CLIPPERS' FITCH REGRETS LOSING OUTLAW.Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer After losing their best defensive forward to the Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). History Early years The Orlando Magic officially entered the NBA as an expansion franchise in 1989. , Clippers coach Bill Fitch William Fitch (born May 19 1934 in Davenport, Iowa) is a former NBA coach who has been successful in making teams playoff contenders throughout his coaching career. Before entering the professional ranks he coached college ball at the University of Minnesota, Bowling Green State said Saturday the club will move on without Charles Outlaw. Outlaw, who signed a two-year deal with Orlando, apparently spurned spurn v. spurned, spurn·ing, spurns v.tr. 1. To reject disdainfully or contemptuously; scorn. See Synonyms at refuse1. 2. To kick at or tread on disdainfully. v. a long-term contract with the Clippers which would have paid him more than the $2.15 million offered by the Magic. ``I still can't figure out why he's there,'' Fitch said from his Conroe, Texas
Outlaw averaged 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds last season and played three different positions. The Clippers planned a summer's worth of changes to last season's 36-win club, but losing Outlaw was not in their plans. The club took care of getting a quality draft pick (Maurice Taylor Maurice De Shawn Taylor (born October 30, 1976 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American professional basketball player at the power forward position. He was most recently with the NBA's Sacramento Kings, released on January 23, 2007. ), athletic center (Keith Closs Keith Mitchell Closs (born April 3, 1976 in Hartford, Connecticut) is an American professional basketball player. The 7-foot 3-inch player from Central Connecticut State University played three seasons as a backup center for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles ) and backcourt shooter (James Robinson). While those transactions were priorities, negotiations with Outlaw were on the back burner Noun 1. back burner - reduced priority; "dozens of cases were put on the back burner" precedence, precedency, priority - status established in order of importance or urgency; "... . The organization figured Robinson at guard was a good replacement for inconsistent Malik Sealy. It also knew dumping Terry Dehere would clear more playing time for Eric Piatkowski, but now the club must shuffle players to replace Outlaw. Outlaw played center, power and small forward and at times brought the ball up the court. Lorenzen Wright and rookie Maurice Taylor will now have to replace his contributions. It gives Wright, who wants to play his natural power forward position, the opportunity to back up Loy Vaught. ``Wright's going to have to pick it up,'' Fitch said. ``He's going to have to help us defensively as well as score. Taylor, I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. because he's still an unknown quantity. He's a rookie and he's got a lot to learn.'' So the Clippers will attempt to fill Outlaw's role with Wright, Taylor, Lamond Murray - who will also see some time at shooting guard - and newly acquired Stojko Vrankovic, whom the club hopes can be a defensive stopper. ``Believe me, I'm going to miss Bo,'' Fitch said. ``He always worked hard for me and was ready to play. But I guess he had a different agenda than we thought.'' Fitch said the club will not add another free-agent forward to replace Outlaw. However, former Dallas, Houston and Sacramento guard Rodney McCray will attempt a comeback and attend Clippers training camp. McCray played for Fitch in Houston and last played in 1993. McCray recently played in Japan and was going to try out for the Clippers in 1993 before seriously injuring his knee. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO FITCH |
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