Connecticut Connection: Knight to Lakers, Sheffer to Israel

On the same day the Clippers lost rookie Doron Sheffer--their second-round draft choice--to a club team in Isreal, the Lakers signed his college teammate, Travis Knight--the Chicago Bulls’ top draft pick--to a free-agent contract.

Sheffer, who started at point guard for Connecticut last season, decided to return home and play for perennial Israeli champion Maccabi Tel Aviv after realizing his chances of making the Clippers were “close to zero.”

“They simply didn’t have a place for me,” said Sheffer, who signed a three-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv that contains an escape clause in case he is offered another chance with an NBA team.

Sheffer, 24, has played for Israel’s national team since 1992 and was the MVP of the Israeli club league in 1992-93 before going to Connecticut.

Knight, a 7-foot center, was drafted 29th overall by the Bulls, but Chicago renounced his rights three weeks ago to make salary cap room for next season.

Knight averaged 9.1 points and a team-leading 9.3 rebounds last season for the Huskies.