What if Clippers players were granted free agency?

[LooseCannon]

That's an idea from Leslie Alexander, who happens to be the owner of the Rockets, a team that is reportedly interested in clearing cap space to chase after Carmelo Anthony, but who might be happy to see some other marquee free agents pop up on the market.

I don't think this would happen, but if it did, where do you think Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan (I don't anyone else on the roster matter that much) end up?  Do the Lakers find a way to salary dump Nash and end up with a Griffin/Paul/Kobe trio?

[JSD]

That's an idea from Leslie Alexander, who happens to be the owner of the Rockets, a team that is reportedly interested in clearing cap space to chase after Carmelo Anthony, but who might be happy to see some other marquee free agents pop up on the market.

I don't think this would happen, but if it did, where do you think Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan (I don't anyone else on the roster matter that much) end up?  Do the Lakers find a way to salary dump Nash and end up with a Griffin/Paul/Kobe trio?

That would go beyond management. It wouldn't happen for one reason: The Union.

Then again, Chris Paul is the union president.

[JSD]

I love the idea personally. The Clippers would be scrambling to absorb contracts if that were to happen as nobody would willingly go there. Maybe they would absorb Gerald Wallace! Lol.

[JSD]

I don't think this would happen, but if it did, where do you think Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan (I don't anyone else on the roster matter that much) end up?  Do the Lakers find a way to salary dump Nash and end up with a Griffin/Paul/Kobe trio?

In that context, would Ainge be willing to absorb Nash with the TE for their 1st rounder? Even if it allowed the Lakers to form a superteam?

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I gotta ask, what is making the players free agents going to do? It's not like there is a team out there that can take 2 or so of them and make a team as good as they are... it's likely that each of the stars will have to go to separate teams and start from scratch, that's just hurting the players who did what they could to be on a contender, now some will have to settle for the bad teams and do the whole toil in lottery land for years and years.


I typed before I saw you guys mention LA... that would be disgusting.

[JSD]

I gotta ask, what is making the players free agents going to do? It's not like there is a team out there that can take 2 or so of them and make a team as good as they are... it's likely that each of the stars will have to go to separate teams and start from scratch, that's just hurting the players who did what they could to be on a contender, now some will have to settle for the bad teams and do the whole toil in lottery land for years and years.


I typed before I saw you guys mention LA... that would be disgusting.

A handful of teams would have the ability to sign both Blake And CP3 and become contenders overnight:

Lakers (If they use their pick to clear Nash and one or two other players on small deals)
Philly
Dallas
Cleveland
Utah
Orlando
Phoenix

[JSD]

Oh, and add Miami to that list

[Moranis]

of course the owner of the Rockets wants Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to be available because either one would set his team over the top.

[slamtheking]

free agency for all Clips players would be too drastic a move for the NBA to do.  There's no way they'd be able to get Sterling to seel that team without any players on it. 

toughest measure the league would take is to force Sterling to sell off the team to an approved bidder or to the league itself until it can find a suitable buyer-->similar to when the league took over the operations of the Hornets/Pelicans

[Roy H.]

Would they have to take it?  Jared Dudley would be pretty miffed if his contract was terminated, I think.

[saltlover]

Would they have to take it?  Jared Dudley would be pretty miffed if his contract was terminated, I think.

You could grant them all the choice to void their contracts.  Dudley could stay if he wanted.  The Union wouldn't mind at all would be my guess.  Their poor draft pick may be disappointed.

My problem is that they need to fill a team.  They exist.  What if no players want to sign there?  In suppose enough money will make a few change their minds, but still... That could be an embarrassing situation for the league (although maybe hasten Sterling's exit).

[nickagneta]

They aren't going to allow these players or Doc to become free agents. They have a legal binding contract to play and coach for the Clippers. There is no language in the Standard Player's Contract that stipulates that if the owner of the team makes stupid comments that the player can void his contract and sign elsewhere. I doubt if the same doesn't hold true for Doc's contract.

I am sure if Doc wanted he could resign and forfeit the rest of the contract, but I am just as sure he would then be unable to coach anywhere else until the contract ends.

The players are stuck there. They aren't going anywhere. Now just like Doc they could forfeit the rest of their contracts but for the length of those contracts, they won't be able to play anywhere.

So I think it best they just group up together, get an "us" versus "the world" mentality and keep doing their jobs until ownership changes or until their contract is up or until they are traded.

[Toine7]

If this were to happen and their all stars were to leave, the chances of the clippers being a good team in the western conference would be slim. Then we get their unprotcted first round pick. Imagine if that happened.

[saltlover]

They aren't going to allow these players or Doc to become free agents. They have a legal binding contract to play and coach for the Clippers. There is no language in the Standard Player's Contract that stipulates that if the owner of the team makes stupid comments that the player can void his contract and sign elsewhere. I doubt if the same doesn't hold true for Doc's contract.

I am sure if Doc wanted he could resign and forfeit the rest of the contract, but I am just as sure he would then be unable to coach anywhere else until the contract ends.

The players are stuck there. They aren't going anywhere. Now just like Doc they could forfeit the rest of their contracts but for the length of those contracts, they won't be able to play anywhere.

So I think it best they just group up together, get an "us" versus "the world" mentality and keep doing their jobs until ownership changes or until their contract is up or until they are traded.

I mean, I think it's highly unlikely for anything like this to happen.  But if the vast majority of the other owners wanted it, Silver wanted it, and the players wanted it, I'm fairly certain they could find a way, even if it's adding something to the CBA.  Again, doubt that would happen, but if Sterling refused to sell, and the other owners thought he was casting a shadow on the league, something like that might help force him out.

As for Doc, I remember hearing at the time he got some sort of exit language put into his contract, because Sterling had a reputation.  Don't know what that language would cover, but since Elgin Baylor sued Sterling, some non-discrimination language wouldn't shock me.

[wdleehi]

Doesn't make sense.  Players are still going to sign with the Clippers.  That is 13-15 jobs right there. 




This only give the stars a chance to move. 




And let's be honest, Sterling doesn't seem to mind have a terrible cheap team.