Jazz owner Larry H. Miller said Thursday that rookie Luther Wright must "re-earn his role on the team and the respect of his teammates, the community and himself" or suffer the consequences - which could include the voiding of his contract.
Miller said all standard NBA contracts include a "morals clause," which states if a player does things that "aren't in the best interest of the team and basketball," they can be suspended without pay or even cut without pay."With the track record he's developed up to this point, and you look at all the components, I think we can make a strong (morals clause) case right now," said Miller. "But only as a last resort."
The Jazz owner said invoking the morals clause could end up in arbitration. "But that's our recourse. But at some point you've got to look and see how disruptive this guy is to the team, whether you're paying him or not. You have to ask yourself, `Is he hurting or helping us?' " continued Miller.
Even without invoking the morals clause, a team can cut players. However, the team must then pay the remainder of the contract. That option would be expensive. The Jazz have signed Wright to a five-year, $5 million contract, though only three years of the contract are guaranteed. Three years would amount to about $3.1 million.
Wright made news this week when he was cited for investigation of disorderly conduct and jailed. He was discovered early Monday morning banging on garbage cans and yelling at a rest stop near Saltair. His agent, Sal DiFazio, said Wright reacted to taking the wrong dosages of Ritalin, which had been prescribed for him by a doctor. Wright was released on $100 bond, then sent to a Salt Lake area hospital for rehabilitation.
The incident Monday wasn't the first in which Wright has been involved since being drafted by the Jazz last June. Two sources told the Deseret News that Wright was ordered to leave the Delta Center last summer during a circus for "being obnoxious" and standing in the performers' area. He was fined and suspended one game by coach Jerry Sloan for missing several weight lifting sessions early in the year and later fined the cost of a plane ticket for missing a flight to Minneapolis.
Wright has suffered from weight problems since college. Though he dropped 42 pounds during the summer, he gained some of that back once the season began. He also missed training camp due to heart palpitations and 10 regular-season games due to a shoulder injury.
DiFazio said this week that Wright suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder, which can affect one's decisionmaking abilities. Though DiFazio said the condition was diagnosed two or three years ago, he was unaware of the problem when he signed Wright as a client. The Jazz say they didn't know about the problem when they drafted him in June.
Miller said problems Wright is having are harder to deal with than simple player injuries. "This situation is a little tougher," he said. "It's tougher just because you wonder how you got yourself into it."
The Jazz routinely do background checks on draft prospects, talking to friends, coaches, trainers, teachers and even checking as far back as junior high school. Miller said Wright received good recommendations.
Asked if they felt misled, Miller replied, "Yeah, we do. I'm not going to lie. We feel like we were sold down the river by them."
Miller said people who talked with the Jazz about Wright, including sources at Seton Hall, where he played college ball, didn't tell all they knew about Wright's problems. (Wright, it should be noted, didn't have any police record in college.)
Asked if there is a time to cut their losses and divorce themselves from Wright, Miller said, "To be honest with you, if I told you I hadn't thought about it, I'd be lying. The question I struggle with is, `Do we have an obligation to try to rehab this guy beyond the reasons for basketball?' I don't know that we do. But I don't know that we don't. I've gone through a couple of periods where I've just been angry at him."
Miller said Wright hasn't responded to coaches and others trying to help him adjust to life in the NBA. "Really, the major issue here in the long run is: Does he have the capacity to grasp what this game is about and make the commitment, or does he do what so many other young guys do and squander the opportunity of a lifetime?"
Miller continued, "We've got to be worried about Luther as a person, yet ultimately, the key question is, can this guy . . . play in the NBA for a season or a long career, and those are questions only he can answer. He's definitely got a lot going against him."
If Wright returns to the team and demonstrates responsibility and commitment, Miller said he will consider the player a wise investment. "If not, especially after this experience," the Jazz owner continued, "then I think we could probably safely say we wasted our time."
Miller was uncertain how long it will be before Wright can rejoin the team. Wright was placed on the injured list Thursday, which means he must miss a minimum of five games.
Miller concluded, "The first step is to wait and see how long it takes Luther to get back. Assuming he can do that, then it should manifest itself within two to five days whether he can still function as a member of the team. If he can, then we'll continue on the trail, kind of like we're back to square one with him. If he won't, then we'll just have to deal with whatever remedies are available.
"By far the first choice is to have him a member of the team and re-earn his role on the team and the respect of his teammates, the community and himself, and get this back on track. But it's pretty clear he's got to reach deep inside himself."