Wow, we’re really already talking about the 2012-13 free-agency period? And now that Maccabi is up two games to one on Panathinaikos in their playoff series they’re reading to sever ties with a key component?
Apparently, both bylines may be true, as sports talent agency/advisory firm You First Sports announced last night that “Andy Miller, Richard Hendrix’s agent, would like to communicate that from today the negotiations talks between Hendrix, his agent and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv are broken and that from now on we will evaluate Richard’s options when he becomes a free agent after this season.”
BallinEurope wonders what bridges were burned there…
Spain-based Blog de Basket takes the story and runs with it a bit more, claiming Hendrix has gotten offers from big clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
Too bad for the Israel side early on in 2012-13, then … after all, together with Sofoklis Schortsanitis, Hendrix makes up one seriously imposing defense that nicely suits David Blatt’s philosophy. (Hey, he’s used to big-bodied Team Russia squads…) Hendrix is having a heckuva nice year with Maccabi this season at 9.1 points, 5.6 rebounds in Euroleague play; 9.7 ppg and 5.0 rpg in the Adriatic League; and 13.6 ppg and 7.1 rpg in the Ligat Ha’Al.
He’s tops for his team in efficiency rating in Adriatic and Israeli play. O, and by the way, according the official record, “Richard Hendrix’s tip-in put the hosts up three with 15.4 seconds to go” – which would in fact be the game’s final points.
And BiE supposes this means the end of the Richard Hendrix-Keith Langford duo as well … this one, then, goes out from Hendrix to management men; it’s called “Forget You.”
