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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, July 22, 2008

LOW
Low mulling Australia offer

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Derrick Low, who starred at Washington State University, is considering an offer from the West Sydney Razorbacks.

Special to The Honolulu Advertiser

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Derrick Low's path to the NBA may soon take a detour Down Under, as he is considering an offer to play for the West Sydney Razorbacks in Australia's National Basketball League.

Low, a 2004 'Iolani School graduate from Honolulu, is playing for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA's Rocky Mountain Revue summer league in Salt Lake City. He logged 2 minutes, 32 seconds of action yesterday in an 84-77 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, with no statistics.

Low, a 6-foot-2 point guard, played sparingly in four games for the Mavericks in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 5.8 minutes per game. He told The Advertiser yesterday he would finish the Rocky Mountain Revue season, which ends Friday, then make a final decision on whether to sign with West Sydney.

"I haven't signed anything yet," Low said.

But Low said his Los Angeles-based agent, Sam Goldfeder, recently talked to Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle and assistant coach Dwane Casey and the recommendation was to get pro experience overseas.

"Rick Carlisle said he liked me a lot, but Dwane Casey said I gotta work on a few things," Low said. "(Goldfeder) said the (Phoenix) Suns and (Minnesota) Timberwolves had interest and there's a chance I may get invited to their fall camp, but the longer you wait, the more money you pass up overseas."

Low's father, Ken, estimated a West Sydney offer could be worth about $70,000, plus free housing and transportation. Low also reportedly has offers on the table from Europe.

"I've got tons of offers, and Sam's job is to look at all of them and see which one would be best," Low said. "(West Sydney) looks like a good situation, because it's closer to home, there's no language barrier and (the salary) is tax-free. The coach called and said I would get to play 40 minutes right away, and that I would be expected to score so I would get the green light."

The most playing time Low has received in any game with the Mavericks was 7 minutes, 22 seconds, and he did not play at all in two games. Low, a three-time Advertiser State Player of the Year in high school and four-year starter at Washington State University, said coming off the bench cold late in the game and being expected to produce immediately has been a challenge.

"Going from playing every single minute (in college) to coming in just for 3 1/2 minutes in the second half and then being expected to hit shots and make plays right away ... that's been the only hard part," Low said. "Other than that, I feel real comfortable (with the competition level)."

Each of the Australia NBL's 13 teams plays a 30-game schedule that runs from late September through mid-February.

Last week, West Sydney announced the team name will change to the "Sydney Spirit" for the upcoming season.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.