TORONTO -- Hakeem Olajuwon, in Toronto for the first time
since joining the Raptors, is happy to have a fresh start after
spending 17 years with the Houston Rockets.
|  | | Hakeem Olajuwon, right, and Vince Carter are both glad Olajuwon gets a new uniform with the Raptors. |
"When you've been in a place so long they can take you for
granted," Olajuwon said Tuesday.
The Rockets completed a sign-and-trade agreement Thursday,
sending Olajuwon to the Raptors for first- and second-round draft
choices. Olajuwon turned down Houston's final offer of $13 million
for three years. Toronto offered him $17 million for three years.
"The ideal situation would have been to finish in Houston, but
I think this team gives me a whole new enthusiasm," Olajuwon said.
"I think I have a better role to play here than in Houston."
Olajuwon's relationship became so strained with the Rockets at
one point last season that he asked to be released. The 38-year-old
played in 58 games, averaging 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds, while
shooting 49.8 percent. A blood clot in Olajuwon's leg threatened
his career last season, but medication alleviated the problem.
Olajuwon said he can play a big role with the Raptors.
"There's a lot of opportunity to prove a lot of people wrong,"
Olajuwon said. "To educate people who base skills on age, instead
of physical fitness. If you're healthy, and you train, you can do
whatever you want to do. The game is easy."
Employees of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, the company
that owns the Raptors, greeted Olajuwon during a news conference at
the Air Canada Centre. Vince Carter, who recently signed a
long-term deal with Toronto, made a surprise appearance midway
through the news conference.
"Vince is a great recruiter," Olajuwon said after embracing
Carter. "My role is to make the game much easier for him. I'd like
to make it easier for him to dunk on people."
Carter said Olajuwon has something to prove.
"He wanted another chance to show what he can do, and here's a
chance," Carter said. "His name alone is going to help us. He's
going to draw double teams. He's going create more open shots, and
that's going to give me more leeway to get to the basket."
In his 17 seasons with the Rockets, Olajuwon averaged 22.5
points and 11.4 rebounds. He is the NBA's career leader in blocked
shots and is a 14-time All-Star.
He was named as one of the NBA's 50 greatest players and was on
the 1996 gold medal-winning Olympic basketball team that was
coached by Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens.
Olajuwon said Wilkens will decide how much he'll play.
"I can't go into the game deciding I'd like to play 25
minutes," Olajuwon said. "I have to train myself to do whatever
he needs to win the game."
The addition of Olajuwon and the re-signings of Antonio Davis,
Alvin Williams, Jerome Williams and Carter have made Toronto one of
the favorites to win the Eastern Conference.
The presence of Olajuwon will allow Davis to play his natural
position, power forward, instead of center.
"I'm a legitimate big man that will make it easy for Antonio
Davis to play his natural position," Olajuwon said. "I can play a
big role in getting this team to the next level."
The Raptors advanced to the seventh game of the second round in
the playoffs last season before being eliminated by Philadelphia.
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