Hunter?

[George O'Brien]

The system froze when I tried to post this a little while ago. This came from the Orange Country Register about the Clippers:

Veteran free agents, primarily power forwards and centers, are the Clippers' focus as the restocking of the roster continues. The Clippers are interested in unrestricted free agent Keon Clark and plan to bring him in for a workout.

Clark played this past season with the Utah Jazz. Other free agents of note who remain unsigned include centers Erick Dampier, Robert Archibald, Joel Przybilla and Steven Hunter, and power forwards Marcus Fizer and Donnell Harvey.

Dampier hopes to get the Golden State Warriors to execute a sign-and-trade with another team, since he opted out of his contract this summer. Dampier was scheduled to make $8.804 million this season. The Clippers likely will sign rookie guard Quinton Ross and center Mamadou N'Ndiaye, both of whom played for their summer- league team.

 

[Mainstreet]

I have not watched Marcus Fizer play a lot but he seemed to have played well whenever I saw him play. I know he is not the biggest PF in the league but he would appear to be an awesome backup for Amare if somehow the Suns could obtain him. If he is not injured, I wonder why I have not heard much talk about him on the FA market around the league.

Yes, I know a center is a higher priority for the Suns, but he would allow Amare to slide over to the center position once in a while (if need be) and provide depth up front.

 

[Mainstreet]

Perhaps this link (see below) partially anwsers my own question regarding Fizer but it does not appear to be something that would scare teams off unless there is a pattern of bad behavior.

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/7552307

 

[George O'Brien]

Perhaps this link (see below) partially anwsers my own question regarding Fizer but it does not appear to be something that would scare teams off unless there is a pattern of bad behavior.

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/7552307

My guess is Fizer's history of injuries and the fact that he is only 6'8" is more important. He played in only 38 games in 2002-03 and 46 games in 2003-04. Hoopshype says he has struggled.

Here is a piece from the Bulls Web Site:

2003.04 Season in Review: Marcus Fizer

Finished with averages of 7.8 ppg and 4.4 rpg in 16.0 mpg
2003.04 Season in Review: Marcus Fizer


Fizer has averaged 22.9 ppg and 10.9 rpg per 48 minutes in four NBA seasons.
#21
Position: Forward | Height/Weight: 6-8/260
Years Pro: 4 | Born: Aug. 10, 1978 in Inkster, Mich.
High School: Arcadia HS (Arcadia, La.)
College: Iowa State ‘00
Marcus Fizer Archive:


Fizer, Bulls Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Fizer Fights Back: Part I | Part II
Fize on the Rise Fizer's 2002.03 Season in Review

Head Coach Scott Skiles on Fizer:
“Marcus had a difficult year in a lot of ways and it ended up being a bad ending to a difficult year because of his knee injury. Marcus struggled around the basket and he struggled to score. We tried posting him up and we tried a lot of things but we just couldn’t get efficiency out of Marcus.
I think that his game is that of an off-the-bench scoring guy who can drive past bigger players guarding him and post-up the smaller players. But his productivity just wasn’t there. We kept trying to go to him but we didn’t get the kind of productivity we wanted. So I wonder now, in hindsight, if [his knee] wasn’t 100 percent healed from his original injury. He didn’t seem to me moving the same way he did before the injury and of course now, unfortunately he’s hurt again. It was a difficult year for Marcus.”


2003.04 Season Notes:
Appeared in 46 games on the year, making two starts … finished with averages of 7.8 ppg and 4.4 rpg in 16.0 mpg … led the Bulls in scoring on two occasions and in rebounding six times … scored 20+ points three times and grabbed 10+ boards four times … recorded four double-doubles on the year … scored 19 points and had 5 rebounds at Milwaukee (12/12) … posted back-to-back double-doubles with 15 points and 15 rebounds against Indiana (12/13), followed by 10 points and 11 boards versus Orlando (12/16)… scored 21 points and grabbed 9 rebounds against Memphis (02/21) … produced 24 points and 5 rebounds versus Milwaukee (03/26) … scored 15 points and collected 6 rebounds at Atlanta (03/27) … notched his third double-double of the season when he became the first Chicago player since Horace Grant (12/26/92) to post at least 30 points and 20 rebounds in a game when he tied his career-high with 30 points and set a career-high with 20 boards versus Orlando (04/12) … tallied his fourth double-double of the year with 21 points and 16 rebounds at Indiana (04/14) … spent a total of 16 games on the Injured List with an inflamed right knee (11/07-11/15) and a sprained left ankle (03/06-03/23) … received 18 DNP-CDs on the year.


Verizon Wireless Fan Poll


Grade Marcus Fizer’s season:
A – He showed what he is capable of at the end of the season
B – He did the best he could given his opportunities
C – His knee may have held him back
D – He underachieved
F – There is no need to consider re-signing him









Fizer's Season Highs:
Points: 30 vs. Orlando (04/12/04)
Rebounds: 20 vs. Orlando (04/12/04)
Assists: 4 (two times)
Steals: 2 (three times)
Blocks: 2 vs. Orlando (04/12/04)

At His Best:
Fizer was inserted into the starting line-up for Chicago’s final home game of the 2003.04 season and responded by tying his career-high 30 points (9-16 FG, 12-14 FT) and grabbing a career-high 20 rebounds during 47 minutes in the Bulls' 93-84 setback to the Orlando Magic on April 12. He also set career-highs in free throws made (12), free throws attempted (14) and defensive rebounds (15).
"We came out, we tried to play hard and we tried to fight hard, but once again we didn't win the game—that's what has me down," Fizer said. "It was just me trying to go out and trying to be focused. We are trying to win the last basketball games for these faithful, faithful fans, for the organization and people who love Chicago Bulls basketball. I was not going to allow myself to be flat and lackadaisical. We owe the fans at least that."


Career Notes:
Appeared in 232 career NBA games, making 35 starts and averaging 10.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 1.2 apg, shooting .432 from the floor and .693 from the free throw line in 21.9 mpg … has averaged 22.9 ppg and 10.9 rpg per 48 minutes in four NBA seasons ... scored 20+ points 17 times, with 10+ rebounds on 22 occasions in four-year NBA career.

Out With a Bang:
Prior to Fizer’s outing against the Magic on April 12, the last Bull to record a 30-20 performance was Horace Grant with 30 points and 20 rebounds on Dec. 26, 1992 at Indiana. Then in the season finale at Indiana (04/14), Fizer tallied 21 points and a game-high 16 boards.
Fizer, who is a restricted free agent, said during the season that he'd like to remain in Chicago: "There's no question about that. I love the city, I love the organization, the fans—this is the organization that brought me to this league. Some way something will be worked out."

Fizer was drafted by the Bobcats which made him an unrestricted free agent.