While his Wizards teammates are working out, NBA sophomore-to-be Trevor Booker is going to work, announcing his arrival abroad via Twitter on Wednesday with, “Israel I’m hereeeeee!!!!” With the increased sense of doom arising out of NBA labor talks, Booker’s choice to join Bnei Hasharon, even with an opt-out clause, is looking like a smart one. With former Baylor guards LaceDarius Dunn and Tweety Carter and Rhode Island swingman Delroy James as teammates, Booker’s season starts officially in October.
No player overseas will be more closely watched than NBA All-Star guard Deron Williams with Besiktas in Turkey. With no opt-out possible, China-bound J.R. Smith, Earl Clark and Wilson Chandler won’t be back at all until at least February. We also expect Brian Scalabrine, with Benetton Treviso in Italy, to be his usual self as a fan favorite.
Among players with Washington ties, Denver point guard and Clinton native Ty Lawson paired with Kevin Durant at Morgan State two weeks ago, but on Monday he opened his Lithuania account on with 21 points in a preseason game for Zalgiris Kaunas, which also has Sonny Weems (Toronto). Former Syracuse center and Lanham native Arinze Onuaku is also destined for Lithuania, signing with Neptunas.
Hilton Armstrong, never the solution at center in Washington, has joined ASVEL Villeurbanne in France, as has VCU’s NCAA tournament Southwest Region most outstanding player Jamie Skeen. Mustafa Shakur (Pau-Orthez, France) and Darius Songalia (Galatasary, Turkey) are also gone.
Those former Wizards always seemed destined for Europe. But whenever it is, Booker should be welcomed upon his return.
– Craig Stouffer
