They could have easily sold him on staying till the trade deadline at least, becuase if they made a trade that cost them backcourt depth he'd get right back in the rotation.
Yeah, I think that could be reasonable. Basically told him they need him while Bradley comes back, and perhaps if another spot opens up. But if he is still blocked at the trade deadline, they will either trade him or buy him out.
Even if the deadline passes and no trades are made, I think it's pretty hard to see them buying him out as long as they're still in the playoff hunt, and considering the hard cap they face to sign players (though I'm not familiar with what a buyout of a vet min guy looks like from a cap perspective).
If Rondo, Terry or Lee rolls an ankle (or stinks), he's a key factor....
Eh, Danny strongly believes in keeping up relations with agents, and I believe Barbosa is with Dan Fegan, who is pretty powerful.
If they really don't have a role for him, I would not be the least bit surprised if he gets bought out...although I do think a trade is more likely.
I see people say this a lot and not calling you out but do you have evidence of this?
I can't think of a bunch of specific examples of it either way.
I mean that seems like something every GM would ideally want to do. Plus Danny has been ruthless with other things so what's really that big a difference?
Depends what you consider evidence.
Its all rumors and speculation. But here are some of the rumors and speculation that support this claim.
-Danny promising to take Orien Greene, and then when Amir Johnson was still on the board, trying to find a work around, but ending up taking Orien anyways, to make the agent happy.
-Danny working out the sign and trade for Antoine to get him paid as a favor to his agent, Mark Bartelstein
-Bartelstein returning that favor by delivering James Posey on a bargain "make good" deal in 2008, over other contenders