Quentin Richardson Press Conference Transcript
Quentin Richardson
How much did playing for a winner factor in to your decision to join the Magic?
“That was my primary objective to be with a winning team. I told Otis that when he talked to me. The few teams that it came down to in the end were all contenders and teams that are in position to compete for a title. That is what I am coming here for, to help this team compete for a title.”
Did you think about going back to the Heat after they signed Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh?
“Definitely, there was a lot of consideration and I have a lot of respect for Pat Riley, Micky Arison and their whole organization for bringing me there last year and giving me my opportunity to be a part of that team and do well this year. I thank them mightily for that. It came down to me considering them heavily, but I felt like this is the best situation for me and I feel like we have just as good a chance to win the championship. We have a lot of work to do that.”
Does the Magic’s system of playing with a green light from the three appeal to you?
“I think so. I can get used to that. I definitely watched them and have competed against them a lot. I think the biggest thing is that they have the big fellow (Dwight Howard) in the middle. He is the one guy that nobody can really match up with in the league. I think that gives us a little tilt to the hat.”
Was playing with Dwight Howard the deciding factor on signing here?
“That definitely played a huge part, knowing that you have the big young kid who is going to be here for a long time and is going to be a force for a long time. They (the Heat) do have the guys they have but on any given night, different guys can compete and matchup and outplay some of those guys. I think Dwight is the one guy, that, when he is locked in, there is no answer for.”
Do you have friendships within the Magic’s basketball team?
“I played with Chris Duhon. I talked with him over the weekend. We were both in New Orleans for different weddings but we bumped into each other there. I’ve known Rashard (Lewis) since high school. We played in camps and the McDonald’s game and all those things together. Being in the league, you know a lot of different guys here and there like Jameer (Nelson) and those guys. So, it’s not going to be a hard thing, I am pretty smooth with moving into situations and being able to fit into the group. I never have had any problems with that.”
Did this summer feel slow compared to last summer?
“It’s not much different. Last summer there was a lot of moving around but I didn’t really move that much. I was idle waiting for my agent to take care of things. He pretty much told me the same thing this summer – to sit tight, let him get situated and he would come to me when he had something for me.”
What is it like to have a chance to compete with the Miami Heat?
“I’m excited. When I made my decision, everyone knows Dwyane Wade is one of my good buddies and I called him to let him know what I was going to do. He was definitely disappointed to see me walking away. But he knows me. He knows that every time we go out there it is going to be like a war. We laughed about the in-state rivalry zone. He knows that I am going to play him like I don’t know him but that we will be cool after the game. He knows that I am definitely going to come and compete and play my hardest against him, LeBron, Chris Bosh and the rest of those guys. Just like anybody else.”
Did LeBron try to recruit you?
“I talked to Dwyane Wade a lot. The other two guys probably left it up to him to recruit myself and Udonis (Haslem). I had a lot of conversations with Dwyane Wade.”
When did you first hear from the Magic?
“I told my agent initially that I didn’t want to hear anything until he had some offers so I never really asked. The first time I talked to him about Orlando was last week and we began discussing different situations and things like that. From that point, especially after the LeBron decision, things happened pretty quickly for me.”
What can you look forward to playing with Dwight?
“For 3-point shooting, it is going to give you a lot of open shots because he demands a lot of attention down there. From a defensive standpoint, this will probably be one of my favorite years to play because it allows me to be more aggressive and do some different things as far as pushing up on people and not worrying so much that if I do get beat, that there is going to be a dunk. I’ve definitely been on the other end of getting some shots erased by the big Dwight. So I find comfort in that.”
Do you feel more comfortable playing shooting guard or small forward?
“The wing is the wing, it doesn’t really matter because when you are out on the court it is just numbers, it’s just positions. You are going to guard who you are going to guard. Some coaches may say that if we are playing LeBron and D-Wade for instance, I may be better to guard LeBron or if we push Rashard (Lewis) to the three, then I may guard D-Wade. It just depends but it doesn’t really matter.”
How will Wade handle playing with other players that demand the ball?
“I think that’s a question for Dwyane. I think he’ll do fine with those guys. From everything I know about Dwyane, he is a winner and he wants to win and he will do what it takes and make sacrifices. I think he has shown that so far but as far as anything else, I’m like anyone else and I’m going to have to wait and see.”
