Will they cut,trade, or keep Nesterovic?

http://cbs.sportsline.com/print/nba/story/8609786

Loophole in new agreement gives owners second chance
June 30, 2005
By Tony Mejia

Teams over the salary cap can escape paying a dollar-for-dollar luxury tax, thanks to a one-time loophole in the new collective bargaining agreement.

How? By waiving a player.

While the discarded individual would still get paid for the entire length of his deal, the team would erase his salary figure from tax implications. In the case of Dallas' Michael Finley, letting him go would save the Mavericks organization over $50 million dollars.

The only stipulation is that once a player is waived, he can't re-sign with his current team for the entire length of his deal, but is free to sign elsewhere for any amount. In that regard, this is a concession that is good for both players and franchises.

A large part of the new CBA, while primarily seeking improvement in the current system for the overall good of the game, was also constructed to help save the owners from themselves. Bidding wars have a tendency to force some to lose their minds and make grievous errors in judgment, part of the reason the maximum length of a contract was reduced from seven years to six for signing your own free agents, and from six to five for signing arrivals from other teams.

This one-time opportunity to erase a mistake is another, and teams are expected to take full advantage of it beginning July 1.

Here's a list of 15 players who could be luxury tax casualties, adding to the free-agency fun:


Luxury tax casualties?
Player, Team Salary Avg./Years Remaining Approx. Money Saved
Raef LaFrentz, Boston $11.3 million/4 years $45 million
With Mark Blount set in the middle and youngsters Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins developing rapidly, LaFrentz appears to be expendable.

Carlos Boozer, Utah $11.8 million/5 years $59 million
Despite his disappointing first season in Utah, it would be a huge shock if he doesn't stay put.

Rasho Nesterovic, San Antonio $7.5 million/4 years $30 million
The world champs have an interesting decision to make. But given that he fell out of the rotation in the playoffs, he might be worth cutting loose.

Jalen Rose, Toronto $16.2 million/2 years $32 million
Both parties were unhappy last year and the Raptors look to be in rebuilding mode; the two sides might finally trim ties.

Theo Ratliff, Portland $11.5 million/4 years $46 million
Joel Przybilla has taken his job, anyway.

Doug Christie, Orlando $8.2 million/1 year $8 million
It would appear departed GM John Weisbrod will have traded Cuttino Mobley away for nothing.

Eddie Jones, Miami $15.2 million/2 years $30 million
Considering the Heat are chasing a championship and his defense is still superb, Jones should be safe.

Jason Williams, Memphis $8.2 million/3 years $25 million
The Grizzlies were said to be fed up with his antics, but who is going to run the show if they cut him?

James Posey, Memphis $6.1 million/2 years $12 million
Injuries are a concern, but given Jason Williams' presence and the flashes of brilliance he demonstrated two years ago, he'll likely be kept.

Chris Webber, Philadelphia $20.7 million/3 years $62 million
If he's going anywhere, this is obviously the time to do it. He'll never be the same C-Webb, but he is still an upper-echelon power forward. The Sixers face quite a dilemma.

Jamal Mashburn, Philadelphia $10.5 million/2 years $21 million
Either he or Chris Webber will be looking for a new home, provided he's interested in making a comeback.

Wally Szczerbiak, Minnesota $11.5 million/4 years $46 million
There's no rumbling that he'll be sent packing, although he is making a pretty penny.

Michael Finley, Dallas $17.3 million/3 years $52 million
Teams are already jockeying for position to push for his services. Though he'll likely have his number retired by Dallas in the future, his days there are done.

Allan Houston, New York $19.9 million/2 years $40 million
His earning potential is limited, so unless he really wants to play and feels he can regain a good part of his previous form, he may retire when the Knicks let him go.

Brian Grant, L.A. Lakers $15 million/2 years $30 million
Phil Jackson mentioned him as a player who could make the triangle work, but given his history of injury and at such a high price, L.A. will make due without him.

Ruben Patterson, Portland $6.6 million/2 years $13 million
He no longer wants to play for a team in rebuilding mode, so if he is sent off, this could be blessing for both parties.

They won't cut him. He's prime trade material. Other than those statements, I won't get into the arguments for keeping him. I'm tired of it.

Rasho. Will. Not. Be. Cut.

I think everyone who thinks Rasho will be cut should be summarily banned.

The likelihood of Rasho being waived is about the same as LeBron coming to SA in a trade for Linton Johnson.

It's not a loophole, and he won't be cut. If the Spurs move Rasho, they'll get something for their troubles.

Rasho will not get cut, however he does need to be traded asap.

