NBA offseason thread

[Tony C]

 
 
 
 
What's Doc supposed to do in this situation?  Say "Sorry, bub?"  I don't see how he is "over his head" here.  If DAJ said "I've changed my mind," Doc would be an idiot not to talk to him.
 

 
He'd definitely be an idiot. But he's also an idiot if -- agent resistance or not -- he didn't insist that before DJ announced any decision there be a group meeting/group hug with Griffin, Paul, Balmer and himself. That said, particularly if there's an agent with an agenda issue (and the NBA is rife with reports/rumors of agents steering players as part of larger package deals rather than simply as part of that player's self-interest), there's no way that Doc/Ballmer shouldn't be doing all they can to reverse a verbal commit. 

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

 
Oh, fuck off. Deals not done until the ink hits the paper. It works that way in every other walk of life. Get the fuck over it.

 
 
This. Verbal agreements mean shit. If there's a moratorium on actually signing then thems the breaks. 

 

[ElUno20]

Blake needs to bust out into full nWo Hogan mode for this meeting. "Look brotha we're a family!"

Dj and blake are legit bffs. Come on blake, save our offseason

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Boozer backed out of a handshake deal with Cleveland a decade ago after Utah backed up the truck. Curious to see if DJ signs the full max with LAC for the extra year and $30 mil or if this is all about feelings.

That was much different though. Jordan appears confused and having buyers remorse.......Boozer's was a calculated series of lies to get Gund to not pick up his dirt-cheap option so he could accept a multi-year big dollar deal elsewhere.

 

[Tony C]

I don't think it's true that verbal commitments don't mean shit. But if there's a plausible explanation for why it shouldn't be binding -- i.e., the blame the agent thing -- then, yeah, it's not the same as a written agreement. The agent is shitting his pants right now because this will be very, very tough on his business if he can't carry through on a verbal commitment. 

 

[soxhop411]

https://twitter.com/JJRedick/status/618844949413433344

https://twitter.com/JJRedick/status/618844949413433344

link to tweet

 

[soxhop411]

https://twitter.com/ChandlerParsons/status/618842569133305857

https://twitter.com/ChandlerParsons/status/618842569133305857

link to tweet

 

[nattysez]

So Doc and Cuban are both heading to Houston, Chandler Parsons tweeted a picture of a jet and Redick tweeted a picture of a car.  DAJ better call a caterer -- this is going to be quite a party.
 
edit:
 
 

Blake Griffin ‏@blakegriffin32  1m1 minute ago

 

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

I don't think it's true that verbal commitments don't mean shit. But if there's a plausible explanation for why it shouldn't be binding -- i.e., the blame the agent thing -- then, yeah, it's not the same as a written agreement. The agent is shitting his pants right now because this will be very, very tough on his business if he can't carry through on a verbal commitment. 

 
If he has the players teams want, he will do plenty of business. 

 

[bowiac]

This drama is truly the hidden genius of the max contract. In other sports, players get wined and dined, but then just follow the money. In the NBA, it's all about following your heart.
 
I'm serious - this is great. I wish MLB and the NFL would adopt some kind of hilariously low max contract that allowed for more of these dog and pony shows.

 

[Cellar-Door]

So Doc and Cuban are both heading to Houston, Chandler Parsons tweeted a picture of a jet and Redick tweeted a picture of a car.  DAJ better call a caterer -- this is going to be quite a party.

Parsons brings the whole party with him. He's not some amateur.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Parsons brings the whole party with him. He's not some amateur.

 
Cuban said he wants Parsons running sales for him when he hangs up the sneakers.

 

[soxhop411]

https://twitter.com/blakegriffin32/status/618847732933898240

https://twitter.com/blakegriffin32/status/618847732933898240

link to tweet

 

[DannyDarwinism]

We dodged a bullet with the Mavs pick. Cuban said on the radio that the Mavs would have done a one-season hard tank to keep their pick if Wes and DJ signed elsewhere.

 
Heh.  Are you sure he said "and", not "or"?

 

[soxhop411]

“@Chris_Broussard: Someone who spoke 2 DeAndre this afternoon believes great chance he returns 2 LAC.”

 

[soxhop411]

“@ramonashelburne: I’m told the meeting with DeAndre is starting w/in the hour and the Clippers are ”hopeful“ he’s coming back.”

 

[TheRooster]

If the league was worried about this type of thing then they wouldn't have the no-signing period.  I've always thought it was risky to be announcing "done deal" or "reached an agreement" during this period, particularly with numbers announced.  Why wouldn't your competition keep negotiating (or upping their offers)?  Hell, wouldn't we be happy to hear that Danny has now offered Harris $83M (assume you think he's going to be a star)?

 

[Statman]

Banana boat reference! 
 
https://twitter.com/CP3/status/618851936888950784

 

[Devizier]

If the league was worried about this type of thing then they wouldn't have the no-signing period.  

 
Contra being worried about it, I think the league *loves* this shit. It's an offseason bonanza like the Goodell disciplinary nonsense.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

If the league was worried about this type of thing then they wouldn't have the no-signing period.  I've always thought it was risky to be announcing "done deal" or "reached an agreement" during this period, particularly with numbers announced.  Why wouldn't your competition keep negotiating (or upping their offers)?  Hell, wouldn't we be happy to hear that Danny has now offered Harris $83M (assume you think he's going to be a star)?

The moratorium period in the summer is for the league to complete their audit to determine the salary tax, luxury tax thresholds, etc. while teams could being negotiations. In theory the purpose is to teams have a window to negotiate without circumventing the league rules.......however we all know that this still occurs anyway. I believe the Aminu agreement hit Twitter about 12:20am in which case the agent determined his clients market and agreed to the best offer in 19 minutes.

Contra being worried about it, I think the league *loves* this shit. It's an offseason bonanza like the Goodell disciplinary nonsense.

Of course this is an added benefit. More headlines equal more attention equals greater revenue regardless of the headline.

 

[bowiac]

https://twitter.com/CodyTaylorNBA/status/618850263936466944

 

[soxhop411]

“@michaeleaves: Source close to #Clippers tells me that DJ reached out to Doc Monday night saying that he made a mistake, which triggered chain of events”

 

[HomeRunBaker]

DeAndre to Cuban:

"I'm Out!"

 

[nighthob]

I hope Jordan goes back to Clippertown and that Ainge gets on the phone and gets a loosening of the protections on the 2016 #1 and a future first from Dallas for David Lee.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

I hope Jordan goes back to Clippertown and that Ainge gets on the phone and gets a loosening of the protections on the 2016 #1 and a future first from Dallas for David Lee.

If Cuban gets spiteful and tanks this would be counterproductive.

 

[Cellar-Door]

I hope Jordan goes back to Clippertown and that Ainge gets on the phone and gets a loosening of the protections on the 2016 #1 and a future first from Dallas for David Lee.

Nah they'll super tank. Let Matthews wait half the year before coming back.

 

[soxhop411]

“@WojYahooNBA: Sources: Conversations that Clippers teammates have had w/ DeAndre Jordan in past 24 hours give players confidence he’ll return to them.”

 

[nighthob]

If Cuban gets spiteful and tanks this would be counterproductive.

Wouldn't getting spiteful mean making a run to knock the Clippers out of their playoff spot?

 

[soxhop411]

“@michaeleaves: Feeling within DJ’s family is that Dan Fegan was pushing DJ to sign with Mavs. Fegan also represents Parsons and is tight with Cuban.”

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Wouldn't getting spiteful mean making a run to knock the Clippers out of their playoff spot?

With David Lee as their 5?

 

[soxhop411]

“@michaeleaves: Fegan also reps Dwight Howard, who Cuban expected to get last summer. Belief is that Fegan was trying to do a makeup for Mavs with DJ.”

 

[soxhop411]

“@michaeleaves: Source also tells me that Fegan made an ultimatum to Doc prior to agreement w/ Mavs that LAC would have to trade CP3 to keep DJ.”

 

[nighthob]

Hey, we can throw in Sully to help with their depth!  :buddy:

 

[soxhop411]

How is this crook an agent?

 

[moondog80]

Are teams really going to refuse to work with the agent if he goes back to LA?  I get why they'd be upset, but teams want the guys they want, are they really going to choose lesser players just to spite Fagan?  The Sox supposedly broke an unwritten rule when they signed Millar, but a couple years later all that mattered was that Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez was the best offer on the table for Josh Beckett.

 

[zenter]

How is this crook an agent?

 
Question asked, question answered.

 

[DannyDarwinism]

I realize that their roster is weak right now, but I don't know how you sell a hard tank to a 37 year old Dirk.  And it's not like they'd be guaranteed a bottom 6 finish even if they try.

 

[soxhop411]

“@michaeleaves: Source says that DJ has been emotionally tormented by this decision. A video commissioned by team had him crying during initial meeting.”

 

[soxhop411]

https://twitter.com/paulpierce34/status/618860245025030144

https://twitter.com/paulpierce34/status/618860245025030144

link to tweet

 

[E5 Yaz]

I'm so glad I don't speak Twitter

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

I realize that their roster is weak right now, but I don't know how you sell a hard tank to a 37 year old Dirk.  And it's not like they'd be guaranteed a bottom 6 finish even if they try.

 
The East-West imbalance will make this close.  Mavs without DJ are most likely better than at least 7 teams but the Hornets and Pistons and so on don't have to spend all season in the shredder.

 

[ifmanis5]

So is CP3 still a dick to play with or not?

 

[DannyDarwinism]

 
The East-West imbalance will make this close.  Mavs without DJ are most likely better than at least 7 teams but the Hornets and Pistons and so on don't have to spend all season in the shredder.

 
True, but I still don't see it as a good gamble to shoot for bottom six. Wolves, Kings, Magic, and Pistons all should be long shots to win 30 next year. Nuggets, Lakers, Knicks, Nets and Blazers could all go south fast, and a handful of other teams are a key injury away from lotto-land.  

 

[The Social Chair]

Wes tweeted and deleted he's leaving Mavs if DeAndre leaves. Mavs will tank for sure if they lose both.

Edit- the dumb LA espn radio guy i heard that from just said he was wrong and the Wes tweet was from a fake account.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

That's not even true. Many industries rely on handshake deals. Sports is not unusual in this regard.

 
This is literally about a player "signing a contract". Handshakes have nothing to do with it. And at $80 million dollars, I think it has even less to do with it (if that's possible).
 

Other walks of life don't have a moratorium period for the purpose of determining salary cap, luxury tax thresholds, etc. It is a clear breach of trust that could change how the league. teams, and agents handle this period moving forward.

 
Verbal agreements get welched all the time. This probably happens every NBA offseason. The difference is that DJ announced it publicly.
 
Jesus, with all the moving pieces involved (teams wanting to get in final bid, agents constantly working phones, etc), do you guys really think an NBA player has never backed out of a verbal agreement on a contract? Give me a break.

 

[bowiac]

This is literally about a player "signing a contract". Handshakes have nothing to do with it. And at $80 million dollars, I think it has even less to do with it (if that's possible).

I don't understand what you're saying. DeAndre had a proverbial "handshake deal" that he's considering walking away from. I am pointing out that in many industries, such handshake deals are a normal way of doing business, and walking away from them is unheard of. There's nothing special about basketball that way.

 

[Nick Kaufman]

This is like an English romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant, only with NBA players and no women.

 

[Cellar-Door]

This is like an English romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant, only with NBA players and no women.

Any Free agent nightclub meeting with Chandler Parsons has plenty of women.

 

[Blacken]

https://twitter.com/jemelehill/status/618891109662593024

https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/618892272663334912


I love the NBA so goddamn hard.

 

[fairlee76]

So we have tears, a meanie agent pushing poor DAJ to leave the Clippers, late night phone calls to almost-spurned GM/coaches, and players vowing to be better at giving out high-fives.  Sounds like all the makings to a great reality show.  There would be a market for that, right?