Mr.Bottomtooth
09-16-2010, 01:50 PM
Memphis Grizzlies agree to deals with Xavier Henry, Greivis Vasquez
By Ronald Tillery
Posted September 15, 2010 at 8 p.m., updated September 15, 2010 at 11:57 p.m.
A stalemate between the Grizzlies and their first-round draft picks has ended with the team agreeing to remove performance-based bonuses in its contract offers.
Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez agreed in principle to deals Wednesday night through their respective agents. Both players will sign contracts worth 120 percent of the NBA's rookie salary scale designated for their draft positions.
The Griz had offered 100 percent of the rookie salaries with an added 20 percent tied to performance clauses.
Team owner Michael Heisley changed his stance after a recent meeting with league officials, who detailed the spirit of the collective bargaining agreement with regard to rookie contracts.
"As far as I'm concerned, I'm happy the issue has been resolved," Heisley said. "There's no question I'm doing what I should have probably done earlier."
Vasquez used his Twitter account to announce his arrival in Memphis at about 7:50 p.m. Wednesday. Henry is expected in town before the weekend to participate in informal workouts with his new teammates.
The agents for both players didn't respond to phone messages left by The Commercial Appeal.
But Arn Tellem, who represents Henry, was steadfast in his refusal to accept an incentive-laced deal for his client. Tellem rejected the Grizzlies' request for him to provide a counterproposal. He also advised Henry to not participate in the Grizzlies' summer league games.
Vasquez, who is represented by Herb Rudoy, played in the summer league with an additional insurance policy. But Vasquez was advised not to sign a contract for the same reason as Henry.
Both agents disagreed with the Grizzlies' inclusion of performance incentives in the deals. The majority of first-round picks have received 120 percent of rookie salaries without performance clauses since the scale was adopted.
Teams can pay players between 80 and 120 percent of an amount set by the league's rookie scale, according to the collective bargaining agreement. The Grizzlies' proposed incentive package included:
Participation in summer league.
A two-week workout program with the team's training staff.
Satisfying one of the following: play in NBA rookie/sophomore game during All-Star Game weekend, earn an all-rookie selection or average 15 minutes in at least 70 games.
"In the general spirit of the way (the CBA) was put together, I felt we should relent and not have a performance situation," Heisley said. "I don't think I was on the right side of the issue."
Tellem told The Associated Press last month that only one player out of more than 450 since the rookie salary scale was instituted in 1995 has agreed to a performance bonus.
"Basic fairness and equality are fundamental aspects of every positive organization-player relationship, and those concepts are totally absent from the Grizzlies' current proposal to Xavier," Tellem said, adding that no other team in this draft had asked a player to accept a performance incentive.
Heisley initially argued that it wasn't unreasonable to expect Henry (the 12th overall pick) to meet one of the last three requirements. He offered no explanation as to why Vasquez (the 28th overall pick) would be subject to the same clauses.
The Griz fielded several trade proposals for Henry but Heisley wasn't interested in moving the sharpshooter from Kansas.
The Grizzlies start training camp Sept. 28.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/sep/15/memphis-grizzlies-close-signing-draft-picks-xavier/
By Ronald Tillery
Posted September 15, 2010 at 8 p.m., updated September 15, 2010 at 11:57 p.m.
A stalemate between the Grizzlies and their first-round draft picks has ended with the team agreeing to remove performance-based bonuses in its contract offers.
Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez agreed in principle to deals Wednesday night through their respective agents. Both players will sign contracts worth 120 percent of the NBA's rookie salary scale designated for their draft positions.
The Griz had offered 100 percent of the rookie salaries with an added 20 percent tied to performance clauses.
Team owner Michael Heisley changed his stance after a recent meeting with league officials, who detailed the spirit of the collective bargaining agreement with regard to rookie contracts.
"As far as I'm concerned, I'm happy the issue has been resolved," Heisley said. "There's no question I'm doing what I should have probably done earlier."
Vasquez used his Twitter account to announce his arrival in Memphis at about 7:50 p.m. Wednesday. Henry is expected in town before the weekend to participate in informal workouts with his new teammates.
The agents for both players didn't respond to phone messages left by The Commercial Appeal.
But Arn Tellem, who represents Henry, was steadfast in his refusal to accept an incentive-laced deal for his client. Tellem rejected the Grizzlies' request for him to provide a counterproposal. He also advised Henry to not participate in the Grizzlies' summer league games.
Vasquez, who is represented by Herb Rudoy, played in the summer league with an additional insurance policy. But Vasquez was advised not to sign a contract for the same reason as Henry.
Both agents disagreed with the Grizzlies' inclusion of performance incentives in the deals. The majority of first-round picks have received 120 percent of rookie salaries without performance clauses since the scale was adopted.
Teams can pay players between 80 and 120 percent of an amount set by the league's rookie scale, according to the collective bargaining agreement. The Grizzlies' proposed incentive package included:
Participation in summer league.
A two-week workout program with the team's training staff.
Satisfying one of the following: play in NBA rookie/sophomore game during All-Star Game weekend, earn an all-rookie selection or average 15 minutes in at least 70 games.
"In the general spirit of the way (the CBA) was put together, I felt we should relent and not have a performance situation," Heisley said. "I don't think I was on the right side of the issue."
Tellem told The Associated Press last month that only one player out of more than 450 since the rookie salary scale was instituted in 1995 has agreed to a performance bonus.
"Basic fairness and equality are fundamental aspects of every positive organization-player relationship, and those concepts are totally absent from the Grizzlies' current proposal to Xavier," Tellem said, adding that no other team in this draft had asked a player to accept a performance incentive.
Heisley initially argued that it wasn't unreasonable to expect Henry (the 12th overall pick) to meet one of the last three requirements. He offered no explanation as to why Vasquez (the 28th overall pick) would be subject to the same clauses.
The Griz fielded several trade proposals for Henry but Heisley wasn't interested in moving the sharpshooter from Kansas.
The Grizzlies start training camp Sept. 28.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/sep/15/memphis-grizzlies-close-signing-draft-picks-xavier/