Dalembert parts ways with Canadian team
It was unclear whether the Sixer left the squad or was dismissed by coach Leo Rautins.
LAS VEGAS - Samuel Dalembert is no longer on the Canadian national basketball team.It is unclear whether Canadian coach Leo Rautins gave the 76ers' starting center marching orders or whether Dalembert left on his own. But after Canada beat Korea in Athens, Greece, yesterday without Dalembert, Rautins told the media: "He's not on the team. I'll leave it at that."
Rautins, who could not be reached for comment, went on to say, "Everyone who is here wants to be here and wants to be on this team."
The Sports Network of Canada reported that Dalembert had a confrontation with a Canadian team official.
Dalembert, a 27-year-old native of Haiti who attended high school in Montreal, joined the Canadian national team last August, ostensibly to help Canada earn an Olympic berth.
The center averaged 10.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game last season for the Sixers.
The Canadian team is at an Olympic qualifying tournament in Athens. Canada advanced to play Croatia in the quarterfinals. The top three teams will play in Beijing.
After an 86-70 loss to Slovenia on Tuesday, Rautins criticized Dalembert's effort in the postgame news conference, saying: "He never got on track offensively or defensively. I didn't see him leave the floor to challenge people defensively, and on the offensive end he struggled not only with his shooting but with the decision-making behind the shots."
Dalembert finished that game 1 for 8 from the floor with four rebounds.
The 6-foot-11 center's agent, Marc Cornstein, could not be reached for comment. He told Canada's National Post that he had not spoken to his client, who was still in Greece.
"I think it's unbelievably disappointing and wrong to even hint at all to his [lack] of commitment to the national team," Cornstein told the newspaper.
"If Sammy isn't there or isn't committed to Team Canada or the country as a whole, what would his reason for being there have been?"
The Canadian national team is scheduled to play the U.S. national team in the 2008 State Farm USA Basketball Challenge on July 25 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Iguodala selected. Yesterday, USA Basketball named the Sixers' Andre Iguodala to the USA basketball men's select team that will help prepare the senior national team for the Olympics. Iguodala is one of 10 players chosen for the team, which also includes Kevin Durant, O.J. Mayo and Derrick Rose.
Iguodala averaged 19.9 points per game last season for the Sixers. He is a restricted free agent, which means the Sixers have the right to match any offer he receives.
Ed Stefanski, the Sixers' general manager, said yesterday that the team met with Iguodala's agent, Rob Pelinka, on Tuesday in Las Vegas, where the Sixers are competing in the NBA Summer League.
Stefanski said the two sides would keep talking and added that the team aimed to bring back Iguodala along with guard Lou Williams, also a restricted free agent.
As for Dalembert, Stefanski said he had not spoken with him.
"He was very excited about playing this summer and playing for Canada," Stefanski said. "Until I know all the facts, I can't say too much. Sam is great to be around, he's very coachable, he's a fun kid. We're very happy with him."
Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks was also in the dark, saying he had not spoken to Dalembert and had no knowledge of the situation.
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