"When you look at other entertainers, they get perform where they want. They get to make choices on what they want to do with their careers, what movie they want to be in, what city they want to perform in. Owners are doing everything they can to ratchet down freedom of choice for players."

Other entertainers aren't part of a pro sports league. Even LeBron can't choose to play in Akron, b/c they don't have an NBA team.

"Remember what pissed us off most about LeBron picking Miami over New York? It wasn't just that he tried to stack the decks with a superteam; it's that he walked away from New York..."

Uh, who's this "us" you're referring to, Bill Simmons?

MtFan wrote:This shit is way too complicated.

I'm just going to watch and see what happens and it is certainly one of the most interesting pre-seasons the NBA has ever had with all the potential player movement.

I usually back whatever Gilbert wants to do. But I disagree with his objection over the Paul to the Lakers trade. It's for my own selfish reasons. I would be happy to see the Lakers land both Paul and Howard, just to watch them defeat the Heat and prevent them from getting a ring for the next few years.

The Cavs are at least 2 years or more from becoming contenders. I want to have any team other than the Heat become a powerhouse that can hold the title until the Cavs can compete again.

But that's just me. I'm not sure exactly what Gilbert's reasoning is, and I don't see how the Lakers trade would adversely affect him in any way.

Gilbert's reasoning is that he, like most owners, really don't like the idea of players deciding for themselves where they want to play.

I don't really see a way out of this situation as it relates to the NBA. If you have a veteran player whose current team is completely willing to pay him a max salary, and he still wants to leave, you can't very well stop him. Teams that don't have glamour on their side are going to be left with little choice other than attempting to make their situations so desirable that their stars won't want to leave--which is what's happened in San Antonio, and what Oklahoma City is trying to pull off.

Another thing that's unique about the Spurs is that their big stars have all had unusual backgrounds for an NBA player. Ginobili and Parker aren't Americans; Duncan was a late bloomer who grew up in the Virgin Islands; and Robinson had his eyes set on a career in the Navy, and probably never even imagined a basketball career was possible until he had already entered Annapolis. None of them made the sort of friendships around the country that are increasingly common for today's hotshot youth basketball players, who often start traveling nationally when they are still little boys.

If you're a team like Toronto, which has three big American stars (McGrady, Carter, and Bosh) who have not wanted to stick around, the international market might be the place to go. The same goes for non-glamour cities like Cleveland.

On the "buy out vs. amnesty" thing though, if you buy the guy out I assume it STILL counts towards your cap number??

Yes it does count against the cap. The player is usually giving something back for getting bought out where he is not under amnesty. That is why Gilbert is interested with Davis. Might save a couple of million.

Why Gilbert was mad ? He actually thinks he can compete in 2 years. The Lakers would not only have got Chris Paul but they would have actually got 2 trade exemptions worth almost 10 million a piece to acquire any 2 players in the future without having to give up anything. That is what he was really afraid of.

Lakers could have took 20 million of contracts off of the Magic without giving them any players. That is a huge advantage.

The Lakers, Hornets, and Rockets sent an updated deal to the NBA for approval on Saturday night, and there is no timetable yet for a decision.
We're waiting for the news to crawl in here, but the league is so painted into a corner that the arm-twisting is taking time. Their 'big' additions so far have been Devin Ebanks, Patrick Patterson, and Courtney Lee to the Hornets, with the Lakers taking back Jason Smith and Marcus Banks to reduce Hornet expenditures. The Lakers are also said to be looking to acquire a first round pick to offer to sweeten the deal, but they're not going to give up the farm when many believe they gave up too much already. The Lakers are still in the Dwight Howard hunt, as well. Stay tuned.

Source: CBS Sports Dec 10 - 9:38 PM

The Lakers have reportedly pulled out of the running for Chris Paul according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
The only way the league could have saved face was by admitting their mistake and approving the deal, but instead David Stern decided to try to convince folks that adding more youth to the deal would somehow make their mistake justifiable. Since the Lakers and Rockets had given up well more than the Hornets ever could have dreamed of, and most believed they gave too much, the requirement to add more players and picks made the deal undesirable for L.A. And it remains to be seen if their trade of Lamar Odom to clear cap space is to land Dwight Howard, but if you're not going to get him it makes no sense to have Andrew Bynum as your sole low-post threat. Now that this domino has fallen, look for transactions to pick up.

Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter Dec 11 - 12

The Lakers will trade Lamar Odom to the Mavs for a trade exception according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com.
We're waiting to see the other shoe drop here, but it could be the case that the Lakers are clearing cap space to sign Dwight Howard. Odom lands in a pretty favorable situation in Dallas, where Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion are the only sure bets in the frontcourt, and Marion concerns us on the injury front. As it stands, Odom looks like a decent value as a sixth or seventh round pick.

Source: Marc Stein on Twitter Dec 11 - 12:04 AM

Everyone might be reading this wrong. Lakers might still be going after Paul. Stern did not want Odom on the Hornets and the Lakers were trading him to the Hornets to get a trade exemption anyway. So they get it with the Mavs..

How important is a trade exemption ? The Mavs used the one they got earlier in the day from Tyson Chandler to get Lamar Odom for nothing.

Whatever happened with the Cavs trade exemption?

eocmcdoc wrote:Whatever happened with the Cavs trade exemption?

I think it got reinstated for a limited time, since the lockout took effect before the exception was due to run out.

Teams without depth are going to get hammered this season. The Spurs, for example, finish the season with 8 games in 11 days, including one stretch where they play 3 nights in a row (in 3 different cities).

Reinstated until Dec 16. It expires if not used by then.

boy this would have been a lot of fun if LBJ was here with all the wheeling and dealing

SamAmicoFSO Sam Amico

Cavs awarded $14.5 mil trade exception. Expires friday. Have not decided whether to use it.

According to the e-mail, obtained by TNT’s David Aldridge, the league warned Billups and his agent, Andy Miller, on Monday that any statements made concerning not reporting to a team or being disruptive would be viewed as a breach of Billups’ contract, and that the NBA “is reserving all of its rights to take appropriate action against the player for his efforts to undermine the waiver process and the contractual rights of both the waiving team and any claiming team. Please also be advised that the NBA will fully support any team that claims Mr. Billups’ contract in the amnesty/waiver process and that subsequently believes it has grounds for discipline of Mr. Billups for breach of that contract.” NBA.com

Andy Miller | share
Miller, according to several sources, sent a letter to teams over the weekend that reiterated that Billups would be unhappy if anyone claimed him out of the waiver pool (for at least $1.35 million, the minimum for 10-plus year veterans like Billups) after being released by New York on Saturday via the amnesty provision. Miller did not respond to e-mails and calls seeking comment Monday. NBA.com

Updated: December 12, 2011, 8:52 pm ET Report: Clippers claim veteran PG Billups
By HOOPSWORLD
Basketball News & NBA Rumors
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The Los Angeles Clippers have claimed veteran point guard Chauncey Billups off amnesty waivers, according to Yahoo! Sports.

The move comes just hours after talks of a potential trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Clippers broke down.

Billups had been an amnesty casualty of the New York Knicks, who freed themselves of the $14.2 million remaining on his contract.

The 35-year-old Billups is not allowed to be traded under new CBA rules.

He had warned teams not to claim him, preferring instead to become a free agent and choose his new team.

Billups averaged 16.8 points and 5.4 assists last season with the Knicks and Denver.