Depression puts a damper on Shaq's debut with Cavs

By John McMullen

Philadelphia, PA - It's tough to upstage the debut of two mega-stars playing together for the first time, but that's exactly what happened in Akron, Ohio on Saturday.

"The King" -- LeBron James -- and his shiny new bauble, 14-time All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal, made their first public appearance together as Cavaliers teammates at the University of Akron's Rhodes Arena, the building where James burst on to the national scene while playing many of his high school games. Unfortunately, Delonte West wasn't there to see it.

The troubled guard, who is dealing with an array of personal problems, along with legal issues stemming from a recent arrest on weapons charges, was kept away from Cleveland's first intrasquad scrimmage.

The absence came on the heels of West skipping the first four practices of training camp without the Cavs' consent. The former St. Joseph's star did return to the team last Thursday but general manager Danny Ferry decided to keep him out of the Wine and Gold scrimmage.

"I think that was probably the right step for him," Ferry said. "The next step is the next practice. Overall, I think he is going in a good direction."

West, an underrated swing guard, has struggled with depression for years. Last season, he was excused from training camp for nearly two weeks to receive treatment. Flags raised again on Sept. 17 when the veteran was arrested near his home in Maryland after police found three loaded weapons -- two handguns and a shotgun -- after pulling him over for a traffic violation on his motorcycle. The weapons were in a guitar case on West's back.

Delonte West started all 64 games he played last season.

Last Monday, West blamed the indiscretion on his failure to take his prescribed medication for bipolar disorder. He claimed he was back on the medication and now focused on basketball but failed to show up for the next two days of practices.

"I try to talk to all my guys at least once a week," Phil Martelli, West's former coach at St. Joseph's, said in a phone interview. "He has always been good at getting back. I want to know 'is he doing the right things on and off the floor.'"

Asked whether he was aware of West's personal problems, Martelli said no: "Sure, he asked for help in other ways, nothing clinical though. Things like school and basketball"

Meanwhile, Ferry was evasive on West's absence but seemed to hint that he was receiving counseling again. Either way, the Cavs' frustration is growing and Ferry, while continuing to offer the organization's support, made it clear West has to fulfill his obligations to the team.

"There has to be a level of accountability as we're trying to build a championship culture and continue to grow as an organization," Ferry told The Associated Press.

Currently there is no timetable for West's return. The longer his latest ordeal lingers opens the door for veteran Anthony Parker, who signed a two-year contract in the offseason.

The 6-foot-6 Parker is more of a natural two guard than West and brings plenty of starting experience from his time in Toronto. That said, Ferry envisioned Parker coming off the bench and the more versatile West as his starter.

"It doesn't matter," Parker told the Cleveland News-Herald when asked about his role. "Either way, I'm going to have some opportunities. I'll be on the floor with LeBron or Shaq regardless."

For what it's worth, Cavs coach Mike Brown has said his shooting guard spot is up for grabs and intimated his rotation may work a little better with West coming off the bench since he will also work as the backup point guard to Mo Williams. Brown also emphasized the obvious. It's not who starts...it's who finishes.

A mentally right West, who started all 64 games he played last season and averaged 11.7 points, 3.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds, would almost surely be on the floor at crunch time.

Coaches, league executive and fans are used to seeing DNP-groin or DNP-knee in the box score. But, DNP-depression?

It's a serious problem for many Americans, but remains stigmatized by the general public.

"I guess there is a certain reluctance or embarrassment with these types of things," Martelli said. "The biggest thing to me is that he has always been driven by basketball and hopefully the game can help."

With or without West, the Cavs will start the 2009-10 season as one of the favorites to win the franchise's first NBA championship. But, role players are a key to any championship run and a prolonged West absence will only make things much tougher for LeBron and Shaq.