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A source with direct knowledge of the Chicago Bulls front office's plans says the team believes it has the right players in place -- namely, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng -- to surround LeBron James when it makes its case with the free agent to-be on July 1. But the source said there has been no discussion of bringing Kentucky coach John Calipari in with James as part of a package deal. The Chicago Tribune reported Monday that according to league sources, basketball power broker William Wesley -- a friend of both James and Calipari -- has been quietly contacting NBA teams that have coaching vacancies and salary cap space about the possibility of bringing in James and Calipari together. But the source with knowledge of the Bulls front office's thinking said that at no point has there been discussion about packaging Calipari to get James to come to Chicago. The source also said that bringing Calipari along to get James would lessen Calipari's status in the locker room, because he'd be seen as the coach who is there only because of James. Another league source told the Tribune that another person, described as an "unknown Calipari connection," contacted the Bulls over the weekend. However, ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reported Monday on "SportsCenter" that according to his sources, James is not demanding Calipari coach him on whichever team he plays for next season. And a source close to Wesley told ESPN.com that Wesley had not contacted the Bulls or any other team about a James/Calipari package deal. Calipari has publicly stated that he is coaching at Kentucky next season. NBA teams cannot formally contact free agents until the league signing period starts at 12:01 a.m. ET on July 1. James James and Calipari have become friends through their mutual friendship with Wesley, who is considered one of the most powerful men in basketball. Wesley is part of the "family" that James referred to repeatedly in his postgame comments after the Celtics knocked James' Cleveland Cavaliers out of the playoffs. Wesley was also reportedly involved in steering Rose and Tyreke Evans to Memphis when Calipari was coaching there. Calipari, who completed his first season at Kentucky this year, said Friday on his Twitter feed that he will remain in Lexington to coach the Wildcats in 2010-11. "I've said many times that I've got the best job in the country. Still the speculation runs wild and I can't stop that. I want to address this with the Big Blue Nation one last time, I will be coaching at Kentucky next year. Now let's finish what we started!" Calipari said Friday on Twitter. Calipari has one NBA stop on his coaching résumé, with the Nets from 1996-99, making the playoffs in 1997-98. He coached two full seasons and was fired 20 games into the 1998-99 season, finishing with a 72-112 record in 184 games. But a source close to Wesley said it was "insulting" to assume that Calipari could only get an NBA coaching job with James' help. The source also said that it would take between $5 million and $6 million to pry Calipari from Kentucky, where he earnes $3.5 million. Multiple sources close to Calipari have also recently said it would take at least $5 million a year to bring him back to the NBA. Calipari On Monday in response to the report, Calipari said on Twitter: "Now, do I have to respond to these rumors too?" James, meanwhile, has declined to address whether he will return to the Cavs or sign with another team, as speculation about his future mounts. The Bulls, Nets, Clippers and New York Knicks are all among teams expected to make a full-court press for James, the NBA's two-time defending MVP. The Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, Ill., reported Sunday that according to league sources, James has contacted Rose to express interest in playing with him. Fans in Chicago appear confident that James will choose the Bulls. In the first 24 hours after the Celtics eliminated the Cavaliers from the NBA playoffs on Thursday, the Bulls sold more than 500 new full-season tickets and a team official estimated call volume at about 50 times the normal level, according to the Tribune. But the source close to Wesley said James has not made a decision and that leaving Ohio won't be easy. "He has a $30 million compound there and with all his friends and family there that aren't going to just leave for another city, it's not easy to just leave," the source said, pointing out that James has spent his entire life in the Akron-Cleveland area. The source said that anyone who says what James is going to do is "lying, because he doesn't know now." Andy Katz covers college basketball for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5194333
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The Bulls actually worry me quite a bit. Everyone makes a big deal about Lebron wearing a Yankees cap ... well, it's because the Yankess are "his team" in regards to baseball. It has nothing to do with New York. And as far as basketball goes ... the Bulls were "his team" growing up. 
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the bulls were a lot of peoples' team growing up. they were the most popular team on the planet.
but don't you think lbj wants to leave a legacy?
he could win back to back to back titles in chicago and that won't be any legacy. it'll just be considered a semi-success, but nothing that michael did.
it's almost a lose/lose.
not to mention, like i said. that team isn't as good as people are making them out to be. they were a decent team last year. they did go through injuries. but are people serious at saying they're the best team in the east with lebron?
the cavs may not have anybody better than rose outside of lebron, but overall depth? the cavs are still better. let's remember, we dispatched that team with ease. in 5 games, 3 of the 4 wins were double digits, and that was with lebron hurting, and the team not playing well.
