OK, I'll try and take this question on right now. To me, it's the organization ..early on this year ...sending a message to Delonte that things won't be quite like they were last year.
In that I mean, last season we often found ourselves looking the other way. We recognized he was suffering the effects of his disease often times. With that, the inherant ups and down cycles that he deals with.
This year has started out with him admitting to the conscience decision to stop taking his medications as prescribed. The repercussions of which won't be fully known to the public, but many aspects will eventually come to light.
But, although we remain compassionate to his personal struggles ...as an organization dealing with one of 20 players on our roster, have to hold him personally responsible for things that he does, and decisions he makes outside the boundaries set for his teammates.
We're making it clear to him that we fully support him in addressing his health issues head on, but we're making it clear that we're going to hold him accountable for his actions going forward.
We understand that dealing with life issues is especially tough when also dealing with what he's dealing with in regards to his health ...but, we still expect him to handle his responsibilities to the team irregardless.
On a personal note, it's my feeling that it might be in all our best interests to talk to his docters and come to a clear plan of attack as far as giving him some time to take care of himself, and once stabilized have him rejoin the team. Much like last season.
I didn't have a chance to talk to Delonte today ...not in CLE today. But, he participated in practice, but wasn't looking very good. He's weak, and seems very flat emotionally. Very common side effects that come in the beginning stages of a new cycle of meds.
We all have to be cognizant that Delonte didn't participate in training camp last year until four weeks into his med cycle ..so, him trying to get in the flow of camp while going through this is going to be a very hard struggle for him. One that won't be without it's rockiness along the way.
In all, I take away that the team was upset that he got off his cycle of meds, then appears to have tried to get back on them as camp begins. Often when youstart up meds again, you feel HORRIBLE and don't even want to get out of bed or eat.
That's why he probably was MIA. But had he maintained his cycle, this would be a non issue. That's why the team took their stance. It's delicatethough because most bipolar people hate medication and would rather fill the void with alcohol or drugs (which he probably did in the offseason.) But now theseason is here, he can't do that and needs to instead resume medication.
So the team is pretty much feels that they need him to be more responsible in resuming his meds when he knows camp is about to start.
