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

[Fan from VT]

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.

Exactly

They could try to stop it using the existing rules in place but would need to get concrete evidence but no one is dumb enough to put that in writing or record a conversation where it was discussed

But I don't think the league can go out and try to input a rule now to try to prevent such things from happening

That's going to take action from the owners in a rule committee hearing or it will have to happen during the next CBA

Right?

That's how I read the situation.  If it was Roger Goodell, I might think he would simply ram through his will in the best interests of the game.  It doesn't work that way in the NBA, though, at least not with Stern running the show.

Well, i don't think that teams are responsible for what the media says. just because every media person was writing about it constantly doesn't mean the teams ever discussed it...so while it appears obvious to us, that may just be because of how frequently people wrote about it, and not whether it was previously discussed. And if there wasn't an explicit agreement, i'm not sure what there is to enforce.

Well, Big Z is already talking publicly about "going home" to Cleveland, even before his agent says he's had talks with the Wizards about a buyout.  So, it's not just the media that's speculating here.  It's glaringly obvious what happened here.  I still don't expect a return to Cleveland to be barred, but if it is, I'll applaud Stern for taking a stand.

Again, once the trade has gone through, i'm not sure what the problem is with a player trying to negotiate a buyout because he wants to go elsewhere. Before the trade, yes. But not after. as long as it's not prearranged. I'm pretty sure any player in the league has the power to take a $1.00 buyout if their team will agree to it and sign for the minimum wherever they want.

[fairweatherfan]

Cleveland seems like they're pretty screwed if the league blocks this move - they've got no real backup to Shaq, who can't play a lot of minutes, and have been playing Varejao out of position at C instead, which hurts their defense at the 4.  They've jumbled up their frontcourt rotation quite a bit with the Jamison move; getting Z back would go a long way toward resolving it.

[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.

Exactly

They could try to stop it using the existing rules in place but would need to get concrete evidence but no one is dumb enough to put that in writing or record a conversation where it was discussed

But I don't think the league can go out and try to input a rule now to try to prevent such things from happening

That's going to take action from the owners in a rule committee hearing or it will have to happen during the next CBA

Right?

That's how I read the situation.  If it was Roger Goodell, I might think he would simply ram through his will in the best interests of the game.  It doesn't work that way in the NBA, though, at least not with Stern running the show.

Well, i don't think that teams are responsible for what the media says. just because every media person was writing about it constantly doesn't mean the teams ever discussed it...so while it appears obvious to us, that may just be because of how frequently people wrote about it, and not whether it was previously discussed. And if there wasn't an explicit agreement, i'm not sure what there is to enforce.

Well, Big Z is already talking publicly about "going home" to Cleveland, even before his agent says he's had talks with the Wizards about a buyout.  So, it's not just the media that's speculating here.  It's glaringly obvious what happened here.  I still don't expect a return to Cleveland to be barred, but if it is, I'll applaud Stern for taking a stand.

Again, once the trade has gone through, i'm not sure what the problem is with a player trying to negotiate a buyout because he wants to go elsewhere. Before the trade, yes. But not after. as long as it's not prearranged. I'm pretty sure any player in the league has the power to take a $1.00 buyout if their team will agree to it and sign for the minimum wherever they want.

The whole thing is conjecture, of course, but there are plenty of sources (as plamb said) rather than simply columnists who are saying this whole thing was prearranged.  The problem for the NBA, of course, is getting somebody to go on record.

[Fafnir]

Cleveland seems like they're pretty screwed if the league blocks this move - they've got no real backup to Shaq, who can't play a lot of minutes, and have been playing Varejao out of position at C instead, which hurts their defense at the 4.  They've jumbled up their frontcourt rotation quite a bit with the Jamison move; getting Z back would go a long way toward resolving it.

They can and should play LeBron at the 4 more if Z can't come back. Go "small" with AV at C, or even Antwan depending on how the other team tries to match up against LeBron.

[Cman]

My take:
Stern is putting up a little fight, but is planning to cave in a couple days, just so that when the referees job the Cavaliers to a title Stern can look like he didn't do LeBron any favors...

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't think Stern can afford any more animosity from the Player's Union.

[xmuscularghandix]

You know I hate the Cavs at the moment with passion, but in the off-chance that they win it all, it would be kinda sad if Z isn't with them. He's actually a player I like.

I agree with this. If the Cavs win and Big Z isn't there for it... I'll probably cry.

[sk7326]

Z will go ... although then the Wiz dealt Dominic McGuire, they solved their luxury tax problem - so they have a lot of leverage with Z

[FLCeltsFan]

From Cleveland.com

An NBA source denied a report that the league would prevent Zydrunas Ilgauskas from returning to the Cavaliers. A high ranking source who requested anonymity said there was no truth to a report from the Los Angeles Times claiming that the league would try to prevent Ilgauskas' return to Cleveland if and/or when he is bought out by the Washington Wizards because the deal was previously agreed upon by the teams. There is no evidence of any such agreement. Ilgauskas' agent Herb Rudoy said on Monday that there was no previous arrangement. Ilgauskas was sent to Washington on Wednesday as part of the three-team deal that brought Antawn Jamison to Cleveland

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/02/nba_source_league_would_not_ba.html