What you talked with Coach Van Gundy?
“I’ve definitely talked to him and still I’m still in communication with him back and forth. We’ve been talking about the things he expects from me but we will leave that between me and him and we are going to work towards getting better with this team.”
Were you surprised by Miami’s offseason moves?
“In a situation like that I think I was like everyone else. You never really know, you are just sitting back waiting to see what happens. Like I said, D-Wade didn’t really know until right close to the end so I didn’t really know how it was going to work out, I was just a spectator.”
What are the biggest games you have played in?
“Easily Phoenix and my last year in Miami because we were competitive teams and made the playoffs. In Phoenix we made a serious push. We had the best record in the league and made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals and lost to the eventual champion Spurs. Those were definitely my biggest games and biggest moments. I think the fact that I was in Phoenix and we did as well as we did and then when I left Phoenix and didn’t sniff the playoffs for the next three or four years and then last year being back, that’s a feeling I don’t want to lose. I want to be there every year.”
Is Miami the favorite in the East?
“Possibly on paper, but I know 29 other teams going to training camp gearing up to go fight with them. As we know, anything can happen in the NBA season. I know when I go strap up against them I’m not going to go play them like they are the favorite, I’m going to play them like they are human beings and men, just like me. They can be beat too.”
Thoughts on playing against Dwight?
“I just know the thought process when going to the hole, you are always watching and looking for him and he’s in the back of your mind. It’s not like when you are playing against people that aren’t him, you aren’t as aware of where they are as opposed to him, because Dwight comes from seemingly everywhere and gets in from anywhere. I know that right there gives me more confidence having to guard a LeBron or D-Wade, knowing I can really push it to them and I got the terminator back there.”
Do you look forward to guarding the other team’s best wing player?
“That is something I have grown to like taking that challenge because I know that those are always going to be the elite players and I know if I do well I give my team that much of a better chance at winning and that’s the way I can affect the game without touching the ball.”
Have you selected a uniform number?
“Five.”
Otis Smith
“Our objective to start the summer was to fill a few holes at the back-up point guard and the wing position. We filled the back-up point guard last week with (Chris) Duhon and we now fill the wing position with Quentin. Quentin has the opportunity to start with any team and he will have that same opportunity here. There will be a good battle to watch between our wing guys. But it gives us a little bit more flexibility and I am happy he agreed to come and play with us and with the guys we have. Our objective is to keep getting singles and this is another single.”
How does Quentin’s signing effect the signings of Matt Barnes and J.J. Redick?
“It is part of the flexibility, actually both of those things are, that Quentin can play both of those spots and it also gives us flexibility as we sit here and decide what we are going to do as it relates to J.J. We have a very capable player here and we will still have flexibility with those things.”
Have you made up your mind on the J.J. situation?
“I haven’t made up my mind but we’ll talk about it and think about it over the next few days. I haven’t woken up and had that revelation yet. It’s not going to be all my revelation, it’s probably going to be Rich (DeVos) and Bob (Vander Weide) that have that revelation as well.”
Is the J.J. decision more of an ownership decision because of the luxury tax?
“Sure. I think I get a little bit of insight from there. Pretty much every decision we have made here as it relates to this basketball team, ownership is heavily involved. I think I’ve said all along, if we don’t have the best owners in pro sports, then it would be hard pressed to find better. They have stepped up to the plate every time I’ve asked them to step up to the plate and I’m sure this decision won’t come easy but I’m sure they will step up to the plate if we ask them to do it again.”
Are there other things you are working on before Friday’s deadline on J.J.?
“I don’t think it stops. I think you are always looking to see how you can make things work a little bit better from a flexibility standpoint. So I don’t think it necessarily stops even on Friday, but we will look at it.”
Thoughts on George Steinbrenner passing away?
“It is a tough one because we have lost an icon and it seems that we have been losing icons monthly. George was a passionate owner from day one and a lot of owners since him have taken up some of the things that he has done over the years. I think we lost a guy that was near and dear to New York and a guy that was near and dear to professional sports. You can either like him or love him but you can’t question his passion for the Yankees, not ever.”
