Chan choses Knicks, spurns Suns

[slinslin]

Ales Chan's quest for the NBA is continuing. The 7-foot-1 center from Seton Hill University has agreed to attend a New York Knicks summer camp, where he will work out exclusively with NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, said Seton Hill coach Tony Morocco.
"The Knicks and Phoenix called after the draft was over," Morocco said Friday. "Both are very interested in Ales."

Chan, after going unselected in Thursday's NBA draft, also is entertaining an offer to play professionally in Europe, if he doesn't sign a free-agent contract with an NBA team.

Morocco said negotiations are under way for the 7-1, 270-pound Chan possibly to sign a guaranteed contract to play in the prestigious Euro League for either a team in France or Turkey with an option to join an NBA team if he gets a call.

"I was initially disappointed, but I'm feeling good right now," Chan said. "Under the circumstances, I couldn't be in a better position than I'm in right now."

Morocco said that New York Knicks director of basketball operations Isiah Thomas wanted Chan to compete for a spot on the Knicks' summer league team, which plays in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. And Morocco said he also spoke again to David Griffin, assistant director of player personnel for the Phoenix Suns, who Morocco said continued to show "much interest" in Chan.

"After they had worked him out before the draft, David called me and said, 'Tony, he really played well. We really liked him,' " Morocco said.

Because the Suns selected Jackson Vroman of Iowa State with the No. 31 pick in the draft and did not have a first-round choice, they were unable to take Chan. Phoenix traded its first-round (No. 7) pick to Chicago on Wednesday for the second-rounder and cash in an effort to clear more salary cap space.

"This guy is going to be a pro," Morocco said of Chan, who averaged 17.0 points and 10.4 rebounds during his only season at NAIA Seton Hill.

"The possibility exists that he won't be going to Europe (if he signs an NBA contract). Hopefully, we can get to the point where if he ends up going there and he does well enough and an NBA team wants him (during the season), then he has the right to opt out of his contract."

 

[sunsfn]

I read somewhere where Bryan C. tried to acquire another 2nd round pick to pick someone. Maybe it would have been Chan.

 

[George O'Brien]

Even if Chan does well in summer league, I doubt he will make the Knicks roster. They have too many projects already (remember Trybanski and Sweetney). I'm sure the Suns will monitor his progress.

 

[Yuma]

Even if Chan does well in summer league, I doubt he will make the Knicks roster. They have too many projects already (remember Trybanski and Sweetney). I'm sure the Suns will monitor his progress.

A lot of guys sign from summer camp to teams other than their sponsored team. We could still pursue him if we are interested at that point. NY gets nothing but access to him during the summer. I will be looking at his games, too!