 draft pick Michael Olowokandi is coming to Phoenix - at least for a day.Olowokandi, a 7-foot free agent with 393 career starts, is paying his own way to work out for the Suns today but is a long shot to stick.Phoenix's post play is depending on the returns of Amar? Stoudemire, who had a good informal workout debut Monday, and Kurt Thomas, who is back to weighing 245 pounds like before his foot stress fracture in February.advertisement Olowokandi, the 1998 draft's top pick, could play for a one-year minimum deal ($1.07 million in his case). He has career averages of 8.6 points and 7.1 rebounds."He's eager to get out and play a little bit," said his agent, Bill Duffy, who thinks his client could help Phoenix in spots against Dallas' DeSagana Diop or San Antonio's Tim Duncan. "You can get away with stuff in the regular season that you can't in the playoffs. A 7-footer can make a difference. It comes down to isolated plays. You've got to have a big guy."The intriguing part would be teaming him with Suns assistant Alvin Gentry, who called his former Clippers center a derogatory term in a Sports Illustrated article last year.Oh joy... well, why not? He won't get any minutes but if he plays at least he's someone that can do something useful unlike Burke or Marks. I'd rather not sign him at all but we need to fill out the roster and he's tall.
I don't think a player like Olawakandi fits the Phoenix style of play. Not only is he horrible, but he cant shoot and is over wieght for the Suns game. If I was the Suns, I'd go for one of these players here.Melvin Ely-Big who can run the court well, good post defender, and good shot blocker. He would be a great player to bring off the bench for a few minutes a game. Walter McCarty-I know they had him a year ago and he didnt play too much, but he still can shoot and thats what Phoenix does. Kieth Van Horn-Runs the court well, Shoots well. I think one of those 3 would fit well in Phoenix. They all would be better than Olawakandi, Burke, or Marks.
Kandi-Man doesn't fit in Phoenix. The running they do would just kill him. He's too big and slow to play in Phoenix' style. I agree they need another big man, but Kandi doesn't fit. I do want to see him get a contract somewhere because his size helps, but not in Phoenix. He would puke every day in practice from running, and he couldn't keep up with the pace of the game, or be alert for some of Nash's passes.
