Von Wafer's Comeback:It only took Von Wafer five months to realize that he wanted to be back in the NBA. After signing with Olympiakos last summer, Wafer wanted to return to the league so badly that he paid $1.2 million to buyout his contract with the Greek team and immediately received interest from the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets.
"This is great," Wafer told a Houston television station in February. "Oh my goodness, I'm so happy, I'm about to start crying. I want to play in the NBA."
Shortly after, the emotions behind those tears changed. Wafer would fail his physical with both the Grizzlies and Rockets and his return to the NBA would be put on hold.
But now, Wafer is healthy and planning a comeback.
"I went to San Antonio's free agent workout and it was pretty intense," he told HOOPSWORLD. "We had two workouts and I've been working out on my own and just getting stronger every day. I feel good."
Wafer has been training with his high school coach in Lisbon, Louisiana, and feels like he can still make an impact on an NBA team.
"I bring a lot of energy, a whole lot of energy. I feel like I can contribute. I feel like that one hundred percent but it doesn't matter how I feel. I need just one general manager out there that feels the same way I do but I feel like it's just a matter of someone giving me the opportunity to play," he said.
Getting an opportunity to play is what first prompted Wafer to join Linas Kleiza and Josh Childress in Greece. He felt it would give him the chance to start and take on an increased role.
"I went to Greece because I just wanted to play," he explained. "I wanted to get playing time which is why I first went over there. I was coming off of a good season in Houston and I wanted to continue to play and get better. But then it was very emotional for me [failing the physicals]. Just up and down. I was happy one minute and sad the next. It was an emotional rollercoaster," he said.
But now Wafer is on a mission to prove that he's once again ready for NBA competiton and he's not backing down from anyone.
"If you were soft, you would get exposed in those free agent workouts because it's all about another guy going at you. We were going at it the entire workout, it was really competitive," he said.
Several teams have shown interest in the guard, who averaged career highs across the board before leaving for Greece. The Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets have each expressed some interest in Wafer.
"It feels really good. I'm happy that there are teams out there that still like me and feel that I can play. That makes me feel really good," he said.
When asked where he would like to play, Wafer laughs.
"One of the guys in San Antonio asked me that too! He said, 'If you didn't end up with the Spurs, where would you want to play?' I would probably have to say playing with King James. He just seems like so much fun to play with. They're doing the high fives, playing with a lot of energy. It just seems like a lot of fun," he said.
The two played together in the 2003 McDonald's All-American Game and Wafer finished second behind James in the competition's dunk contest. But saying he wants to play with James doesn't exactly give us a team at this point, does it?
"Nah, he's going back to Cleveland!" Wafer said with a laugh. "I'm pretty sure, trust me."
While James and the other top tier free agents are receiving much of the attention now, Wafer is hoping to sign with a team in the next few weeks and continue his NBA career right where it left off.
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by ace3g on Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:16 pm 
Why can't they be stupid like Memphis or NY?
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