But another organization stood in the way. Duane Washington had signed with Partizan in Belgrade earlier in the summer, but his European team had no interest in allowing the binge scorer out of his contract. Releasing Washington would mean him missing at least three EuroLeague games, including a key one against Real Madrid. Partizan held, then boasted, all the leverage. The team wanted Washington to pay $600,000 in a buyout with another condition, according to a league source. If the Hornets did not release him, allowing him to head back to Partizan within 48 hours, he would owe an additional $1.6 million payment.