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Just Clicking here, but after reading this weekend's posts by many, had to get off a rant:
For all those jumping on the recent media diatribe that LeBron lacks a killer instinct and cares more about marketing schemes than championships, just stop. You are making yourself look as foolish as the media.
I don’t know where he is going to end up. I don’t know how the next 2-3 months will play out. But, I do know the past 7+ years of LeBron and I am sickened how the media is trying to cheapen it.
ExhibitA (general work ethic): Specifically, offseason work ethic. He has greatly improved from season to season and that does not happen without working and working hard in the offseason. He comes to camp in shape and plays well immediately. So, his general work ethic and his dedication to the game should not be questioned.
ExhibitB (Piston’s Rivalry): In his first couple years in the playoffs, losing to the Pistons, he showed full heart and effort. Best example is in a matchup in which the Cavs were overmatched at 4/5 positions, he willed us to a game7 against the Pistons in 2006. He was angry with that loss and made sure to note that it was not a rivalry with the Pistons until the Cavs knocked them off ‘in the playoffs.’ He did just that in 2007 in perhaps the most epic performance by a professional athlete (game5), but controlled that entire series (even the losing moments like in game1 throwing the corner pass to a wide-open Donyell Marshall where he missed).
ExhibitC (Kobe Rivalry): LeBron has not backed away from any rivalry with Kobe. He welcomes it and has guarded Kobe as well as I’ve seen anyone guard him (part of where he gets his defensive reputation is from the Kobe matchups the past 2 years). The team has responded with him to that challenge and they have stepped up their performance against the Lakers.
ExhibitD (Magic Rivalry): How quickly the media and many fans forget this series last year. Where the Magic had the perfect matchups to foil a team setup to beat the Celtics and it didn’t seem like the Cavs could do anything. In fact, it was LeBron completely taking over game5 when it seemed like the Magic would cruise. He had a Herculean effort when all seemed lost. Then, he was so angry, distraught and upset that he refused to talk to the media after game6. He didn’t shake hands with the Magic players and got crucified for it. He was so engrossed with winning that series, he couldn’t handle the loss.
ExhibitE (Celtics Rivalry): Just getting to game7 in 2008 showed what a great player LeBron was capable of being, but game7 demonstrated his overall game at it’s best. It is a shame that we couldn’t get our players to step up like Pierce’s teammates did (stupid PJ Brown…stupid Delonte not securing that rebound), but there was no question to his effort. I don’t know what happened this year, obviously. But no one does. That was not LeBron. At least not as we have known him.
Do not question his overall body of work though. He has had the killer instinct. He is the NBA’s best closing scorer (and would be best closer if he trusted his teammates to pass to them again like he once did).
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I'm sorry, but that "We Are LeBron" video is LAME. They could have put it on Saturday Night Live, it's that laughable. And I guarantee LeBron either laughed or rolled his eyes (or both) if he saw it. I hope he didn't see it.
People can wish and want all they want for him to stay in Cleveland. I know I am. But people should NOT beg.
Whether you believe it or not, life will go on in Cleveland if he leaves.
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I'm sorry, but that "We Are LeBron" video is LAME. They could have put it on Saturday Night Live, it's that laughable.
Uh, I think that was the point ... I'm pretty sure it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. (considering the lyrics)
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Quote:
Just Clicking here, but after reading this weekend's posts by many, had to get off a rant:
And to everything you said ... I love how everybody (especially here in So Cal), love to point to Kobe as the epitome of clutchness and killer instinct. 
Everybody seems to forget those 2004-2008 years, when Kobe couldn't carry the team by himself ... and then also had playoff games against the Suns and Celtics where he just completely quit.
Then he gets gifted another All-NBA team big man, and suddenly he's awesome again.
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my father-in-law is a SoCal native Lakers fan. I don't know how you can live amongst them  and any time anyone tries to bring up Kobe, I always make sure I mention game7 against the Suns where he basically walked out on his team. IN GAME 7!!!!
#gmstrong
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my father-in-law is a SoCal native Lakers fan. I don't know how you can live amongst them
It's miserable. Bill Simmons once said that Cleveland fans have it really bad because after a tough loss, they have to wake up to a driveway buried in snow ... I have to wake up to a world full of obnoxious bandwagon haters.
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I tend to question LeBron in the role as a favorite as opposed to that of an underdog.
I find the difference to be night and day.
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I tend to question LeBron in the role as a favorite as opposed to that of an underdog.
