PHOENIX -- Brandy Reed has until July 2 to resolve her
problems with the Phoenix Mercury, which suspended her without pay
for conduct detrimental to the team.
General manager Seth Sulka told The Arizona Republic on Thursday
that he has had only one conversation with Reed since she was
suspended May 31.
Reed had missed the team bus before a game in Seattle that was
won by the Storm.
Sulka said working Reed into the team would be difficult after
July 2 since the Mercury would be about halfway through its 32-game
season, and would be playing nearly every other night from July 4
on.
"The bottom line is, if she comes back, she's going to be on
the same page with the team, she'll have met certain requirements
that will be expected of her," Sulka said.
"If those are met, then I feel we're fine," Sulka added.
"She's not going to rejoin the team and be a distract; that won't
happen.
"If the fans see her back on the court, she will have met us in
the middle."
Coach Cynthia Cooper said team isn't forcing a resolution.
"We're not the ones who sent her away," Cooper said. "She left.
We're not beggars on the street."
Reed couldn't be reached early Thursday for comment. Telephone
calls to her and her agent were not immediately returned.
If she doesn't return, the Mercury could keep her on unpaid
suspension or trade her. Sulka said he's had conversations with
some teams, but no firm offer.
The Mercury traded a first-round draft pick in February 2000 to
reacquire Reed from Minnesota, where she had disciplinary problems.
"She's had trouble everywhere she's been and that tends to
snowball, and there comes a point where people are going to say
enough is enough," Portland coach Linda Hargrove said last week. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |
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