Nellie Vs. Tariq



Mavericks swingster Tariq Abdul-Wahad, at odds with Don Nelson and ownership, claims that Dallas is trying to torpedo his career. Art Garcia of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

On his French-language Web site, Abdul-Wahad accused the team of having an agenda when it came to tests on the knee. Abdul-Wahad, who spent all of last season and most of the previous season on the injured list with tendinitis, maintains he is physically able to play.

"The Mavs made me go through an extreme medical exam with one objective: so they can declare me ineligible to play basketball," Abdul-Wahad declared on the site. "That is the objective they have been going after for two years."




Mavs owner Mark Cuban disputed that claim.

"Our doctors won't clear him to play," Cuban said. "We let him come back before when he wasn't cleared and he couldn't play. His knee would swell. He had a year to rest, he came back and our doctor said his knees had gotten worse."

Cuban said the team has contacted the league to explore its options. Independent doctors tested Abdul-Wahad two weeks ago and the team is awaiting the results, which could have a bearing on the remainder of his contract.

Abdul-Wahad has three years and approximately $22 million left on his deal. Fifty percent of his salary for next season is guaranteed and it dips to 25 percent for the final season. If Abdul-Wahad agrees to a buyout, the Mavs would clear up a needed roster spot.

Abdul-Wahad, believed to be in France, on his site added: "Don Nelson called me into his office and told me that I will never play for him. I didn't get any rational explanation for what was going on."

Nelson doesn't remember such a conversation.

"I might have said that I wasn't going to play him again that season," Nelson said before Wednesday's preseason opener against New Orleans.

The Mavs coach was more blunt when asked if he considered Abdul-Wahad a part of the team.

"He's not in training camp," Nelson said, "so the answer is no."

Posted: Thu - October 14, 2004 at 01:30 PM      

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