19 April 2011
BEIRUT: The Lebanese Basketball Federation (FLBB) is looking to naturalize American centers Loren Woods of Riyadi or Sagesses Darryl Watkins after current national team player Jackson Vroman was deemed too expensive to represent The Cedars any longer.
Vroman is believed to earn around $50,000 a month which is currently well over FLBBs budget for naturalized players.
The naturalized American selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 2004 draft replaced fellow compatriot Joe Vogel in the Lebanese national team over three years ago in the run up to the FIBA World Championship. Since then he has represented Lebanon with distinction, having solidified his reputation during the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship where he averaged over 17 points and eight rebounds per game.The FLBB are looking for players who are prepared to earn around $10-15,000 a month, a sum that Woods, 33, is already believed to have agreed upon although no progress has been made in terms of which player is currently preferred by the FLBB.
Watkins may be the FLBBs best option. Despite lacking the experience of Woods, who played in the NBA over 200 times for the Toronto Raptors and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Watkins is nearly six years younger and has already proved himself to be a quality player in his first season for Sagesse.
The FLBB have put stock on certain characteristics that perhaps suit Watkins more than his Riyadi counterpart, namely age and the ability to play well at both ends of the court.
Woods has also shown that his age may be a fitness barrier with the Riyadi star already injured for the Final Four playoffs as well as having picked up injuries throughout the season.
Watkins has enjoyed a good first season in Lebanon, becoming a fans favorite among the Sagesse faithful thanks to his 15 points and 11 rebounds per game average.
Woods is the leagues top rebounder, averaging 14 boards and 13 points per game. He is also one of the leagues top shot-blockers averaging two per game.
Copyright The Daily Star 2011.
