AKRON, Ohio -- Former Duke basketball star Danny Ferry, who played this past season in Italy, says he has some ideas for a contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and wants to settle soon where he will be playing in 1990-91.
The Cavaliers obtained the rights to Ferry early last season from the Los Angeles Clippers in a deal that sent star guard Ron Harper and future draft picks to the Clippers.
Ferry was the second player chosen in last year's NBA draft but rejected the Clippers and signed to play in Italy for $2 million. His team was eliminated from the playoffs last Friday.
'I'm really anxious to talk with the Cavs and get things taken care of one way or the other,' Ferry told The Akron Beacon Journal in a telephone interview from Rome published Thursday. 'My (Italian) team has been asking me what my plans for next season are. They talked to me about it right before the playoffs and several times during the playoffs.
'I can undersand their need to know. In June is when Italian teams sign their players for next season. I told them I'd give them a decision as soon as I can.'
His contract in Rome will extend to next season if he fails to make a decision by July 1.
'I don't want this to just drag on and on,' Ferry said. 'I have some ideas (about a contract) and I'll talk to (agent) David Falk about them. I don't want special treatment. I don't want to be recruited. I really just want to get this done as soon as possible.'
Ferry, who played 55 games in Italy, said he wants to play a lot this summer and lift weights to get into better condition.
'This year was good for me because it told me that I have a lot of work to do,' Ferry said. 'Because I went to another country and everything, I didn't play that much basketball last summer. I think that hurt me.'