I find the difference to be night and day.
interesting point of view there.
he actually didn't play a good game until he was called out by every fan and media member alike after game 5. and even then, game 6 was not legendary by any means. his turnovers were a big part of what cost them that game.
that's why i think the national media is trying to spin this.
this series was more on him than it was on his teammates. lebron james deserves as much blame as mike brown.
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Quote:
For all those jumping on the recent media diatribe that LeBron lacks a killer instinct and cares more about marketing schemes than championships, just stop. You are making yourself look as foolish as the media.
I think the fact that your dismissing it makes you look foolish.
Phil's note was spot on and something I touched on before when mentioning the different types of pressure when you're not expected to win and when you are.
LeBron has exceeded expectations when they were set low and has not met expectations when they were set high.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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Quote:
Quote:
Just Clicking here, but after reading this weekend's posts by many, had to get off a rant:
And to everything you said ... I love how everybody (especially here in So Cal), love to point to Kobe as the epitome of clutchness and killer instinct.
Everybody seems to forget those 2004-2008 years, when Kobe couldn't carry the team by himself ... and then also had playoff games against the Suns and Celtics where he just completely quit.
Then he gets gifted another All-NBA team big man, and suddenly he's awesome again.
LA's fans love of Kobe is sickening. 9 out of 10 of them will tell you that Kobe has meant more to the organization than Shaq. And the more time that passes, they're more inclined to consider Shaq a sidekick on those 3 championships.
That guy can do no wrong in their eyes, and they never hold him accountable. I'm starting to see the same trend with Cleveland fans and LBJ.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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That guy can do no wrong in their eyes, and they never hold him accountable. I'm starting to see the same trend with Cleveland fans and LBJ.
That happens when Player X wins titles for City Y. Heck, I'd still argue Jose Mesa could beat down a grandma in Public Square and EVERYONE would look the other way if he had close game 7 out in 1997. Fact.
![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/Punchsmack/punch.gif) “...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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That guy can do no wrong in their eyes, and they never hold him accountable. I'm starting to see the same trend with Cleveland fans and LBJ.
Not sure what you mean here at all. Cleveland fans that I have seen, heard, and read all hold LeBron accountable for that loss to Boston. He didn't show up. His effort/heart wasn't there and that was completely his fault (games 4 and 5 specifically of course).
Excl was making note that even when Kobe did similar (like that game7 against PHX), LA fans were quick to excuse Kobe's game from them. I am definitely not seeing that same pass being afforded to LeBron nor should either of them get it.
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As for your other point that Phil touched on as well, it's hard to say. He's been the favorite in 2 big series in his entire career. Orlando in '09 and Boston in '10. He lost both. Every other big series in his career he has been the underdog and he's won his fair share of them. Outside of that, we were the favorites in the regular season the past 2 years and got the best record both times, but that's obviously not the same.
2 series doesn't make for much of a sample size. And he played much better last year against the Magic than he did this year against Boston (obviously).
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Quote:
Excl was making note that even when Kobe did similar (like that game7 against PHX), LA fans were quick to excuse Kobe's game from them.
Quick to excuse? They don't even think those games happened anymore! 
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J/C
Alright guys. Now that everything has quited down, lets take a look at this again.
The Cavs offer the best overall supporting cast. - Imagine how good this team would be next season with Shaq, Antawn, Andy, Hickson, Mo, and Lebron. - Hands down, the best team in the NBA. The difference is that this team would have ample time to develop chemistry. In addition, the Celtics will be another year older, and the Lakers might lose Phil Jackson. - Granted, the Magic may add a player or two, but thats normal.
The only question is who the coach should be? - If we keep the same team, it would not be crazy to keep Mike Brown.
The smartest thing Lebron could do is sign with the Cavs for one year. - Great supporting cast, and another crack at free agency in a year - when there won't be as many other marquee free agents.
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I cant tell if your a troll or for real sometimes. 
Eat it Phil...
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shaq ain't comin back. i think the feeling is mutual. lebron or not lebron i can't see it.
which means what little money the cavs have to spend, if they can't get size through a sign and trade they must find a way to bring in a big man. because they just won't have anyone to defend the bigs. and you just don't know who you're going to have to deal with next season because the movement across the league is going to be crazy.
i do agree that if lbj stays, with the core they have intact, with jamison allowed more time to gel with the team, he still has a very good team, and i still think they are a stop 3 or 4 seed. but like i said, you just don't know how the east is going to shake out once everything settles from free agency.
i think dan gilbert and danny ferry (should he keep his job) are going to have to work some magic.
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You're still ticked off that I blew you out of the water when we played NCAA 2010. As for my fandom, - I could care less what your judgements are.
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Quote:
shaq ain't comin back.
