| | ATLANTA -- Isaiah Rider was released by the Atlanta Hawks on
Friday night after he refused to accept a three-game suspension for
showing up late for a game.
Rider called himself the scapegoat for the Hawks' problems and
accused two of his teammates, Dikembe Mutombo and LaPhonso Ellis,
of going to team management with allegations of marijuana abuse.
"It's not fun to be with a team that doesn't want you around
and is looking for a reason to get rid of you," said Rider, who
led the Hawks in scoring but had been used sparingly since he
showed up late for a March 9 game against San Antonio.
Rider, who has continually run afoul of team rules since he was
acquired from Portland in August, was told after the last incident
that he would be suspended for three games if he was late again.
When he showed up 10 minutes late for Friday night's game
against Boston, general manager Pete Babcock told Rider he couldn't
play.
The two talked in the tunnel leading to the court for most of
the third quarter. Rider turned down the three-game suspension and
asked to be waived. The Hawks complied.
"This was an experiment that didn't work," Babcock said after
a 114-90 loss to the Celtics dropped the Hawks to 24-40.
Rider claimed that Mutombo and Ellis went to Babcock a couple of
months ago with allegations of drug use. Babcock, according to
Rider, reported the charges to the NBA.
"Everyone wonders why I was moody at times," said Rider, who
was convicted of misdemeanor marijuana possession when he played
with the Portland Trail Blazers. "I had to deal with players going
to the league with accusations that were unproven or anything.
"They had not seen anything. They had not smelled anything. It
was just a vicious attack on J.R."
Mutombo and Ellis denied Rider's version of events.
"I don't know anything about that," Ellis said. "I've always
treated my teammates like brothers. Everything stays within the
family. If I had a problem with him, I would go to him. It's just
sad that he would accuse me of that."
Added Mutombo, "Somebody has got to be blamed. I'm glad it was
me."
The Hawks refused to criticize Rider, with Babcock going to far
as to say "we failed him as far as providing the kind of
environment he was looking for." But there was clearly a sense of
relief that Rider wouldn't be around to cause any more
distractions.
"He's a great guy, but he's different," Mutombo said. "That's
the only way to describe him."
Rider had played sparingly since the San Antonio incident,
averaging 2.8 points and 11.3 minutes in four games. In a loss to
Indiana on Wednesday night, he scored one basket in seven minutes
and spent the rest of the night at the end of the bench. At one
point, he clapped along with a small contingent of fans who
chanted, "We want Rider!"
Rider, who was averaging 19.3 points per game, already had been
suspended twice by the Hawks and fined repeatedly.
He has complained about playing for a team in a rebuilding mode
and said last month he didn't mind getting released by the Hawks if
they couldn't work out a trade. The deadline passed without a deal,
but the team was reluctant to cut Rider loose in hopes of working
out a sign-and-trade deal after the season.
Rider is making $5.4 million in the final year of his contract.
The 29-year-old guard came to the Hawks in August along with Jim
Jackson in a deal that sent Steve Smith, one of the NBA's most
reliable players, to Portland.
Rider created trouble right away, missing the opening day of
training camp. He was excused from the team's Nov. 2 opener so he
could attend his grandfather's funeral, but then failed to return
for practice and was fined.
Rider was suspended for one game after he missed practice the
day before a Nov. 18 game against Charlotte, saying his car had
been vandalized. Babcock noted at the time that Rider did not need
a car to get to Philips Arena, which is located a short walk from
his hotel.
He was suspended again Dec. 30 for missing a team flight and
shootaround prior to a loss at Detroit. Rider showed up about an
hour before the game, refused to explain his absence to the media
and was banned from the team's flight home.
His history of NBA offenses dates back to his first pro practice
with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1993, when he showed up late.
Other problems have included feuds with coaches and a conviction
for assault. | |
ALSO SEE
Optimistic Celtics beat Rider-less Hawks
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Isaiah Rider talks about his release and blames it on his teamates.
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