Quotes from Teleconference - Kyle Rote, Jr.
Agent speaks on status of former men's basketball player Isaac Fontaine.
June 25, 1997
PULLMAN, Wash. - The following is a list of quotes from the Wednesday
evening teleconference with Kyle Rote, Jr. - Chief Executive Officer of
Athletic Resource Management, Inc. (Memphis, Tenn.). Rote, Jr. represents
former Washington State basketball star Isaac Fontaine. Fontaine was not
selected in the 1997 National Basketball Association Draft.
What options does Isaac have at this point?
"We've had two teams call
before the draft started. If he were not drafted they would like to talk
about him coming in and that happened to be the (Los Angeles) Lakers and
Milwaukee (Bucks). So between later tonight and tomorrow (we'll) have a
chance to analyze their rosters and see who else they are interested in
bringing in and what draft trades have occurred.. Then we'll try to make a
very informed decision to try and give Isaac an environment that will give
him the best chance to make the squad. Likely, he'll end up going to a
pre-camp at either LA (July 12-19) or Milwaukee (July 9-11). Sometimes it's
better not to be drafted in the second round, particularly late in the
second round, because then you have a chance to choose the environment in
which you are going to try and make the league in. Very few second round
contracts are guaranteed."
What have the last few days been like for Isaac?
"Isaac was aware there
was a probability he would not be drafted. He was hoping certainly that
Sacramento, his hometown team, would take him. We've had a lot of
conversations with Sacramento. They had indicated a lot of possibilities
that that might happen They also told us very clearly there were two or
three players they had rated a little bit higher and if they happened to be
there when they had their pick, then they would take that direction. That's
apparently what did occur. I think he was certainly disappointed as Michael
Jordan was when he got cut from his high school basketball team. This is
not a fatal event by any means in his career. But it certainly is
frustrating to him because he knows he's a good player. And as all of you
(members of the media) have seen over the years Isaac is just a fabulous
person and a hard worker. A very responsible guy. Plus he can shoot the
lights out from the perimeter. All of those things are strengths that all
of us would appreciate and that over time the NBA will learn to appreciate
as well."
What concerns did the NBA teams have with Isaac?
"The limitations that the
NBA people have consistently indicated are that they wish he were a little
bit taller. Not a lot, but a little bit taller. They wish he was a little
bit more athletic and quicker. There were a few teams that weren't sure if
he can create his own shots. They know he can shoot behind a screen. They
know he can shoot in spot-up situations. The question is, in one-on-one,
which you have to face a lot of in the NBA because you can't play zone
defenses, how creative can he be. His vertical jump was good but not great.
He's obviously an overachiever in the sense of a guy who has worked terribly
hard. He's kind of at that mid-range. A tweener in a sense. But that in
no way undermines what you have seen over the years. He'll take this in the
right way and not be emotionally destroyed by it. He'll be energized and
respond to the challenge and make a good account of himself."
