Forget Basketball, Kris Humphries Gets Hockey Offer

Although reports surfaced last week that Kris Humphries' agent was in talks with the New Jersey Nets, Kris Humprhies, recently divorced from Kim Kardashian and still benched as the NBA season draws near, could be considering hockey instead.

According to Yahoo! Sports, The Nets' pursuit of Dwight Howard has distracted them from re-signing the 25-year-old Hopkins High School star, who averaged 10.0 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game.

Several media outlets are reporting that Humphries, who lead Hopkins to a 2002 state basketball championship—and who's become a late-night punch line—has been offered a spot on the roster or in the front office of the Syracuse Crunch. 

According to the team's website, the minor league affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks is offering the 6-foot-9-inch forward a spot on the roster or in the front office.

"We would welcome Kris Humphries to Syracuse, where unlike Hollywood there are no paparazzi within hundreds of miles and he could reclaim his privacy and self-esteem," Crunch General Manager Vance Lederman said in a statement. "Being from Minnesota, Humphries will surely enjoy the hockey and feel right at home in the cold, gray, dismal weather we experience this time of year in central New York."

Lederman said Sunday the team is still awaiting Humphries' response to the offer, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported.

Humphries made $3.2 million last season playing for the New Jersey Nets and is reportedly looking for a multi-year contract worth in the neighborhood of $5 million a season.

Some are questioning the hockey offer and say it's nothing more than an attention-grabbing story for the Crunch because Humphries doesn't have hockey experience.

Still, as Humphries continues to wait for a spot in the NBA, he would have access to the Crunch's training facility and would reportedly get a certified professional trainer to work with.

So while many are speculating it's this off-the-court drama that's had the NBA shying away from Humprhies, it's apparently what has a team like the Crunch attracted to him. After all, in light of the recent 72-day-marraige, the Crunch recently made this offer to fans:

"In paying homage to the short-lived Kardashian/Humphries union, fans can purchase a six-pack of tickets to either the club's December 16th or 17th game for just $72."

Editor's Note: Hopkins Patch and Golden Valley Patch are highlighting former Hopkins High standout athletes. Have someone in mind you'd like to us to feature? Email Hopkins Patch editor, James Warden. (james.warden@patch.com).