By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
In a unexpected move, Daniel Hackett announced via his agent Mario Scotti that there will be no appeal against his six months ban by the Italian basketball federation (FIP). This was not the initial intention from the side of the player, however it’s a stance that can be explained.
According to FIP by-rules the best case scenario for Hackett for leaving the national team without permission was a five months ban. The player was also punished with an extra month of banishment because of his comments for the situation in Facebook. In case of an appeal, it was possible that his penalty could end up being even bigger, so Hackett decided not to gamble with his luck.
The big question, however, is what EA7 Milano is going to do with him, since he is still under contract until 2016, but the team will not have the right to use him in the Italian league until April 2015.