Wafer joins Olympiakos; Taylor among candidates to replace role

by Tom Martin on Aug 10, 2009 3:51 PM CDT in Blogging stuff Comment 3 comments

As OAL pointed out last night, Von Wafer will be joining Greek club Olympiakos, reportedly for $5 million over 2 years.

Von Wafer (196-G-85, college: Florida St.) is about to join the Greek powerhouse Olympiakos. The 24-year-old guard spent the last season in the NBA playing for the Houston Rockets. He averaged 9.5 points, 1.7 boards and 1.1 assists per game.

The Rockets weren't about to pay Wafer that kind of money and instead opted to sign a comparable talent in Jermaine Taylor to a cheaper deal. Chase Budinger and James White will also be in contention for Wafer's vacated role off the bench, assuming the latter two make the team.

Wafer's departure comes without shock or surprise, and though he performed well when called upon last season, replacing his one-dimensional game should be relatively easy. Taylor and Budinger have both shown that they can shoot the ball well from outside, and it's safe to assume that each can outperform Wafer's paltry rebound and assist numbers.

However, all quibs concerning Wafer's on-court shortcomings aside, the Von Hawk will be missed. He was a shock of lightening off the bench and was the only healthy throw-down dunk artist that the Rockets employed, as Ron Artest rarily lept more than a few inches off the ground.

He had his moments, but hopefully with his new club, as Kelly Dwyer points out in his latest BDL piece, Wafer will relax his game and lose the perfectionist attitude that wound up getting him de-benched against the Lakers.

Best of luck to him eventually finding a permanent home. And who knows - maybe he could return in a few years?

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Yes

As exciting as it was to see Von finish on a fast break, he was a defensive liability and a ball movement vortex. he is easily replaceable, although he didnt think so. wish the best for him tho.

Its so damn hot... milk was a bad choice

by Golden Ratio on Aug 11, 2009 4:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Im with you guys

Even though he was one of the better athletes on the team and probably in the league, i feel like at this point in his career he should have developed a better defensive game and a less out of control offensive game. I wish him the best and hope he gets to Europe and irons out his flaws, but i’m ready to see what the rookies can do.

by shaqui chan on Aug 11, 2009 8:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

just hope taylor...

can bring the same intensity. true von did have his flaws, but i loved knowing that if even the slimmest lane opened up he was looking to throw it down. but whats done is done, let the new class come in and show us something. thought budinger would be signed first, hope they get him next, and i’d like to see dorsey get a couple of years maybe with decent pay.

"Waiting for the return of the Mac"

"Let VY loose, give him the chance to play his heart out. for himself, for the titans...and for mcnair"

by kg_2005 on Aug 11, 2009 9:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs