Basketball: Talks sideline Marks

By DAVID LEGGAT

Sean Marks won't be in action against Puerto Rico today, but the Tall Blacks' NBA contender insists he will suit up for the Olympics in Athens next month.

Marks hopes to nail a contract with the San Antonio Spurs. No one - Marks, Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin, Marks' agents - knows when those negotiations will end.

In the meantime, the 28-year-old, 2.1m forward or centre is restricted to training drills and learning the Tall Blacks patterns at their pre-Olympics camp in Jacksonville, Florida.

"It's frustrating," he said yesterday. "I'd love to be out there doing more but right now I can't."

Should he pick up an injury the Spurs are less likely to be interested in negotiating than with a fully-fit player. And as for the Tall Blacks' anxiety to get Marks on court, the Spurs' order of business includes rosters, salary issues and signing other players, but not fitting in with New Zealand's Olympic campaign.

"I am 100 per cent certain I will play in Athens. I should know this week, but Puerto Rico is almost certainly out," Marks added.

"It is my job and livelihood [at stake], it's out of my control."

Baldwin said he knew nothing of the possible holdup before leaving New Zealand, but added that in fairness, Marks and his agent may not have known the Spurs would step forward to express any interest.

Should the issue drag on, Baldwin may be forced to make a call on replacing Marks in the Olympic team, but that is some way off. He will leave that unpalatable decision as late as possible.

"Sean has been asked to be patient and by proxy we are asked to be patient but we have been [told by] his agent that we can expect resolution in the very, very short term," Baldwin said last night.

The Tall Blacks' other US-based front-line player, shooting guard Kirk Penney, joined the squad yesterday from playing for the Chicago Bulls in a summer league tournament in Salt Lake City.

Baldwin said the classy guard would probably get some court time today but was understandably rusty on team tactics.