Another David Andersen article

[Duff_Man]

Didn't see this posted...

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Andersen's hoop dreams

May 12, 2005

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Andersen shows his style for CSKA Moscow against Panathinaikos this week.

Photo: Misha Japaridze

A Frankston boy is making waves in Europe, and the NBA is taking notice. Stephen Howell reports.

Would you believe there is an Australian basketballer doing so well - and earning so much money - in Europe that he will go to the National Basketball Association only on his terms?

And for Frankston-raised David Andersen those terms will involve considerably more than the NBA minimum of $US380,000 (about $A500,000) and, just as important, the prospect that he will play, not just sit on the bench as a reserve for most of the 48 minutes of each of the 80-odd games in a season.

When you are a seasoned 24-year-old and 212 centimetres tall, and when you have just been named runner-up in the Euroleague's most-valuable-player award and chosen as a member of its All-Star Five, you have that bargaining power.

Especially when your best years are still to come, and when your own club, regarded as one of Europe's best and richest, is offering to raise your already substantial playing role and salary from its estimated $US1.2 million (more than $A1.5 million) this year.

Andersen received his individual awards at the weekend when his team, CSKA Moscow, had a huge letdown: in its home city and going into the biggest weekend in European basketball, the Euroleague final four, with a 50-1 record since September, it lost the two games that counted most - a semi-final to Tau Vitoria of Spain and the play-off for third to Panathinaikos of Greece - and Maccabi Tel Aviv was crowned Europe's champion for the second year on end.

For the third year on end, Moscow missed gold. "As we say in Australia, 'Mate, s---- happens'," Andersen said by phone from Moscow yesterday. All was not lost, however, because CSKA is an unbackable favourite to retain its Russian Superleague title, already leading its best-of-five quarter-final 2-0.

After next month's championship decider forward-centre Andersen has to decide whether to stay or chase the NBA dream that was given some credibility when Atlanta Hawks drafted him in the second round a couple of years back when he was starring in Italy.

The Hawks still have his rights and would hope to get him at a rock-bottom price. No way, according to Andersen and Moscow, which paid a reported $US700,000 last year to compensate his Italian club, Siena, after Andersen impressed at last season's final four and the Russians were looking to build a team to win at home this year.

Andersen, whose parents came to Victoria from Denmark, plays as a European, although he regards Frankston as home and he represented Australia at the Olympics last year.

He said his game had risen to a new level in Moscow. That is saying something, because he had a Euroleague championship and Italian titles spread between Bologna and Siena in five seasons.

"The NBA was at the final four and I'm speaking with a heap of scouts and my agents here," he said. "CSKA are very happy with me and want to sign me back for more money as a cornerstone player."

Andersen is in the first year of a two-year deal, but Moscow appears only too happy to sweeten it. Andersen said that, through his agents, he was talking with the Hawks about a worthwhile deal.

[Nicholasp27]

we have 30 mil in cap space

pay the 1mil to let collier go and then offer anderson 2years@2mil/year...even 3mil if u have to...that's what we pay drobs and collier

if bk doesn't want him because he's a "babcock draftee" then he better at least trade his rights for a top 10 pick on draft night...

[Iman]

Andersen may be comfortable in Europe but he has to know the potential in the NBA is much greater. BK will make a proper offer, I dont think he cares that Babcock drafted him. Then it will be Andersen's decision. If we get Bogut that might sway him either way also, more likely he would want to come here and play with another Aussie.

[AtLaS]

lol @ David Andersen netting us a top 10 pick..

[Nicholasp27]

i said he better get that if he won't just sign andersen...i hope he just signs andersen, but if he's unwilling to, then he better get a good pick for him...i wonder where andersen would be drafted this year if he was eligible...