Raiders duo stall on new contracts
CONTRACT talks with DeAntoine Beasley and Drew Lasker remain
ongoing, say Plymouth Raiders.
The BBL club had given the out of contract Americans a
deadline of last weekend to accept or reject new one-year
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
deals.
However, that timeframe has now moved forward to next week
at the earliest.
Raiders set the deadline because of the red tape involved
signing non-European Union players in the BBL, which allows
three such imports per team.
American centre Terrence Durham, conversely, quickly signed
a new one-year contract with Raiders last month.
Raiders coach Gary Stronach was back in his city office
yesterday following a two-week break in the US.
He revealed fans could expect 'new faces' in his squad next
season.
Stronach also confirmed forward Beasley, 29, had rejected
the chance to become director of basketball operations at the
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga next season – but had
not signed a new contract with Raiders.
Stronach said: “I was talking to DeAntoine constantly while
I was in the States, but I've got a number of irons in the
fire, with new players as well as last year's.
“It's exciting, because I'm the only one who knows what's
going on.
“I will report to the board in the next couple of days, but
next year's team is a work in progress and a jigsaw which will
be done bit by bit and won't be complete until mid-August.”
Stronach, who led Raiders to third spot in the BBL and the
semi-finals of the play-offs last season, added: “There will be
new faces next year. At the end of the day we're looking to
strengthen the team.
“This is professional sport and if changes are made, they're
made in the team's best interests.
“Yes, we are trying to keep the nucleus of last year's team
together, but we're trying to strengthen as well.
“We're testing the water with players who may be way out of
our price range – but we want the best possible team next
year.”
The new BBL season tips-off on September 26.
Talks remain ongoing with guard Lasker, 25, and six other
players from last season's roster – Anthony Martin, Gaylon
Moore, Allister Gall, Gavin Love, Brody Bishop and Jeff Danchie
– who have all been offered new one-year deals.
Durham and forward James Noel are the two players from last
season's squad to sign new contracts.
Raiders revealed earlier this off-season that Beasley,
Lasker and forward Moore, 29 – their top three scorers in
2007/08 – have all attracted interest from teams in Europe.
Moore's profile can be found on agency Sports Management
Worldwide's website, alongside guards Trey Moore and James
Life, who starred for Cheshire Jets and Worcester Wolves
respectively in the BBL last season.
Some profiles are clearly marked 'signed'. Moore's is
not.
Stronach said: “Obviously every player has got a right to
negotiate with other clubs and look around, but I can guarantee
fans we're going to have an exciting team next year and be
challenging for silverware.
“Like I said, we've got a lot of irons in the fire and
hopefully we'll be ready to make some announcements next
week.
“There is a lot going on behind the scenes, but not a lot to
say publicly.
“We're constantly in talks with agents and players, both
from last year and new guys.
“There are a lot in the melting pot.”
Comments
by Bob, Estover
Tuesday, June 17 2008, 12:03PM
“Hopefully, further re-signings will be announced by the end of the week.
I am optimistically holding to the view that the Raiders Organisation are determined to make progress this year.
Guarantees that all our best players will return can by no means be certain.
There is one important new factor on the scene, in the form of Everton. If they can attract players from Newcastle and Guildford then they clearly have a buying power beyond the reach of most (if not all) of the other Clubs.
And that is without considering any personal ambition the players may have of testing themselves in Europe.”
by RaidersFan, Plymouth
Tuesday, June 17 2008, 8:39AM
“of course they r stalling because of money, if thats the case why the HELL r raiders looking for players out of their price range, why not focus on THE GOOD PLAYERS like lasker and beasley. anyway what goes around comes around, if raiders looses ANY of them (beasley or lasker) then lets welcome a rubbish season to the raiders.”
by thoughtful, plymouth
Friday, June 13 2008, 6:33AM
“Reason why players are stalling.............MONEY............and I don't blame them, a career in basketball is short lived, loyalty doesn't pay the bills. As for Beasley,he's been here 5 yrs and every year he puts off a lucrative coaching deal to help Gary out.Its time he looked out for #1.Laskar if he gets a better deal here,Europe,USA then I wish him all the best he's done his time at Raiders. Again loyalty doesn't pay the bills”
by Raiders Fan, Plympton
Thursday, June 12 2008, 7:32PM
“I am disappointed that some of the main players from last season have still not signed up. You say that you are trying to keep the nucleus of last year¿s team. So why are key players still not signed up? Is this because there is a problem with the negations, if any? I noticed on the back of the Evening Herald this evening that Love is getting a lot of media cover. Is this because you are going to put him in to a unsigned players position in the new season? I feel that Love is not a good player having watched him last season. Why not push some of the players that have not yet signed up on the back of the Herald? Then maybe it will help there decision to sign for next season. From a very disappointed Raiders fan! Lets hope that you can persuade and negotiate with the remaining American players!”