"But everybody knows that makes Danny Ainge a liar again"



Considering that Rick Fox is still deciding whether or not to retire, this is some deal for Danny Ainge --- he's given up 3 players in exchange for a conditional draft pick....and gets called a liar. Ross Siler of the LA Daily News reports on sudden changes to last weeks Lakers-Celtics trade, as caused by guard Gary Payton's refusal to report to Boston for a physical.




The Lakers' tumultuous offseason took perhaps its strangest turn Friday when the team amended its Aug. 6 trade with the Boston Celtics and sent point guard Marcus Banks (above)) back to Boston after Gary Payton refused to report for a physical with the Celtics.

As part of the amended trade, the Lakers replaced the 22-year-old Banks with forward Jumaine Jones in the deal and returned the Celtics' 2005 second-round draft pick. The Lakers still receive Chucky Atkins and Chris Mihm. The Celtics get Payton, Rick Fox and a conditional 2005 first-round pick.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak was unavailable to comment, but a team spokesman said the deal had to be amended because Payton did not meet a one-week deadline Friday afternoon for all players in the trade to report for a physical.

The trade would have been voided as a result, but the Celtics and Lakers amended the deal. Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge took back Banks, likely as insurance in case Payton decides not to play with Boston next season.

An NBA spokesman said teams are allowed to put whatever requirements they agree to regarding physicals in a trade agreement. The Celtics agreed to waive the requirement for Payton to take a physical in the amended deal.

The rights to Fox and Payton still are controlled by the Celtics. The two players have a combined $10.3 million in salary-cap friendly contracts set to expire after next season.

Both Ainge and Celtics coach Doc Rivers met with Payton last week, trying to persuade him to come to Boston. Whether the Lakers could have seen Payton's refusal to report in advance was one question left unanswered Friday.

Banks, meanwhile, clearly was a player Kupchak coveted after scouting him at UNLV in advance of the 2003 draft. The Lakers could not move up enough, however, to select Banks at the end of the lottery picks.

Only a week ago, Kupchak said of Banks: "He can be an impact player in this league if he continues to improve. Whether it's this year, this training camp or at the end of the year or two years, I don't know."

As it turned out, Banks' tenure with the Lakers lasted just one week, long enough for him to pick up a purple jersey, meet with reporters Monday at the team's El Segundo practice facility and take a physical.

Neither Banks nor his agent could be reached to comment. But Banks' father said his son was stunned by the news and disappointed to be leaving Los Angeles. Banks grew up in a family of Lakers fans in Las Vegas.

"He loves Boston, but everybody knows that makes Danny Ainge a liar again," Arthur Banks said of the man who drafted, traded and now wants back his son. "To get somebody fired up like that, then renege on it, that's crazy."

Arthur Banks later added: "Hopefully, God will give him another opportunity to play for the Lakers. ... Did (the Celtics) realize they had something good in Marcus after another organization wanted to take him?"

More choice quotes from Marcus' dad, courtesy of the Boston Herald's Mark Murphy :

Though Arthur Banks said his son looks forward to returning to Boston, the family has also been floored by Ainge's back-and-forth dealing with the young point guard.

     Banks, told about last week's trade by his agent, Michael Higgins, was also told of yesterday's move by Higgins. Arthur Banks said Ainge has not called his son.

     ``They didn't tell us why this all changed, and it weighs on me as well as Marcus,'' the elder Banks said last night. ``When you draft Marcus with the 13th pick in the draft and you tell him all these things about how you want him, what do you really mean?

     ``Is this guy a man of his word, or is he just out there trying to create space on his salary cap?'' he said of Ainge. ``You have to win the trust of the fans. It's not just about moving around for the sake of money. That doesn't show loyalty or a team concept. That just shows that it's a meat market, and that anything is possible."

Posted: Sat - August 14, 2004 at 12:39 PM      

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