No way in hell they cut Rasho. He has a below market contract or a center of his ability. They could trade him and bring in some help while getting some cap relief.

Rasho should be cut. All he is doing is using space up on the bench. The spurs need to save themselves from the luxury tax and this would make sure they don't have to give anyone else up in the future years.

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Originally Posted by Tobias

It's not a loophole, and he won't be cut. If the Spurs move Rasho, they'll get something for their troubles.

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Actually, it is a loophole and a one time deal.

[QUOTE=Spursdaone]Rasho should be cut.QUOTE]
You're an idiot.

[QUOTE=TheTruth]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spursdaone

Rasho should be cut.QUOTE]
You're an idiot.

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And that is The Truth!

[QUOTE=TheTruth]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spursdaone

Rasho should be cut.QUOTE]
You're an idiot.

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The spurs really needed him being a waterboy this last season. Otherwise the players wouldn't be equally quenched. Better Rasho than a player that matters later.

Only 5 to keep Rasho? For shame, "spurs" fans.

They Will Not Cut A Tradeable Commodity.

It is shortsighted and stupid, regardless of your blind hatred of the guy, to cut him when he has a decent sized contract, good playing years left and plays well enough at a position that is in HIGH demand throughout the league. There are plenty of teams that would salivate over him and offer future picks or other players to fill our needs.

Cutting him and using this one time exception would be flat out moronic.

This "loophole" is for team's in the luxury tax territory. The Spurs aren't there. It's for teams like the Knicks and Dallas. They can cut one player and still pay him, but be relieved of luxury tax penalties. The Spurs aren't close to the luxury tax threshhold.

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

The Spurs aren't close to the luxury tax threshhold.

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And neither are half the teams mentioned in that article. Other than Allan Houston and maybe Finley I don't see this affecting too many people.

Rasho will be in New York or NJ next season.

The Spurs keep Nesterovic. :smokin :smokin :smokin

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Originally Posted by SLOVENIAN 8

The Spurs keep Nesterovic. :smokin :smokin :smokin

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ah... poor u... :rolleyes

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

This "loophole" is for team's in the luxury tax territory. The Spurs aren't there. It's for teams like the Knicks and Dallas. They can cut one player and still pay him, but be relieved of luxury tax penalties. The Spurs aren't close to the luxury tax threshhold.

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Actually, they are. If you are over the cap, then you will be in the luxury tax threshold as I understand it. The Spurs will be over the cap although the actual cap numbers wont be released until July 22 or later.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SLOVENIAN 8

The Spurs keep Nesterovic.

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I second, third, and fourth that!!!!!!!!!! ;)

Slo 8- I love your "Owned!" picture with Rasho holding the trophy and Garnett hanging his sorry head!
That is too awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So 27% decide to keep Rasho. I think that was also about the percentage who still thought that the MDM was the biggest shot in spurs history.

i'm not saying it's what I want to happen.
But i def. see it as a major possibility at this point.

they'll trade him.

Well, I certainly trust that the Spurs organization has longer memories than those of some members on this forum...

SWC -- Yeah, I was in that contingent that thought the MDM was the biggest shot.

Heh.

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Originally Posted by batman2883

Rasho will not get cut, however he does need to be traded asap.

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I agree...I think the Spurs should get whatever that can for Rasho. Rasho is way too clumsy and needs to learn how to handle the ball better.

The Spurs will certainly not cut him.

They may trade him if they get a good deal, but they will probably just keep him.

Tony Mejia needs to do a little homework.

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Originally Posted by Merlin

Actually, they are. If you are over the cap, then you will be in the luxury tax threshold as I understand it. The Spurs will be over the cap although the actual cap numbers wont be released until July 22 or later.

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you dont understand the luxury tax from the previous CBA very well. In that agreement there were 2 levels of being above the luxury tax threshold, even if you were over by ~2M you would pay 2M but get back a small portion of the overall pot. But if you were over by >10M (I dont remember the exact number) you would not get back anything. And remember the luxury cap was around 10M more than the salary cap.

I think the Spurs received payments from the overall pot the past two seasons.

They will definitely cut him. Ofcourse they'll still be paying him the rest of his contract, it will still count against the team's cap, but at least they won't have to play the luxury tax for his contract.. Which they wouldn't anyway. But let's cut him just to make a point.

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Originally Posted by Benosgirl14

I agree...I think the Spurs should get whatever that can for Rasho. Rasho is way too clumsy and needs to learn how to handle the ball better.

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'


But Nazr "I can't catch a pass, but I can pump fake 8 times under the basket" Mohammed is a good ball handler?

Right, then.

:rolleyes