Where are you getting that from? Shaw has said several times that if the Cavs want him back, he's coming back. - Notably when Mike Trivisonno interviewed him about a month ago.
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Quote:
Quote:
shaq ain't comin back.
Where are you getting that from? Shaw has said several times that if the Cavs want him back, he's coming back. - Notably when Mike Trivisonno interviewed him about a month ago.
i know he says things, and maybe if lebron stays he considers it, but i just don't know. wouldn't mind seeing it though. he's not the reason we lost even though at times it sure seemed like it. i take my hat off to the guy for coming back and giving it his all after the injury.
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J/C
Alright guys. Now that everything has quited down, lets take a look at this again.
I'm reserving my full assessment until after tomorrow (NBA Lottery)
Cheer against NJ. Not that they have the best shot at landing LeBron, but if they don't land a top2 pick, it pretty much takes them completely out of the running (which is nice).
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jc...
What's David Lee's contract situation? Any chance we could work a trade or a sign-and-trade (depending on the situation)?
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jc...
What's David Lee's contract situation? Any chance we could work a trade or a sign-and-trade (depending on the situation)?
Lee might just be gettable but it depends on what NY does. As it stands right now, they can either afford to pay David Lee and get one max contract player to pair with him, or let David Lee walk/trade him and get 2 max contract players. Either option leaves them with nothing but league minimum guys to fill the rest of the roster with, but they seem alright with that. I'd say odds are good they really try to move him and land 2 max players because the Knicks seem to be all about hype and not substance. They're kind of like the Oakland Raiders of the NBA right now though, you just never know with them.
"All I know is, as long as I led the Southeastern Conference in scoring, my grades would be fine." - Charles Barkley
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it depends on where the salary cap ends up to how true your statements are.
they 'might' be able to sign David Lee and 1 max guy (probably yes).
they 'might' be able to let Lee walk and sign 2 max guys (not likely based on cap estimates right now).
also, they still have the MLE this offseason ($5mil/year for 1 player or split) and I don't think they used their bi-annual exception last year (so another almost $2mil that must be used on 1 player).
the problem with a sign-n-trade of Lee is that if it is a max guy you are giving up, then what salary is Lee going to make? and what other guys on contract with NY are you really willing to take back? you are most likely better off letting your max guy walk and bottom out and get a better player through the draft and rebuilding the right way.
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If i were the knicks, I let Lee walk. currently they have 18 million in salary, 38 million below the cap. that means they should have no trouble getting 2 stars. I think if they get 2 stars, they are at worse the 4 seed, replacing atlanta in the east. If they get LbJ, and amare/bosh/wade, I think they go to 1 or 2 with orlando. You will see boston fall off the map eventually. this is their last run in my opinion.
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Not sure if this was posted yet but it looks like Chris Bosh is officially available. Quote:
Chris Bosh: Sources who spent time this month with Chris Bosh on the West Coast say Bosh has decided that he will not be returning to Toronto.
That's not necessarily a shock, but the fact Bosh is not even willing to listen to Toronto's plan says volumes about where things ended in Toronto.
Raptors' sources confirmed last week they doubted Bosh returned either.
It seems both sides are at peace with the break up and are ready to move on.
Sources near the situation say Toronto is still likely going to get assets in return for Bosh and with Miami having such interest they could package a Michael Beasley in a deal and reduce Toronto's costs, while giving them a very similar player - Michael Beasley is listed as a 6-10 235 pound forward versus Chris Bosh, at 6-10 245 pounds. Bosh measured in at the NBA Draft Combine in 2003 at 6' 10.25"... Beasley at 6' 7" two years ago... without shoes. Both are face up forwards, that are offensive minded.
The Houston Rockets are said to have Bosh at the top of their board, and with so many inexpensive pieces, Houston could be interesting. The one thing Houston cannot offer is a deal that seriously reduces Toronto's luxury tax exposure, which teams under the cap like Miami, New York or Chicago can.
Bosh is truly the first major name in this free agent class to be truly available, it will be interesting to see how much interest there is league-wide in Bosh, especially when teams can start talking with him in July.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16236#ixzz0oDajb5OT
Hopefully this means Danny Ferry just got to work, but I highly doubt we get so lucky.
"All I know is, as long as I led the Southeastern Conference in scoring, my grades would be fine." - Charles Barkley
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it's gotta be him or amare. the cavs need to bring in one of those 2 guys. don't know if they can pull it off but the amare door has already been opened once, maybe it gets reopened for a sign and trade while everyone is jostling for bosh.
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I'm thinking that with the success the Suns have had in the playoffs, they will not be looking to make moves. I think they were looking to shed contracts last year, but may now feel they have a contender in place.