How much did playing for a winner factor in to your decision to join the Magic?
“That was my primary objective to be with a winning team. I told Otis that when he talked to me. The few teams that it came down to in the end were all contenders and teams that are in position to compete for a title. That is what I am coming here for, to help this team compete for a title.”
Did you think about going back to the Heat after they signed Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh?
“Definitely, there was a lot of consideration and I have a lot of respect for Pat Riley, Micky Arison and their whole organization for bringing me there last year and giving me my opportunity to be a part of that team and do well this year. I thank them mightily for that. It came down to me considering them heavily, but I felt like this is the best situation for me and I feel like we have just as good a chance to win the championship. We have a lot of work to do that.”
Does the Magic’s system of playing with a green light from the three appeal to you?
“I think so. I can get used to that. I definitely watched them and have competed against them a lot. I think the biggest thing is that they have the big fellow (Dwight Howard) in the middle. He is the one guy that nobody can really match up with in the league. I think that gives us a little tilt to the hat.”
Was playing with Dwight Howard the deciding factor on signing here?
“That definitely played a huge part, knowing that you have the big young kid who is going to be here for a long time and is going to be a force for a long time. They (the Heat) do have the guys they have but on any given night, different guys can compete and matchup and outplay some of those guys. I think Dwight is the one guy, that, when he is locked in, there is no answer for.”
Do you have friendships within the Magic’s basketball team?
“I played with Chris Duhon. I talked with him over the weekend. We were both in New Orleans for different weddings but we bumped into each other there. I’ve known Rashard (Lewis) since high school. We played in camps and the McDonald’s game and all those things together. Being in the league, you know a lot of different guys here and there like Jameer (Nelson) and those guys. So, it’s not going to be a hard thing, I am pretty smooth with moving into situations and being able to fit into the group. I never have had any problems with that.”
Did this summer feel slow compared to last summer?
“It’s not much different. Last summer there was a lot of moving around but I didn’t really move that much. I was idle waiting for my agent to take care of things. He pretty much told me the same thing this summer – to sit tight, let him get situated and he would come to me when he had something for me.”
What is it like to have a chance to compete with the Miami Heat?
“I’m excited. When I made my decision, everyone knows Dwyane Wade is one of my good buddies and I called him to let him know what I was going to do. He was definitely disappointed to see me walking away. But he knows me. He knows that every time we go out there it is going to be like a war. We laughed about the in-state rivalry zone. He knows that I am going to play him like I don’t know him but that we will be cool after the game. He knows that I am definitely going to come and compete and play my hardest against him, LeBron, Chris Bosh and the rest of those guys. Just like anybody else.”
Did LeBron try to recruit you?
“I talked to Dwyane Wade a lot. The other two guys probably left it up to him to recruit myself and Udonis (Haslem). I had a lot of conversations with Dwyane Wade.”
When did you first hear from the Magic?
“I told my agent initially that I didn’t want to hear anything until he had some offers so I never really asked. The first time I talked to him about Orlando was last week and we began discussing different situations and things like that. From that point, especially after the LeBron decision, things happened pretty quickly for me.”
What can you look forward to playing with Dwight?
“For 3-point shooting, it is going to give you a lot of open shots because he demands a lot of attention down there. From a defensive standpoint, this will probably be one of my favorite years to play because it allows me to be more aggressive and do some different things as far as pushing up on people and not worrying so much that if I do get beat, that there is going to be a dunk. I’ve definitely been on the other end of getting some shots erased by the big Dwight. So I find comfort in that.”
Do you feel more comfortable playing shooting guard or small forward?
“The wing is the wing, it doesn’t really matter because when you are out on the court it is just numbers, it’s just positions. You are going to guard who you are going to guard. Some coaches may say that if we are playing LeBron and D-Wade for instance, I may be better to guard LeBron or if we push Rashard (Lewis) to the three, then I may guard D-Wade. It just depends but it doesn’t really matter.”
How will Wade handle playing with other players that demand the ball?
“I think that’s a question for Dwyane. I think he’ll do fine with those guys. From everything I know about Dwyane, he is a winner and he wants to win and he will do what it takes and make sacrifices. I think he has shown that so far but as far as anything else, I’m like anyone else and I’m going to have to wait and see.”
