Jerry Stackhouse Playing for another year?
With the many controversies the free agent class of 2010 has faced, a.k.a. Lebron James, it’s not surprising that veteran free agent players are left behind in obscurity. With the interest of the NBA community and its fans centred on Lebron’s decision, veterans like Jerry Stackhouse, who has had stellar careers the past years, are left in the dust fending off the unwanted scraps left behind by these superstars. This year’s free agent class, despite the massive amount of press and interest it has generated, has hurt the chances of 35-year-old veterans like Jerry Stackhouse.
With James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade signing with Miami Heat for the coming season, it’s no wonder a player of Stackhouse’s calibre is voicing out his willingness to be part of a star-studded team like the Heat.
Despite Stackhouse’s openness with his choice, it’s unlikely that the Heat is interested in signing him. Although, it’ll be good business for the Miami Heat organization, especially Pat Riley, to sign a player of Stackhouse’s calibre; with the three fat pay-checks in line for Bosh, Wade and James, they need to find reliable free agents, like Stackhouse, who would be willing to sign with them for the minimum salary. With the way Stackhouse played with the Bucks this past season, signing him with the Heat would be the biggest bargain the organization has ever made.
As of the moment, Stackhouse still has no team to speak of; however, his fans need not worry. Although there are no talks as to which team he will end up with, it won’t be surprising to see him sign with a team in the middle of the 2010-2011 conference. He is in the same situation he was just a year ago before he was picked up by the Bucks.
The only factor that could prevent Stackhouse from playing for another year is his body condition. He is, after all, 35 years old. During the last season, Stackhouse averaged 8.5 points of the bench for the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite a meagre point contribution for Stackhouse, it must be noted that the 35-year-old veteran’s effect on the Bucks has helped them reach the playoffs and it should be enough reason for the Bucks organization to resign him or for other teams to pick him up.
The 2008-2009 NBA conference could’ve been Stackhouse’s last season with the NBA; with injuries, no one expected him to play for another year. However, in the middle of the 2009-2010 season, Stackhouse was picked up by the Milwaukee Bucks and he redeemed himself.
Earlier this year, around the latter part of January, the Bucks were playing the third time in five nights in three different cities. Fatigue from the two previous games plus all the travelling was obviously getting the better of the Bucks. Though the team was only behind by six points from Dallas at half-time, the atmosphere in the locker room made it seem like they were behind 20 big points.
Stackhouse spoke up, in hopes of inspiring his other team mates to do the same, to motivate the team and try to light a spark from within. It was that moment where Stackhouse’s experience shone through and, despite coming to the Bucks in the middle of the season, he has led the young team into the play-offs. This was not only a huge moment for the Bucks and the city of Milwaukee but it was also a moment of personal redemption for an old veteran at the brink of ending his illustrious career in the NBA because of injuries.
It can be recalled that Stackhouse, who was laden with knee and foot problems in the 2008 – 2009 season, only played ten games with the Mavericks and was traded to the Grizzlies. The Bucks acquired the veteran only by buying out the rest of his contract, and history was made. John Hammond, Bucks general manager, who was with the Pistons the same time Stackhouse was, offered him a chance of a lifetime to redeem himself and play for the Bucks.
With Stackhouse signing with the Bucks back in January, it seemed that there was a new dark horse in the Eastern Conference. Which is why Andrew Bogut’s elbow injury was a huge blow to the Bucks; if it weren’t for the injury, the Bucks` play-offs hopes wouldn’t have ended as early as it did.
In a recent interview, Stackhouse said he was content with the way he played with the Bucks this last season. However, he feels that he still has some opportunities to play in the league and he will not turn those down.
But for now, Stackhouse has to patiently wait for teams to, once again, gain interest in him. There are only a few players left in the free agent class, so his wait won’t last long. His hopes are for other teams to acquire him or for the Bucks to resign him. At 35 years old, Stackhouse may not be able to play the same way he did at the peak of his career, but his experience has proven to be valuable enough to let the veteran lead another young team into the playoffs.
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