Wednesday was one of those days for James Donaldson. One of those days when you finally decide nothing's going to change.
"(Wednesday) was one of those mornings when I walked out of the house to go work out and I just threw my hands up," said Donaldson, who was signed for the rest of the year by the Utah Jazz on Thursday. "I said, `Well, it's just not going to happen.' "But by early afternoon, the everyday life of the 7-foot-2, 278-pound center changed. He received a call from his agent and by late afternoon was on a plane to Salt Lake City to sign with the Jazz. "I went home, fed the dogs, packed the bags and came here," he said.
Donaldson's arrival was prompted this week by the bad back of Mark Eaton and the injured foot of Larry Krystkowiak. Eaton, who has an inflamed lumbar disc in the lower back, is out indefinitely, while Krystkowiak is expected to miss at least one more game. In need of a backup center, the Jazz called on Donaldson, who was working out in Seattle all winter, hoping to get a call from an NBA team.
"I didn't dare leave Seattle," he said. "As soon as you quit thinking about playing or go on a vacation, the phone rings. I just tried to stay around and keep a positive attitude."
For a number of years the Jazz have kept a positive attitude about Donaldson. As far back as the mid80s, the Jazz attempted to trade to get Donaldson. But due to disagreements over contracts, or simply the mechanics of getting trades done, things never worked out.
"He's always been a guy we've tried to get," said Scott Layden, the Jazz's director of basketball operations. "We tried to trade to get him a few years ago. We wanted him and Mark (Eaton) to work together. But we just couldn't work it out."
While the parties looked at one another from afar, they never connected. The Jazz watched Donaldson's career progress from Seattle to the Clippers to Dallas. Last season Donaldson was traded to the New York Knicks in February. But after becoming a free agent following the season, he returned to his home in Seattle and began working out daily.
"I think we have very good memories - well, I guess you'd say bad memories - of what James Donaldson did against us," continued Layden.
Donaldson, meanwhile, said he watched teams that had concerns at center - such as the Jazz, with Eaton out due to knee surgery early in the year - "and tucked the information in my back pocket and waited."
With Eaton out for knee surgery before the season began, the Jazz attempted to acquire Donaldson again. But contract disagreements and the uncertainty of Eaton's status kept the sides from agreeing last fall. Nevertheless, when Donaldson's agent called him Wednesday, there was only one question: "How fast can you get on a plane?"
"This is very, very exciting," said Donaldson. "I would sit in the house and watch a lot of highlights on the tube. But a lot of times I'd get depressed because I wasn't part of it."
Donaldson's career has been steady, though not spectacular. A 12-year veteran - he will be 36 in August - Donaldson was selected by Seattle in the fourth round (73rd overall) in the 1979 NBA Draft, after playing four years at Washington State. He spent a season in Europe, then three years with Seattle before being traded to the San Diego Clippers in 1983. After three seasons with the Clippers - which included the franchise's move to L.A. - he moved to Dallas in 1986, where he played until being sent to New York last winter.
A good hook shot and a decent 10-foot jump-shot have helped Donaldson become the fifth-best shooter in league history (.570). In 1984-85 he recorded a sensational .637 field goal percentage. He carries an 8.9 career scoring average.
When he arrived Wednesday in Salt Lake, Jazz officials were ecstatic about Donaldson's conditioning ("He's in terrific shape," said Layden) and dispatched him for 14 minutes worth of duty against the Blazers Thursday night. He played strong defense on Portland's Kevin Duckworth, collected five rebounds and added four points.
"We were amazed at how well he did for his first night back," said Layden.
Layden said he returned home after Thursday's game to find his wife asking why the Jazz didn't pick up Donaldson sooner. "I told her I have the same question," said Layden. "I have no idea."