There was a time when Antonio McDyess was an up-and-coming star. At least two organizations wanted him during the 1998 offseason: his incumbent team, the Phoenix Suns , and the Denver Nuggets, who traded for him in the 1995 draft and shipped him to Phoenix two years later.
After verbally agreeing to join the Nuggets , McDyess had second thoughts before his introductory press conference and called former teammate Jason Kidd . So, Kidd decided to fly to Denver along with Rex Chapman and George McCloud to convince "Dice" to return to Phoenix. Unfortunately, the Suns trio couldn't even meet with the coveted free agent.
"It was a blizzard outside, and they wouldn't let those guys inside the arena," McDyess said in a 2008 interview with Chris McCosky of the Detroit News, as compiled by Bright Side of the Sun . "They kept them out in the snow. It was crazy times."
How Kidd's recruiting party got stuck in a blizzard
According to the story, the Nuggets were supposed to announce McDyess' signing before he hesitated, believing Denver wasn't the right place for him. With the press conference indefinitely delayed and after the fateful call with Kidd, the Suns tried recruiting the forward away from the snowy weather of Denver.
Upon hearing that an unwanted party was coming from Phoenix, the Nuggets front office brought Dice to a locker room at McNichols Arena, where the Colorado Avalanche had a game. Patrick Roy, the Avalanche's then-goalie and the former No. 2 NBA draft pick's favorite hockey player, was also called to pay a quick visit in the locker room.
J-Kidd, Chapman , and McCloud arrived outside the since-demolished arena. Still, security and ticket sellers had already been instructed to prevent McDyess' rescuers from getting inside even if there was a blizzard.
They tried to wait for the damsel in distress at the parking lot, then later in a Denver hotel, where only former Nuggets guard Nick Van Exel and Dice's agents showed up. And so, the saga concluded with the Suns failing to bring McDyess back and, hopefully, none of Kidd, Chapman, and McCloud contracting frostbite.
Related: "I probably would have preferred someone like Stephon Marbury" - Jerry Stackhouse on why it was difficult to play with Allen Iverson
An eventful free-agency
Most offseasons end with little to no drama. However, in some cases, there are stories like what happened in the 1998 offseason (which actually happened in January 1999 because of the lockout) that pique fans' interest in the absence of basketball games.
Imagine, though, if social media was already a thing back then. The McDyess might have attracted much more attention, like how DeAndre Jordan's indecision on whether to sign with the Dallas Mavericks or remain with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2015 ignited an emoji war on Twitter.
At least Jordan's situation occurred in a place with warm weather during the internet era. An unfortunate Kidd had to withstand the cold in 1999 with no smartphones or similar gadgets to pass the time.
Related: "He wakes me up with a phone call at 8 a.m." - When Antonio McDyess called Isiah Thomas "sneaky" for trading him from New York
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