Could someone explain to me why....(Drop Wilcox Question)

[csfansince60s]

Many people on here have said that if we drop Wilcox, we lose his Bird rights.

I understand that if we retain his Bird rights, we can sign him next year to more$$ and a longer time than anyone else,so we can either keep him or cash him in in a sign and trade. That's fine.

However, given the anount of cap space that we will have and the lack of quality free agents who will be available, why don't we just cut him now, to give us flexibility to get Kaman, Diaw, Johnson, TWill, whoever, for our run this year??...and then sign him next year with all our capspace?

[Chris]

Or just sign him for the vet minimum. 

I don't think he is a good enough player to keep on the roster just for the outside chance that we want to use his bird rights in the summer, if there are guys available who could help this team.

With that said, I would cut JO loose first.  There is zero chance he is back next year, and frankly, I would love to see him infect the Heat this year.

Cut Daniels and JO, sign two big men, and I think we are good to go.  But if there is a third guy they like, then I have no problem with cutting Wilcox as well.

[KGs Knee]

If we are, in fact, going to waive JO, I would wait until after the buyout deadline.

Screw him, I would not give him the satisfaction of being allowed to hook on with some contender to chase a ring.  If he ain't gonna help us, why should we allow him to help someone else.

[Chris]

If we are, in fact, going to waive JO, I would wait until after the buyout deadline.

Screw him, I would not give him the satisfaction of being allowed to hook on with some contender to chase a ring.  If he ain't gonna help us, why should we allow him to help someone else.

Good point.  Either he is going to play for the C's, or he is being cut on the 24th. 

[LooseCannon]

why don't we just cut him now

You don't actually have to waive him until you find a player you want to use his roster spot on.  If there is some value in the possibility of bringing him back next season for above the minimum without having to use an exception, then it wastes an asset of some sort if you cut him without having his replacement lined up first. 

[Celtics18]

Can someone explain to me how the injury exception works?  Isn't this an avenue we could pursue with Wilcox?

[LooseCannon]

Can someone explain to me how the injury exception works?  Isn't this an avenue we could pursue with Wilcox?

If the league approves after an examination by an independent doctor appointed by the NBA, a team may be given an injured player exception to sign a replacement player.  If the injury occurs early in the season (before December) or in the off-season, it can be granted for that season.  If the injury occurs later in season, an injured player exception can be granted for the following season.  As Wilcox is not under contract for next season, there isn't any point in pursuing an injured player exception.

[Chris]

Can someone explain to me how the injury exception works?  Isn't this an avenue we could pursue with Wilcox?

If the league approves after an examination by an independent doctor appointed by the NBA, a team may be given an injured player exception to sign a replacement player.  If the injury occurs early in the season (before December) or in the off-season, it can be granted for that season.  If the injury occurs later in season, an injured player exception can be granted for the following season.  As Wilcox is not under contract for next season, there isn't any point in pursuing an injured player exception.

There is also a roster exception, but I think teams can only get that if 3 players have longterm injuries or something. 

[Roy H.]

If we are, in fact, going to waive JO, I would wait until after the buyout deadline.

Screw him, I would not give him the satisfaction of being allowed to hook on with some contender to chase a ring.  If he ain't gonna help us, why should we allow him to help someone else.

Good point.  Either he is going to play for the C's, or he is being cut on the 24th. 

There are two problems with this:

1.  There's no incentive for JO to agree to a buyout if he won't be playoff eligible, meaning it will cost the Celts more; and

2.  If you intentionally screw a player by being petty, you risk damaging your reputation with players and agents.

If the Celtics don't want to buy JO out, that's cool.  However, this "we're going to cut you one day after the playoff eligibility deadline" thing just isn't practical in my mind.