I can’t wait to see how Isiah Thomas leaks that he was responsible for working out the tentative agreement between the NBA owners and the players.
The Litmus test for the new arrangement is going to come twice:
First, during the first free-agent period, when the unemployed discover the advantages, if any, of staying put or signing with a suitor.
Second, at the trading deadline. Will we see fewer salary dumps or will the new amnesty program (each team will be allowed to 86 one egregious mistake from the cap/luxury tax threshold) cease that correspondingly egregious practice?
Interesting how many rules have been implemented to save management from repeating moronic mistakes.
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Dec. 9 is the first day to flex, flee or flop. The free-agent class is conspicuously devoid of marquee players. Still, many own enough leverage to command sumptuous fees for their above-average services.
Leading that limited list is Tyson Chandler — can’t imagine a lousy inflated luxury tax inhibiting billionaire Mark Cuban from doing whatever it takes not to depend on Brendan Haywood in order to become repeat champions.
Marc Gasol would have gotten top billing, but owner Michael Heisley swears he’ll match any bid to keep his restricted center.
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Same goes for Thaddeus Young. If he were unrestricted, the 76ers forward would be most coveted player on the market. As it stands, the team’s new owners again will have to go deep to their pockets to keep their second or third most important asset.
You’d think the Clippers should feel similarly possessive about restricted DeAndre Jordan, but unless they’re able to unload Chris Kaman’s $12.7 million salary (amnesty choice, perhaps?), owner Donald Sterling tends to balk at tying up so much loot on one position.
No doubt, Nene is in demand. The fact the Nuggets couldn’t tempt him to re-up when they owned exclusive negotiations indicates agent Dan Fegan knows for sure he can get his client overpaid (Warriors?) elsewhere.
Others assured to be earnestly pursued are Jamal Crawford, Tayshaun Prince, Caron Butler (if healthy), Aaron Afflalo, Jeff Green, Jason Richardson, Samuel Dalembert, Wilson Chandler, Glen Davis, Andrei Kirilenko (or has he committed to playing in Russia?), Shane Battier, Josh McRoberts, J.J. Barea, Rodney Stuckey, Joel Przybilla, J.R. Smith, my favorite Von Wafer (unless he’s locked into an overseas contract), Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry, Kris Humphries and yes, the perennially injured Greg Oden.
Once the Suns buy out the final year ($18.3 million) of Vince Carter for roughly $4 million, he, too, will be exceedingly available.
All column contributor Gregg Siegel can say is, “Thank God these numbskulls got this thing resolved before we lost another Las Vegas summer league game.”
* If you had “149 days” in your office wading pool, go to the head of the Wal-Mart line. … although this didn’t leave much time for Joakim Noah to schedule workouts with Hakeem Olajuwon.
This is what happens when both sides are locked in a room with no way out and are threatened with S
haquille O’Neal’s memoir being read aloud.
Upon hearing the league and its rank and file had made peace in our time, leading to a Route 66-game irregular season, my first question was, How come I wasn’t consulted?
Next, since I was dutifully preparing for the NBA’s “nuclear winter,” can I exchange all the stuff I bought at the Armageddon surplus store?
Furthermore, if you thought the European economy was screwed up before, what happens once all the outsourced NBA players pack up and come home?
And why is Eddy Curry demanding to know the whereabouts of the next of kin of what’s left of my turkey?
Think it might be time for the Blazers to hire a GM?
How soon after the players ratify the agreement will Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams be barraged by questions regarding their free-agent intentions next summer?
Claiming no inside information concerning the specifics — I’m waiting to receive my clandestine copy from Wikileaks — I can say this late-game, love-in shouldn’t come as a surprise.
There was more than enough impetus on both sides to kiss and make up … though for those of us who have not aged well, doing it at 3:40 yesterday morning was a tad inconsiderate.
What a happy coincidence that I’m usually up at that hour to go to the bathroom.
For David Stern, there was the irrefutable truth he didn’t want his epitaph to read “as commissioner, flushed away season in last contract negotiation.”
This just in: Prince Charles is upset because it’s looking like Stern plans to abdicate his throne (to deputy commish Adam Silver) before Queen Elizabeth does.
I can’t wait for the All-Star break. I’m tired of this.