Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Sports


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 6:20 PM

Comments (0)     E-mail article     Print view

Drew Gooden joins Spurs for playoff run

Drew Gooden arrived at his sixth team in seven years Thursday with the hope that he finally found a permanent home.

Associated Press Writer

SAN ANTONIO —

Drew Gooden arrived at his sixth team in seven years Thursday with the hope that he finally found a permanent home.

The future can wait. The San Antonio Spurs got Gooden to win now.

Finally getting the additional big man San Antonio had long been seeking, the Spurs signed Gooden for the remainder of the season after the 6-foot-10 power forward bought out his contract in Sacramento earlier this week.

Gooden bolsters the frontcourt depth San Antonio has sought despite holding the second-best record in the Western Conference most of the year. He has played just two games since Jan. 19 because of injuries, and Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said Gooden had not yet undergone a physical.

Gooden, however, sounded confident in his health. He did not know whether he would play in San Antonio's next game Friday against Washington.

"I might have to get a practice in, to go over what we're going to run offensively and defensively, but other than that I'm ready to play," said Gooden, who has been hobbled by groin and lower abdominal strains.

Gooden has averaged 13.1 points and 8.7 rebounds this season in 32 games, all but one of which came in Chicago. The Bulls traded Gooden to the Kings in a six-player deal last month, but Gooden played only one game with Sacramento on Feb. 25.

The Spurs had about $1.5 million remaining in their midlevel exception to offer Gooden. Sacramento agreed to an undisclosed buyout of Gooden's $7.1 million salary in the final season of his contract.

Since being drafted by Memphis as the No. 4 pick out of Kansas, Gooden also has played for the Grizzlies, Orlando, Cleveland and Sacramento. His longest stint was with the Cavaliers, where he played about 3 1/2 seasons before being sent to the Bulls last year.

"I'm ready to find a home," Gooden said. "I think I've been a casualty of the business now of basketball. It's seems like almost the game has turned into fantasy basketball, but reality."

The Spurs had been shopping for another big man for their playoff run. San Antonio has been particularly undersized when stacked against the Los Angeles Lakers, the front-runners in the West all season.

Gooden gives the Spurs another bigger body alongside starters Tim Duncan and Matt Bonner, a 3-point marksman who served as a less traditional frontcourt player. Buford said the Spurs still need to see Gooden healthy and how he fits in the system.

"He brings a presence, athleticism, rebounding; probably a little more of a conventional role than what Matt brings," Buford said. "So I hope it's a good complement to that."

Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company

More Sports headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

Comments
No comments have been posted to this article. Start the conversation.

advertising


Get home delivery today!

More Sports

UPDATE - 03:48 PM
Sounders FC's season ends with 1-0 OT loss to Houston

UPDATE - 03:35 PM
College Football | Notre Dame's loss to Navy puts pressure on Charlie Weis again

UPDATE - 03:37 PM
Auto Racing | Jimmie Johnson wrecks on 3rd lap in Texas

Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA

Mora's words, Seahawks' losses reverberate loudly

Advertising

Video

Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Mourners gathered at KeyArena for the memorial service of Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton on November 6, 2009.

Procession for slain SPD officer
Election Night: Approve R-71
Election Night: Reject R-71
Election Night: Joe Mallahan
Election Night: Mike McGinn
Election Night: Susan Hutchison
Election Night: Dow Constatine
Candlelight vigil for Officer Brenton
Flying Elephant on Aurora

Marketplace

nwautos

2009's most fuel-efficient sedansnew
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising