NBA to stop Big Z to returning to Cavs

[PGDynasty24]

Per. Yahoo! sports columnist on twitter-"Mark Heisler of LA Times is reporting that NBA has informed other teams that it won't let Z return to Cavs after a buyout."

A reason for this is the NBA is probing if their was a pre-arranged deal to allow Z to come back to Cavs,some GM's say there was.

"Folks asking if NBA can stop Z return to Cavs: If league can show evidence of a pre-arranged deal, yes, it can. Real hard to prove, though."

http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA

[TheMACHINE]

it aint gonna happen...Big Z is the MVP of teh Cavs....Lebron needs him. Stern needs him. He'll be in a Cavs uniform

[Double-Up]

The need to permanently fix the loophole...can't wait to see how this shit plays out.

[DAF86]

Why can't the Cavs do what every other team in the NBA has done? Stern just helping the Lakers like he's supossed to do.

[Amarelooms]

They need to change the rule so if you trade a player he can't come back till next season :elephant

[JoeTait75]

The NBA has to prove there was a pre-arranged deal in place to buy Z out and have him return to Cleveland. That's the only way they can keep him from coming back. And I seriously doubt they can prove any such thing. If the NBA thought the deal was shady they could have blocked it in the first place.

[Ode to Triple Ocho]

The NBA has to prove there was a pre-arranged deal in place to buy Z out and have him return to Cleveland. That's the only way they can keep him from coming back. And I seriously doubt they can prove any such thing. If the NBA thought the deal was shady they could have blocked it in the first place.

The deal itself wasn't shady.

The buying out a player then signing him in 30 days is shady and is a dumb loophole that can't be officially be fixed until the next CBA. And the NBA should do everything in their power to prevent that from happening.

The Cavs could just be the bigger person here and not unofficially 'cheat' by not re-signing Big Z.

Problem solved. All it takes is a bit of class. Which is something Cleveland/Lebron hasn't shown much of lately.

[Chieflion]

Waiting until the next CBA would have been apporpriate. Big Z deserves to retire playing as a Cav, with or without a ring.

[badfish22]

Mavs might get him now if he is bought out

[TheMACHINE]

Waiting until the next CBA would have been apporpriate. Big Z deserves to retire playing as a Cav, with or without a ring.

obviously not when his own team traded him away.

[baseline bum]

I hate these kind of deals, but good luck proving anything. I hope this shit gets addressed in the next CBA.

[Chieflion]

obviously not when his own team traded him away.
Knowing that he will be bought out for lux tax relief because of his 75% paid contract?

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

The NBA needs to change this rule, bottomline.

[Ode to Triple Ocho]

Waiting until the next CBA would have been apporpriate. Big Z deserves to retire playing as a Cav, with or without a ring.

Then they shouldn't have traded him.

The LAKERS COULD HAVE traded Fisher and re-signed him after buyout. Instead? They refused to move his expiring because they're actually "loyal" to their players and don't need bullshit loopholes to compete.

[TheMACHINE]

Knowing that he will be bought out for lux tax relief because of his 75% paid contract?

my statement was based on whether he deserved to stay or not...its too bad his own team didnt think so. Thats loyalty for you. If he comes back then good for the Cavs and him...but thats a risk they took.

[Ode to Triple Ocho]

I hate these kind of deals, but good luck proving anything. I hope this shit gets addressed in the next CBA.

Yup. Just another classless move by the Spurs a couple years ago when they did just that.

[Chieflion]

Then they shouldn't have traded him.

The LAKERS COULD HAVE traded Fisher and re-signed him after buyout. Instead? They refused to move his expiring because they're actually "loyal" to their players and don't need bullshit loopholes to compete.
Ok, so says Aaron McKie and the Laker fan.

[JoeTait75]

The Cavs could just be the bigger person here and not unofficially 'cheat' by not re-signing Big Z.

You've got to be kidding, right? They'd be idiots to not take advantage of the loophole.

[Darrin]

Pre-arranged or not, this is stupid. Lindsey Hunter was traded in the 2003-04 season in the Rasheed Wallace deal and was waived, coming back to the Pistons. It was widely known that he would not stay with the Celtics, he flew to take his physcial in Boston and immediately flew to his home in the Detroit suburbs. The Pistons would have him back. They started reporting that the day after the trade.

Z has been with the Cavs since 1996. To stop him from returning would be a random cracking of the whip. This stuff happens all the time. I point to the Lakers waiving Brian Shaw to avoid the luxury tax, and then re-signing him as another example. They are doing this only because they are about to negotiate a new labor agreement and they want to get rid of these types of transactions where a team trades cap-relief and then the player is waived, making it look like the team gave up nothing to get an All-Star-calibur player.

But when they started manuevering salary--really in 2000--they had a bunch of guys languishing on the bench of horrible teams, pissed off because they knew they were playing out the string. I point to Tim Hardaway with Denver as one example.

[Ode to Triple Ocho]

You've got to be kidding, right? They'd be idiots to not take advantage of the loophole.

No they would be a classy organization that retains some dignity by not unofficially cheating and re-signing a player they traded 30 days prior.

Cavs had the best record in the league and beat the defending champs twice before the trade. Are they not confident they can win the East?

[JoeTait75]

No they would be a classy organization that retains some dignity by not unofficially cheating and re-signing a player they traded 30 days prior.

No, they would be a stupid organization for not taking advantage of a loophole that has been taken advantage of by other teams for years now. Yeah, the loophole is sketchy and should be closed. But it would be flat-out dumb for the Cavaliers not to bring back Z if they have a chance, and being dumb is no way to be classy.


Cavs had the best record in the league and beat the defending champs twice before the trade. Are they not confident they can win the East?

They need Z to protect Shaq against Orlando and they need him if it comes to cases against the Lake Show. He defends Gasol better than any of the other big men on this team.

[TheMACHINE]

no Z... no ring

[Sportstudi]

I don't care if the Cavs benefit this time, because other teams used the loop before. The whole rule needs to be changed. Players shouldn't be allowed to return until the next season if they are dealt before the mid-season tradeline.

[TheMACHINE]

im all good with it too cuz its a loophole...might aswell take advantage while its still there.

[23LeBronJames23]

They cant just make this rule up in the middle of the season.

[Ode to Triple Ocho]

They cant just make this rule up in the middle of the season.

They aren't.

It just has to be proven.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Biz Z in the mile high city!

Then sometimes run a big lineup of Billups/Melo/K/Nene/Z :smokin

[Daddy_Of_All_Trolls]

Let me ask this to see if anyone knows.

I don't think he has been bought out yet.
I know he hasn't played yet.
But is he suiting up for the Wizards and sitting on the bench, even in streetclothes?
30 days starts after the buyout, right? Aren't most cases where a player is bought out done immediately? This one hasn't happened yet.

Now, to drive the conspiracy theorists nuts:

The NBA will allow the Wizards to void Arenas contract if they keep Big Z. If he returns to the Cavs, they keep Gilbert's contract. Think about it. Wizards have already gone into complete rebuild, dumping Butler and Jamison. Arenas is all they need to shed now.

[Mel_13]

Let me ask this to see if anyone knows.

I don't think he has been bought out yet.
I know he hasn't played yet.
But is he suiting up for the Wizards and sitting on the bench, even in streetclothes?
30 days starts after the buyout, right? Aren't most cases where a player is bought out done immediately? This one hasn't happened yet.

Now, to drive the conspiracy theorists nuts:

The NBA will allow the Wizards to void Arenas contract if they keep Big Z. If he returns to the Cavs, they keep Gilbert's contract. Think about it. Wizards have already gone into complete rebuild, dumping Butler and Jamison. Arenas is all they need to shed now.

The 30 day waiting period starts with the date of the trade and only applies to the Cavs. Any other team can sign him immediately after he clears waivers and the buyout is finalized.

On your conspiracy theory. It really doesn't matter whether or not the NBA supports any attempt by the Wizards to voids Arenas' contract. In the now unlikely event that they make the attempt, the final decision will be made by an arbiter or in a court.

[JoeTait75]

Let me ask this to see if anyone knows.

I don't think he has been bought out yet.
I know he hasn't played yet.
But is he suiting up for the Wizards and sitting on the bench, even in streetclothes?

All I knew is he flew right back to Cleveland after taking his physical. I don't know if he'll be on Washington's bench or not. Even if he is, he'll spend most of his time in Cleveland because he's lived here for 13 years.

[Daddy_Of_All_Trolls]

The 30 day waiting period starts with the date of the trade and only applies to the Cavs. Any other team can sign him immediately after he clears waivers and the buyout is finalized.

On your conspiracy theory. It really doesn't matter whether or not the NBA supports any attempt by the Wizards to voids Arenas' contract. In the now unlikely event that they make the attempt, the final decision will be made by an arbiter or in a court.

Thanks, Some things about the NBA I know well. Others I rely on other smart folks to help out.

The date of the trade means they could release him on day 30, thus shortening the time other teams have to try to sign him.....but...

....Way too complicated and I don't really care where he ends up. If the Cavs don't get him back and they win it all, he does deserve a ring. Not to do so would be more classless than LeBron not shaking hands after the Magic beat his team last year.

[Daddy_Of_All_Trolls]

All I knew is he flew right back to Cleveland after taking his physical. I don't know if he'll be on Washington's bench or not. Even if he is, he'll spend most of his time in Cleveland because he's lived here for 13 years.

This indicates he will be bought out. Otherwise he would be going to practices, and getting acquainted with his new mates. Thanks for your help as well. :)

[dude1394]

I think the nba stopped stackhouse from going back to the mavs in the devin harris trade... I'm not sure if they actually stopped him or if they just threatened cubes and he changed the deal.

[milkshakeballa]

All I knew is he flew right back to Cleveland after taking his physical. I don't know if he'll be on Washington's bench or not. Even if he is, he'll spend most of his time in Cleveland because he's lived here for 13 years.


If you see Big Z tell him I'm terribly sorry brah for having to live there...

[JoeTait75]

If you see Big Z tell him I'm terribly sorry brah for having to live there...

Nah, he loves it here. He says it reminds him of Lithuania. :lol

[cobbler]

You've got to be kidding, right? They'd be idiots to not take advantage of the loophole.

By saying that... you are saying they indeed had it pre-arranged which IS against the rules, outright cheating, and not a loophole.

Laughing at all the posters that come up with the "if they did it then it's ok for us to" comments. I suppose you never grasped the whole two wrongs don't make a right concept.

[JoeTait75]

Bt saying that... you are saying they indeed had it pre-arranged which IS against the rules and not a loophole.

Not saying that. Just saying that if the buyout happens and Z becomes available, they would be fools for not picking him up if they can.

[namlook]

Ilgauskas was quoted as saying something like "Hopefully they just make me stay here for a few days, then let me go back home."

If Stern read that the deal is screwed.

[cobbler]

Ilgauskas was quoted as saying something like "Hopefully they just make me stay here for a few days, then let me go back home."

If Stern read that the deal is screwed.

Yep... that's how the Stackhouse deal got screwed. Cause he commented about it.

[JoeTait75]

Ilgauskas was quoted as saying something like "Hopefully they just make me stay here for a few days, then let me go back home."

If Stern read that the deal is screwed.

Pretty oblique comment. He does live in Cleveland, his wife and kids are here, his favorite bars are here, etc.

[Muser]

Didn't McDyess return to Detroit after the Billups trade?

[DesignatedT]

haha that would be cool.

[DesignatedT]

Didn't McDyess return to Detroit after the Billups trade?

yes

[MiamiHeat]

By saying that... you are saying they indeed had it pre-arranged which IS against the rules, outright cheating, and not a loophole.

Laughing at all the posters that come up with the "if they did it then it's ok for us to" comments. I suppose you never grasped the whole two wrongs don't make a right concept.

speaking of taking advantage of loopholes


how's that Gasol deal working out for you? I mean, using a contract of a player who doesn't even play in the NBA to make the salaries match, that's ethical right? not a loophole at all, eh?


-------------------------------

On February 1, 2008, McKie along with Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, rights to Marc Gasol, and 2008 and 2010 first-round draft picks was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Pau Gasol.

The Lakers' acquisition of Pau Gasol was only approved by the league office when McKie—who was working as an assistant coach with Philadelphia when the Lakers called to inform him that they wanted to sign him and throw him in for salary-cap reasons—agreed to join the Grizzlies.

[namlook]

Pretty oblique comment. He does live in Cleveland, his wife and kids are here, his favorite bars are here, etc.

But the Wizards need a center after trading Haywood. It makes no basketball sense to buy him out. Stern is not stupid.

[cobbler]

speaking of taking advantage of loopholes


how's that Gasol deal working out for you? I mean, using a contract of a player who doesn't even play in the NBA to make the salaries match, that's ethical right? not a loophole at all, eh?
-------------------------------

On February 1, 2008, McKie along with Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, rights to Marc Gasol, and 2008 and 2010 first-round draft picks was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Pau Gasol.

The Lakers' acquisition of Pau Gasol was only approved by the league office when McKie—who was working as an assistant coach with Philadelphia when the Lakers called to inform him that they wanted to sign him and throw him in for salary-cap reasons—agreed to join the Grizzlies.

Nope. It was ethically wrong to talke advantage of a loophole like that! Again, what part of two wrongs dont make a right don't you get?

The difference here also is that McKie didn't come back and contribute anything to the Lakers. It was just a $ deal to make the numbers match. The Lakers asked him if he would want to do it and he actually went to Memphis and participated in practices and wasn't waived for 3 months.

Again, If the Wizz just waived Big Z and Z decided he wanted to go back to the Cavs... No problem. If they pre-arranged it... Cheating. Not a loophole. Downright cheating.

Even a buffoon such as you should be able to grasp the huge difference. No?

[mystargtr34]

Phil Jackson must have spoken out.

[JoeTait75]

But the Wizards need a center after trading Haywood. It makes no basketball sense to buy him out. Stern is not stupid.

They drafted JaVale McGee in the first round two years ago to play center. Why would they want to take PT from him and give it to a two-month rental who won't re-sign there, especially since they're going nowhere anyway?

[LakerHater]

im all good with it too cuz its a loophole...might aswell take advantage while its still there.
EXACTLY!
This is bullshit if the NBA does this. Either you make a rule that can't be exploited or you GTFO..!!!

[mavsfan1000]

lol Stern just wants LA to win another championship.

[Trainwreck2100]

posturing

[IronMexican]

Let Cleveland do what they want. It's dumbass Stern that should address it at the proper time. The proper time is after the season.

[23LeBronJames23]

But the Wizards need a center after trading Haywood. It makes no basketball sense to buy him out. Stern is not stupid.

They got andre blatche I dont know if he is a C but he can rebound.

[cobbler]

EXACTLY!
This is bullshit if the NBA does this. Either you make a rule that can't be exploited or you GTFO..!!!

It's not like there isn't a precedent.

"I get 30 days to rest, then I'll be right back,'' Stackhouse told The Associated Press on Wednesday in response to the proposed trade. "I ain't going nowhere."

"The league has taken Stackhouse out of the deal," the source said. "They said, 'He can be in the trade, but he can't go back to Dallas after that.' "

The 30-day rule was added to the league's collective bargaining agreement as a response to a trade between Boston and Atlanta in 2005. In that deal, Boston sent Gary Payton to Atlanta to reacquire Antoine Walker with the understanding that the Hawks would immediately waive Payton, who then re-signed with Boston three days later.

The league frowned on this move, and instituted the 30-day rule. By flouting the rule so publicly, Stackhouse may have given the league no choice but to eliminate him from the deal or prevent the Mavericks from re-signing him.

"If Stackhouse had kept quiet, the league would not have been able to prove anything," a Western Conference executive said.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3247183

If Big Z actually did make a similar comment, and I have not seen it, then the league will step in just like they did with Stack... and rightfully so.

[mavfan1000]

lol Stern just wants LA to win another championship.

Is that any different than you wanting Chicago to win another championship, bullsfan1000?

[Halberto]

Players shouldn't be allowed to return until the next season if they are dealt before the mid-season tradeline.


That's the way it should be but they need to enforce this starting next season. If Stern actually does this immediately all hell would break loose. At least I hope it would... Teams have been doing this for a while (yes I know the spurs did), if it only takes the Lakers and Celtics to openly criticize it then I'll forever hate that bastard.

[mavsfan1000]

Yeah too late to enforce this now. They have to make a rule you can't return to your team until after the season is over.

[Findog]

If Big Z actually did make a similar comment, and I have not seen it, then the league will step in just like they did with Stack... and rightfully so.

The league never "stepped in" and did anything. The Mavs were rightly worried that Stack's comments would create complications for a 30-day boomerang, so they took the pre-emptive step of not including him in the trade. The League Office never told the Mavs that Stack would definitely not be allowed to come back; they just didn't want to take the chance.

[Findog]

What's the big deal? They shouldn't prevent players from returning to their former teams. Z only wants to play for the Cavs and if that's what he wants, he should be able. Perhaps there should be no financial incentive for a player's new team to buy him out so quickly and let him return to his former club.

[mavsfan1000]

What's the big deal? They shouldn't prevent players from returning to their former teams. Z only wants to play for the Cavs and if that's what he wants, he should be able. Perhaps there should be no financial incentive for a player's new team to buy him out so quickly and let him return to his former club.
Either way is better than this iffy bs going on now. Maybe they'll allow it, maybe they won't. Stupid confusion here.

[Basketballgirl25]

I always hated the kind of trades like this one, Nets almost made one back the season when Kidd was traded glad Stackhouse F'd that up lol

[Thunder Dan]

Windhorst got to the bottom of this, It's a bullshit story written by a Lakers fan when the 2 teams who would care most about the Cavs getting Z back played last week.

It's a bullshit story, and the NBA never said anything to the Cavs labout not being able to resign Z.

On a side note, how pathetic are the Lakers that they are that worried about Z. Cavs are in their heads


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

[Ode to Triple Ocho]

Cavs can't even get out of the East.

[HarlemHeat37]

LOL @ the usual insecurity coming from Laker fans..

[JoeTait75]

Cavs can't even get out of the East.

Then there's no need for you to be concerned about Cleveland getting Z back, is there?

[cobbler]

The league never "stepped in" and did anything. The Mavs were rightly worried that Stack's comments would create complications for a 30-day boomerang, so they took the pre-emptive step of not including him in the trade. The League Office never told the Mavs that Stack would definitely not be allowed to come back; they just didn't want to take the chance.

The league said they would step in. The fact that the Mavs recognized it and took it off the table does not change that. It's against the rules to pre arrange such a deal. It's a simple concept.

"The league has taken Stackhouse out of the deal," the source said. "They said, 'He can be in the trade, but he can't go back to Dallas after that.' "

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3247183

[Ode to Triple Ocho]

Cobbler's point stands. Big Z commenting on him going home could fuck this up for the Cavs. Simple as that. There is no Stern against the Cavs conspiracy lol. Stern wants Lebron to be the face by all means.

[cobbler]

What's the big deal? They shouldn't prevent players from returning to their former teams. Z only wants to play for the Cavs and if that's what he wants, he should be able. Perhaps there should be no financial incentive for a player's new team to buy him out so quickly and let him return to his former club.

It has nothing to do with players wanting to return to wherever. If they traded him to the Wizz with no pre arranged deal then no sweat. The Wizz buy him out and he goes wherever he chooses. If they pre arranged it then they are purposely circumventing the rules. It's black and white.

Maybe just maybe the Cavs don't make the deal for Jamison if they know they are going to lose Z. But KNOWING they are going to get Z back because it's pre arranged makes the deal a draft pick for an all star from their perspective and that's a no brainer.

One situation is a loophole.... the other is outright cheating. If you don't recognize the difference then so be it.

[cobbler]

LOL @ the usual insecurity coming from Laker fans..

That's classic comming from someone who obsesses about the Lakers, Kobe, and the Pau trade nonstop. :toast