Report: NBA won't allow Big Z to re-sign with Cavs

[Andy Jick]

big Z will end up in atlanta

No, when this is all said and done he'll end up back in Cleveland.  The NBA just can't change this rule mid-stream...  The players union will fight this and win, but next season expect a rule change...

[Rondo_is_better]

I hope the NBA wins this fight. I'm really sick of these purely economics based trade agreements where one team gets an absurdly better deal talent wise.

After their past 2 games, are you still sure about that?  :p

True, true - Jamison is a real baller out there. Y'know, I bet I could go 0-12 in an NBA game too. Where's my contract?

But the Cavs trade just serves as the latest example with this type of deal. I think it happened with the Shaq to Cleveland deal, too.

[Fan from VT]

The NBA should raise hell about this, say they know this is just circumvention of the CBA, let all the teams know they are sick of it and will starting putting watchdogs in league offices if they hear any more trade rumors next year about players being bought out and returning to their team before a trade is even consummated and just jot this down as another loophole they have to fix with the next CBA

I don't think this course of action will accomplish anything until the loophole is closed with a new CBA  but it is another issue for the league to bring forward to make everyone forget just how wretched the officiating is

I agree, except it needs to be done in the offseason and written out explicitly as a rule, as with the various re-acquiring by trade restrictions currently in place. But Cleveland nor Washington are liable for the assumptions made and expressed by those writing about the sport. If they didn't say anything, i'm not sure what ground the league has to stand on until they work it into the CBA.

[PLamb]

I think Denver could throw some major cash his way if Z becomes free though I would still expect him to take the vacation and return to Cleveland


I would absolutely love it though if Washington, in their budding rivalry with Cleveland opted to not buy out Ilgaukas until after March 1st therefore excluding him from being able to participate in any post season play

[winsomme]

can't someone claim him off of waivers?

Since the majority of his salary has already been paid out by CLE (reportedly something like 75%) isn't there a team that could just claim him?

[lon3lytoaster]

can't someone claim him off of waivers?

Since the majority of his salary has already been paid out by CLE (reportedly something like 75%) isn't there a team that could just claim him?

Hypothetically, if he was waived or bought out by Washington some team could sign him off waivers. The problem is his contract is 11 million+ and a team would need that much cap space, as well, I believe.

[Chief]

I don't care. I like buyouts. We got a championship because PJ was bought out. If Big Z wants to go back to Clev, so be it. They can only play 5 guys and I just don't see him getting much run if he does go back.

[birdwatcher]

Cleveland has to wait 30 days before they can re-sign Z, anyway. What I don't understand is, if Z gets bought out and becomes a FA, can't anyone sign him to more than just the pro-rated vet minimum? It's not like being on waivers, right? Z decides who he wants to sign with? Why would he want to sit out a month?

[jdpapa3]

I'm trying to figure out why the NBA would want to put a stop to this. Could it be that they want Lebron to not win the title this year so that it will be more likely that he will go to a big market like LA or NYC?

[guava_wrench]

I really don't get the problem. How is this circumvention of the CBA? The trade was legit. If WAS wants to save money by buying out Z, I see no problem. After that, Z can sign wherever he wants for the minimum.

There is so much drama about this, but I don't see anything wrong so long as teams making trades aren't discussing this. Clev has the right to sign whatever vet min player they want.

[Lucky17]

Since Washington got underneath the luxury tax line, they don't need to buy Z out. They have all the leverage.

I'd love to see them hang onto Z for as long as possible, if not refuse to buy him out. A great way to stick it to the Cavs, who now have only two true centers on their roster.

How long can Shaq play 30+ minutes a night? He hasn't played 30 minutes in consecutive games all season. The Diesel may run out of gas before April.

[FatjohnReturns]

NBA shouldnt change the rule mid year.

[PLamb]

NBA shouldnt change the rule mid year.

I don't think they can

[Roy Hobbs]

NBA shouldnt change the rule mid year.

I don't think they can

If they stop this, they'll argue they're enforcing an existing rule.  The CBA specifically says that attempts to circumvent the the salary cap / trade rules can result in penalties.  I mean, was there any written rule about the Joe Smith situation with the Twolves?  It's very clear to everyone that the buyout and return to Cleveland is something that was discussed and bargained for.  Trades, followed by buyouts, violate the spirit of the rule that salaries in a trade need to match.

Of course, the NBA can't really act on this without rock solid proof, and unlike the Joe Smith situation, nobody will have been stupid enough to put anything into writing.

[FatjohnReturns]

NBA shouldnt change the rule mid year.

I don't think they can

If they stop this, they'll argue they're enforcing an existing rule.  The CBA specifically says that attempts to circumvent the the salary cap / trade rules can result in penalties.  I mean, was there any written rule about the Joe Smith situation with the Twolves?  It's very clear to everyone that the buyout and return to Cleveland is something that was discussed and bargained for.  Trades, followed by buyouts, violate the spirit of the rule that salaries in a trade need to match.

Of course, the NBA can't really act on this without rock solid proof, and unlike the Joe Smith situation, nobody will have been stupid enough to put anything into writing.

"If they stop this, they'll argue they're enforcing an existing rule."

That is probably true but why start enforcing it right now? They need to straighten it out in the offseason. At this poinit it just a useless distraction from what will be great basketball going into the playoffs.