Looking like Doc and KG really may go to Clips

sam wrote:TJ,

Pierce would get to the Clippers by their signing him as a free agent after the Celtics cut him loose per prior agreement with the Clippers.  I'm not sure whether that sort of agreement violates any NBA rules, but I don't happen to know any rules that would prohibit it.  I never mentioned amnestying Peirce—only buying him out for $5 million.

I don't believe it would constitute tampering because the entire arrangement would be arranged by the two teams with the knowledge of Doc and the players.  That's part of my rationale about the collusion between Doc, Danny, Wyc, KG and (probably) Pierce.

K_J,

Yes, I know why the Clippers are holding back on Bledsoe, although It's not necessarily based on Howard any more than on Afflalo or someone else.  But, if they were presented with an immediate "take it or leave it" deal whereby by they'd get Paul Pierce as a free agent, with Boston buying him out for $5 million for the express purpose of allowing him to go to the Clippers (by previous arrangement), the Clips might have to think long and hard about (1) getting Pierce instead of Arflalo for Bledsoe, and reuniting the veteran and coaching nucleus of an experienced Celtics versus, and (2) keeping Bledsoe only to risk the good possibility that the Lakers would  refuse to move Howard.  Bird in the hand versus bird in the bush.

Sam


Sam,


There seems to be quite a good chance that Pierce will be waived by the Celtics. If they are going to trade KG and let Doc go, I can't see any way of Boston paying Pierce $15.3m next season. Knowing that Pierce will probably be waived, why would Bledsoe need to be traded to Boston? The Clippers could just sign Pierce after 6/30 and keep Bledsoe. They could sign Pierce and then offer Bledsoe for Afflalo or in a trade for Dwight.

tjmakz wrote:Sinus,

There is no mechanism to make sure Paul gets to the Clippers if he is waived.
In fact, I doubt he will even clear waivers and will be claimed for $5m by a team under the Cap.
I don't doubt for a second that Dan Gilbert of the Cavs will claim Paul.



TJ,

Would Pierce be "waived", or bought out?  Are they are the same thing?  If he is bought out, then why can't he do what he wants, since he's not going on the waiver wire?

Also, according to Hoopshype and Hoopsworld, the Clipper's team salary for the 2013-2014 season is $48.4M.  That is under the cap.  If Paul agrees to play for them for the Vet minimum (that's about $2M for him and that'd be on top of the $5M he'd get from the Celts) they'd be at $50.4M MINUS the part the league contributes for minimum players.  

 
There are non-guaranteed salaries totaling about $3M which could be cancelled.  That'd take them back down to $47M or so.  The salary cap is around $57M.





bob


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