Nenad Krstic is upset that he won't play in the NBA this season, but the one-time Nets cornerstone player promises to be back.
"That's my plan," said Krstic, who signed a two-year deal with Triumph in Moscow on Monday. "I'm going to try to play really good in Russia and see what's going to happen."
Triumph and Krstic imposed a deadline of midnight Monday for an NBA team to sign him or the Nets to work out a sign-and-trade for the restricted free agent 7-footer.
Nothing materialized, although team president Rod Thorn said the Nets were close to doing something. The Bulls contemplated giving up a $5.2 million trade exception and a future first-rounder in a sign-and-trade but needed more time. Krstic didn't have that. The Nets also talked to the Grizzlies and Heat.
Krstic got an offer of three years for $15 million from Cleveland. But the Triumph deal -- considering today's exchange rate and that it's tax-free -- would be worth about $20 million annually if Krstic stays both years trumped all.
"I was upset because nobody really offered me something good," Krstic said from Russia before boarding an plane for Beijing. "I was ready to take less money and stay in the NBA, but nobody really offered me something."
"I didn't want that," Krstic said of the Cleveland deal. "When you look at big guys in the NBA, they signed really big contracts. I know I am on that level. I know I'm healthy right now. I took that like disrespect."
(C) 2008 The Record, Bergen County, NJ. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
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