What you talked with Coach Van Gundy?
“I’ve definitely talked to him and still I’m still in communication with him back and forth. We’ve been talking about the things he expects from me but we will leave that between me and him and we are going to work towards getting better with this team.”
Were you surprised by Miami’s offseason moves?
“In a situation like that I think I was like everyone else. You never really know, you are just sitting back waiting to see what happens. Like I said, D-Wade didn’t really know until right close to the end so I didn’t really know how it was going to work out, I was just a spectator.”
What are the biggest games you have played in?
“Easily Phoenix and my last year in Miami because we were competitive teams and made the playoffs. In Phoenix we made a serious push. We had the best record in the league and made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals and lost to the eventual champion Spurs. Those were definitely my biggest games and biggest moments. I think the fact that I was in Phoenix and we did as well as we did and then when I left Phoenix and didn’t sniff the playoffs for the next three or four years and then last year being back, that’s a feeling I don’t want to lose. I want to be there every year.”
Is Miami the favorite in the East?
“Possibly on paper, but I know 29 other teams going to training camp gearing up to go fight with them. As we know, anything can happen in the NBA season. I know when I go strap up against them I’m not going to go play them like they are the favorite, I’m going to play them like they are human beings and men, just like me. They can be beat too.”
Thoughts on playing against Dwight?
“I just know the thought process when going to the hole, you are always watching and looking for him and he’s in the back of your mind. It’s not like when you are playing against people that aren’t him, you aren’t as aware of where they are as opposed to him, because Dwight comes from seemingly everywhere and gets in from anywhere. I know that right there gives me more confidence having to guard a LeBron or D-Wade, knowing I can really push it to them and I got the terminator back there.”
Do you look forward to guarding the other team’s best wing player?
“That is something I have grown to like taking that challenge because I know that those are always going to be the elite players and I know if I do well I give my team that much of a better chance at winning and that’s the way I can affect the game without touching the ball.”
Have you selected a uniform number?
“Five.”
Otis Smith
“Our objective to start the summer was to fill a few holes at the back-up point guard and the wing position. We filled the back-up point guard last week with (Chris) Duhon and we now fill the wing position with Quentin. Quentin has the opportunity to start with any team and he will have that same opportunity here. There will be a good battle to watch between our wing guys. But it gives us a little bit more flexibility and I am happy he agreed to come and play with us and with the guys we have. Our objective is to keep getting singles and this is another single.”
How does Quentin’s signing effect the signings of Matt Barnes and J.J. Redick?
“It is part of the flexibility, actually both of those things are, that Quentin can play both of those spots and it also gives us flexibility as we sit here and decide what we are going to do as it relates to J.J. We have a very capable player here and we will still have flexibility with those things.”
Have you made up your mind on the J.J. situation?
“I haven’t made up my mind but we’ll talk about it and think about it over the next few days. I haven’t woken up and had that revelation yet. It’s not going to be all my revelation, it’s probably going to be Rich (DeVos) and Bob (Vander Weide) that have that revelation as well.”
Is the J.J. decision more of an ownership decision because of the luxury tax?
“Sure. I think I get a little bit of insight from there. Pretty much every decision we have made here as it relates to this basketball team, ownership is heavily involved. I think I’ve said all along, if we don’t have the best owners in pro sports, then it would be hard pressed to find better. They have stepped up to the plate every time I’ve asked them to step up to the plate and I’m sure this decision won’t come easy but I’m sure they will step up to the plate if we ask them to do it again.”
Are there other things you are working on before Friday’s deadline on J.J.?
“I don’t think it stops. I think you are always looking to see how you can make things work a little bit better from a flexibility standpoint. So I don’t think it necessarily stops even on Friday, but we will look at it.”
Thoughts on George Steinbrenner passing away?
“It is a tough one because we have lost an icon and it seems that we have been losing icons monthly. George was a passionate owner from day one and a lot of owners since him have taken up some of the things that he has done over the years. I think we lost a guy that was near and dear to New York and a guy that was near and dear to professional sports. You can either like him or love him but you can’t question his passion for the Yankees, not ever.”
