Blatche coming for HOME Stand?

MANILA, Philippines - There’s a possibility that newly-naturalized Andray Blatche will fly in to reinforce Gilas in the All-Star Charity Event, called the Last HOME Stand, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on July 22-23. The arrival will depend on the progress of signing a new NBA contract as Blatche has opted to become a free agent and the league negotiation period only starts tomorrow.

Gilas coach Chot Reyes said the other day nothing is final on Blatche’s travel plans. “That depends on his contract negos,” said Reyes, “but that’s what we want.” Reyes said if Blatche shows up for the Charity Event, he’ll alternate the 6-11 center with the national team’s other naturalized player Marcus Douthit. They won’t play together as that would defeat the purpose of getting used to the system.

Under FIBA rules, a national team may enlist only one naturalized player in a 12-man roster. The choice will be either Blatche or Douthit for the FIBA World Cup in Spain on Aug. 30-Sept. 14 and the Asian Games in Incheon on Sept. 19-Oct. 4. Douthit is scheduled to arrive from the US today after a break and will suit up for Gilas at the FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan on July 11-19.

Reyes said the All-Stars who will engage Gilas in the Last HOME Stand are coming with former NBA guard and coach John Lucas, an elite basketball skills development specialist. Lucas, 60, played for the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards (then Bullets), San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks and Seattle SuperSonics in a 14-year NBA career, averaging 10.7 points in 928 games. He later coached the Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers and was an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers.

Lucas is known as a life coach who has turned around careers and saved lives. He has worked with elite players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant. Last year, Lucas supervised the Nike Kevin Durant Skills Academy which brought in 19 college stars, including Jabari Parker of Duke, and 30 high school standouts. Aside from teaching and honing basketball skills, Lucas is involved in what he calls the four elements of relating with student-athletes – mentoring, counseling, educating and positive confrontation. He has a Master’s degree in education from the University of San Francisco.

Reyes said he expects eight to nine All-Stars to participate in the Charity Event sponsored by PLDT HOME for the benefit of the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation. So far, confirmed to attend are Paul Pierce, Damian Lillard, Blake Griffin and Demar DeRozan. “We’re still finalizing negos on others with strict confidential requirements,” he said. “Hopefully, we can announce this week.”

Three years ago, PLDT assembled an All-Star team that came over to play Gilas and a PBA Selection at the Big Dome. The All-Stars were Bryant, Durant, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Derek Fisher, JaVale McGee, Tyreke Evans, James Harden and Derrick Williams. The All-Stars beat the PBA Selection, 131-105 and Gilas, 98-89. Reyes coached the PBA Selection which included current Gilas players Larry Fonacier, Marc Pingris, Gabe Norwood and L. A. Tenorio. The Gilas squad was coached by Rajko Toroman and included current Gilas players Douthit, Japeth Aguilar and Jimmy Alapag.

Blatche, who turns 28 on Aug. 22, was Washington’s second round pick in 2005 out of high school. In 2010, he signed a $35 million contract extension but two years later, was waived by the Wizards to avail of an amnesty provision for exclusion from the salary cap. Under terms of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the Wizards are liable to make good Blatche’s outstanding salary of $23 million up to the end of the 2014-15 season. From Washington, Blatche went to the Brooklyn Nets where he signed a $1.3 million one-year deal. That amount was paid back to Washington which continued to live up to Blatche’s original contract. Blatche then inked another one-year deal of $1.4 million with a player option for a second season.

Now that Blatche is an unrestricted player agent, the NBA will allow the Nets to offer him up to $25 million for four years under the conditions of the collective bargaining agreement. The other day, Blatche advised his followers on social media that his Instagram account has been hacked and denied sending out a derogatory message on the Nets.

Blatche’s agent Andy Miller is on top of negotiations for a new contract. “I’m going to see what’s out there for me,” said Blatche. “I would love to stay in Brooklyn. The Nets gave me my first opportunity. So if things work out, hopefully, I’ll be back. If not, I just want to thank the fans and the whole organization for giving me that second chance.” After being waived, Blatche wore No. 0 for the Nets to signify “how everyone gave up on me.” He went on to average 10.3 points for Brooklyn in 2012-13 and 11.2 points last season.

Kurt Helin of NBC Sports recently speculated that Blatche would be a welcome piece with the New Orleans Pelicans. “Blatche is a quality big,” said Helin. “His style of play would blend well with Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson and with how (coach) Monty Williams wants to play. There is a potentially good fit. Of course, the Nets want him back and there will be other teams trying to get in the mix as well. Which is to say Blatche is going to make more than the $1.4 million he made last season. He has a nice raise coming.” With or without a new contract, Blatche is guaranteed to earn $8.4 million next season as the balance of what is owed in his Wizards contract.