“It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” -Steve Jobs.
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Quote:
I'm thinking that with the success the Suns have had in the playoffs, they will not be looking to make moves. I think they were looking to shed contracts last year, but may now feel they have a contender in place.
hey may not want to stay.
not saying he wants to play for the cavs, but like i said, it was a door that has already been opened.
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If i were the knicks, I let Lee walk. currently they have 18 million in salary, 38 million below the cap. that means they should have no trouble getting 2 stars. I think if they get 2 stars, they are at worse the 4 seed, replacing atlanta in the east. If they get LbJ, and amare/bosh/wade, I think they go to 1 or 2 with orlando. You will see boston fall off the map eventually. this is their last run in my opinion.
it's not really up to the Knicks (not fully at least).
if LeBron/Wade/Bosh/Amare wants to go to the Knicks and wants a full-max contract, then the Knicks HAVE to do a sign-n-trade with their original team. Lee is really the only guy of value they could use to get salaries to match (maybe use Eddie Curry's expiring contract to take on a bad contract as well?)
also, they won't likely have enough for 2 full-max players (even at the discounted FA rate) unless they do a sign-n-trade for one of them. those players likely won't take $6-20mil less just to sign with the Knicks. They want as much $$$ as possible.
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My only problem with LeBron is his insistence that he will "go where he has the best chance to win". Does anyone honestly believe that? That the money doesn't matter?
If winning were that important, he would stay with cavs for something like 1-2 million a year. Giving them an absolutely ridiculous cap situation, that they could in turn exploit to land another super star player.
That's the problem with max players in the NBA. Unless it's a big man, it's rarely worth eating up 30-40% of your cap on one player. LeBron signing a max deal, while good for the franchise's health, doesn't really help the team win (talking big picture - i.e. title). All it does is further limit their options in regards to surrounding him with quality talent. Unless Ferry absolutely lucks in to a quality big man (ala LA w/ Gasol), are the Cavs ever going to get by teams that have one?
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My only problem with LeBron is his insistence that he will "go where he has the best chance to win". Does anyone honestly believe that? That the money doesn't matter?
If winning were that important, he would stay with cavs for something like 1-2 million a year. Giving them an absolutely ridiculous cap situation, that they could in turn exploit to land another super star player.
That's the problem with max players in the NBA. Unless it's a big man, it's rarely worth eating up 30-40% of your cap on one player. LeBron signing a max deal, while good for the franchise's health, doesn't really help the team win (talking big picture - i.e. title). All it does is further limit their options in regards to surrounding him with quality talent. Unless Ferry absolutely lucks in to a quality big man (ala LA w/ Gasol), are the Cavs ever going to get by teams that have one?
i don't think i could agree any more.
i can live with getting beat by derek rose or rajon rondo, but getting bullied up front, where we used to never get beat up, is unacceptable.
we need a quality big man. we have stretch 4, and i think with more time jamison can become good within the team, but you gotta improve that frontcourt. and it is so hard to do. 7 footers with good offensive games don't just grow on trees.
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,284
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,284 |
I have a question if neccessary.... Could we trade Z again, have him bought out, and have him return to the team?
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 17,850
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 17,850 |
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I have a question if neccessary.... Could we trade Z again, have him bought out, and have him return to the team?
i believe the answer is yes. but not for the necessary money that it would matter.
the reason Wally was a good trade chip was that his last year salary was so high we could sign him for anything less than that and trade him. Z's salary last year for our team is only the bi-annual exception we used to acquire him back, not the $11mil for the total year.
#gmstrong
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,333
Hall of Famer
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Hall of Famer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,333 |
This question is prolly out of no where...
but does anyone know why we let Shannon Brown go? and how he was gone? was it a trade? that guy was our first round pick the same year we drafted boobie in the 2nd....what happend there? he def has skills...
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,027
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,027 |
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,248
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,248 |
He was part of that three way trade that got Larry Hughes off the books and brought in Wally, Ben and Delonte.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,248
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,248 |
Quote:
I have a question if neccessary.... Could we trade Z again, have him bought out, and have him return to the team?
As far as I can tell, no ... because of the trade and re-sign, we lost his Bird rights. That makes him a true free agent, and he wouldn't apply to any soft-cap to help us resign him. We wouldn't be able to offer him anything more than the veteran minimum, since we're already over the cap ... which means, he wouldn't be much of a trade asset.
I don't know if the same applies to Wally ... (Do you keep bird rights if he goes unsigned for a full year?) ... but Shaq is our only real sign-and-trade option.
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Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum what can the Cavs do IF LeBron
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