Maxx Wolfson

Here is how a phone call from former UA power forward Michael Wright - who decided to skip his senior season at Arizona to declare for the NBA draft, only to be cut by the New York Knicks two weeks ago - might have sounded to his agent (his uncle) this weekend.

MW: Um, yeahˇ I, uh, think I made a mistake.

Agent: No, Michael you did the right thing, trust me. It will all work out. I got this ABA thing in the works. Hold on nephew, I'm on the other line. (Agent to another client, "Hold on one second here. I got to convince my nephew that he made the right move by leaving school early.") OK, I'm back. What do you need?

MW: I don't know anymore. My former teammates at Arizona are actually better than I thought. I thought they had no chance to win the tournament without me. Making it in Madison Square Garden is harder than you think. Even if it wouldn't have helped my draft status by staying around for my senior year, it has to be more fun than playing for the Phoenix Eclipse of the American Basketball Association.

Agent: Come on, Mikey baby, don't get down right now. Things will turn around for you; I got some things in the works.

MW: Thanks for keeping my sprits high, but I just don't feel wanted anymore. I knew it would be hard to make an NBA team, but I didn't realize I would end up playing in the ABA. It would have made more sense to stay at Arizona. I mean, it would have been so much fun to play with these new freshmen. Imagine how many assists I could have had kicking the ball out to Salim Stoudimire for three pointers.

Or how nice it would have been to have rebounders like Isaiah Fox, Channing Frye and Dennis Latimore to complement me in the paint. And what better teacher is there than Lute? The guy is amazing. I haven't even gotten to Will Bynum yet. This kid can fly out of the building. If I had half the vertical leap that he has, I might have actually made it on an NBA squad.

I know this year's squad is young and missing nearly everyone from last season - especially me - but they showed me something we lacked all last year - heart. I thought they had no chance to beat Maryland, let alone Florida.

Agent: Interesting, tell me more about this Bynum kid.

MW: Come on man, this is about me now.

Agent: Sorry Mikey, continue. (Agent to his secretary with his hand covering the phone: "Hey honey get me in touch with Bynum ASAP because this kid is going to be something special. Maybe we can talk him into leaving early, too. Haha.")

MW: Help me here. I just don't know what to do.

Agent: Try out this ABA league for a little while. I mean the league is packed with potential NBA players. Remember Ed O'Bannon and his brother Charles? They will both be in the league. Pretty exciting stuff, huh?

Keep this in mind, though. You need to put yourself in the spotlight. You need to get your name out there. You should have been in New York with Richard Jefferson all weekend. He realized that by being at the game, ESPN would put him on TV.

MW: Since you are my agent, doesn't it make it your job to tell me about stuff like that? I should have never hired family to represent me. I really wanted to play in the NBA, and now it looks like that might not happen. I wish I could've faked a back injury like Gilbert did and go on the injured reserve, because then, at least, I would still be on the Knicks roster.

Agent: Don't worry, Gil will be in your position soon enough, it appears.

MW: (click) Hold on, there's another callˇ(switches lines)ˇHello?

Owner of the Phoenix Eclipse: Hi! Michael?

MW: Yes?

Owner: Yeah, I'm sorry to tell you this, but we're waiving you for Robertas Javtokas.

MW: You've got to be kidding me!

Owner: Afraid not! Cheerio!

MW: (switches lines) I can't believe it! I just got waived by an ABA team!

Agent: Oh man, that's too bad.

MW: So, what do you know about Europe?

Agent: I heard some team in Siberia is looking for an undersized power forward. Interested?