| | Associated Press
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| Jackson |
TORONTO -- Money and opportunity trumped emotion for Mark
Jackson.
The point guard signed a four-year contract with the Toronto
Raptors on Friday, leaving the Indiana Pacers despite saying
earlier he wanted to end his career in Indianapolis.
In the end, the Raptors' offer of a reported $14 million and the
chance to join an up-and-coming franchise with a new coach in Hall
of Famer Lenny Wilkens proved too attractive.
"It's an honor to be here," Jackson said. "I just thank God
for allowing a guy like me to be 35 years old and still be able to
play a little bit."
"Mark's record ... as a basketball player and a person speaks
for itself," general manager Glen Grunwald said.
Jackson helped the Pacers reach the NBA Finals for the first
time last season. He said the Raptors did the best job of showing
him he was wanted, which he called the key factor in his decision.
"In life, those are things that make a difference to me, not
money," he said. "I was waiting for a team to step up to the
plate, and they did just that."
Jackson, an ordained minister, cited a phone call from Wilkens
he received after delivering a sermon Sunday night as the clincher.
"It just seemed right," Jackson said.
Pacers president Donnie Walsh said Thursday he had wanted to
re-sign Jackson, but acknowledged the team couldn't match a
contract from a team with plenty of salary cap room.
"He got an unbelievable offer from Toronto, and I understand
why he had to take it," Walsh told The Indianapolis Star. "I'll
miss him a lot, and somewhere down the line I know he'll be a great
NBA coach."
Jackson said the Pacers never seriously pursued him.
"The bottom line is, deep down, the people with the power there
didn't want me back," he said. "I think what they tried to do was
make me walk away."
But Jackson refused to speak ill of Indiana, an Eastern
Conference opponent of Toronto.
"I'm not here to bash those guys," he said. "I had a great
time there. They have some of the greatest fans in the world. ... I
did my job there and it ran its course. I look forward to finishing
my career in a Toronto Raptors uniform."
He said the Raptors expected him to "be a floor general, be an
extension of the coach on the floor, make plays."
Grunwald made acquiring a point guard one of his top offseason
priorities for an offense that relied almost exclusively on star
forward Vince Carter. The loss of free agent Tracy McGrady, who
signed with Orlando last week, freed up money to pursue Jackson. He
is the Raptors' first free-agent signing this summer.
A former teammate of Raptor forwards Charles Oakley and Antonio
Davis, Jackson said he was thrilled at the chance to play with them
and Carter. When he indicated to Carter this week he would
sign with Toronto, he said the Raptors' star responded: "Lots of
alley-oops."
Jackson has also played for the New York Knicks and Los Angeles
Clippers during his 13-year career and ranks fifth in NBA career
assists. He averaged 8.1 points and 8 assists in 27 minutes for the
Pacers last season.
Indiana already has committed $182 million to re-sign other free
agents -- Reggie Miller, Jalen Rose, Austin Croshere and Sam
Perkins.
The Pacers will seek another point guard to take Jackson's
roster spot, although not necessarily as a starter, Walsh said.
The Pacers drafted a point guard, Jaquay Walls, in the second
round this year. The unsigned point guards on the marketplace
include Tim Hardaway, who is expected to re-sign with Miami, Howard
Eisley, Greg Anthony, Muggsy Bogues, Bimbo Coles and Haywoode
Workman.
When Miller's contract extension was announced Wednesday, he
said he wanted Jackson back.
"Mark has meant so much to the franchise," Miller said. "Mark
knows how to play the game. It would be a disservice to this
organization if they do not sign Mark."
Jackson first came to the Pacers in a draft day trade with the
Clippers in 1994. After two seasons, he was sent to Denver in an
offseason deal in 1996 that brought Jalen Rose to the Pacers.
Jackson was reacquired with 30 games remaining in the 1996-97
season.
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