The Story Behind the Knicks/Morris/Bullock Situation

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Seems plausible. Good work.

[exstatic]

I agree, but the facts wouldn't be as damming as trapping a player (Bullock) into bidding with himself. I'm normal times Bullock would just give all teams the chance to sign him with the medical red flag. But Bullock is trapped because rosters are mostly full. Screwing a compe or team, bad, but also renegging and negotiating in bad faith on your own players contract is worse

Bullock has a case if NY renegs on him. He can flat just say that NY has to live up to their offer. If they don't, all other agencies other than Klutch will be reluctant to deal with the Knicks.

[exstatic]

Think what you will. I think the Knicks aren't that naive that they can get away with such skulduggery involving a team like the Spurs. It is clearly more a case of Morris being upset with the lack of a market for him despite a decent season and a below-his-expectations salary and wanting another chance at the free agency thing earlier next year in a more limited market. By earning $5 million (and somewhat less because of the tax thing), he is trying to maximise both his short and long term earning possibilities. He is still thinking because the only team offering him $5 million is the wretched Knicks.

He's not thinking at all, because there's nothing to think about. $15M > $10M. You're either about the money, and you go to NY, or you're not, and you go to SA. Since he's not in SA, he's about the money, and is waiting for NY and Klutch to make this happen behind closed doors.

[RC_Drunkford]

Factor in that Morris only earned 5 Million last year and you can see why he considers this offer. Good breakdown Zeus, I can't see Bullock taking a big paycut like that either

[monty4329]

Can you give me another example of a guy "partially" failing his physical, and the team says, "Hey, we still want you - we just want to pay you partial money, since you're only partially healthy"? I can't think of when I've seen it happen.

And you think Morris' agent called the Knicks, because he got wind of the fact that Bullock might be getting partial payment, which would allow them to sign his client for more? That somehow seems more plausible to you? LOL... okay.

Here - this is from NBC Sports:

"But Bullock appeared healthy entering free agency. Though he missed several games late in the season with neck stiffness, the Lakers were out of the playoff chase. They were sitting several veterans.
Maybe Bullock’s physical uncovered something. This is a strange development.
The Knicks were counting on Bullock’s outside shooting. They’ll probably be bad next season either way, but their spacing would be better with Bullock.
If his contract with New York falls through, Bullock would look like damaged goods as he re-enters the market. Cap space has also evaporated around the league since he agreed to terms. There’s pressure on him to salvage a deal with the Knicks."

My point in bold. Not saying you don't make sense, just I can't fathom how Bullock can accept that.

About 'partially failing', if indeed he has still a plantar fasciitis, that can certainly prevent him playing for a few months (see Teodosic two seasons ago, played a couple preseasons games and one reg season before sitting months -he didn't get it during training camp, I suppose).
I can see his agents telling Knicks 'don't kill the deal, his career would be over, sign him anyway for less'.

[exstatic]

What would be funny is if SA pulled their offer, and then NY told Morris, he'd have to split the money with Bullock ($7.5M each) or take the room exception. What could he do? Right now, he has our offer as leverage.

[cjw]

I’m going to laugh when the NBA docks them a first round pick for these shenanigans when they’re going to be in the top 4 for lottery balls.

[daslicer]

He's not thinking at all, because there's nothing to think about. $15M > $10M. You're either about the money, and you go to NY, or you're not, and you go to SA. Since he's not in SA, he's about the money, and is waiting for NY and Klutch to make this happen behind closed doors.

It depends on what type of risk he wants to take. The 2 year deal gives him insurance in the sense if he gets a serious injury like an acl tear in the first year of the contract that he will be covered for another year. He also has the option of opting out if he’s healthy and wants to test the market. The Knicks deal is high risk high reward.

[Marcus Bryant]

What would be funny is if SA pulled their offer, and then NY told Morris, he'd have to split the money with Bullock ($7.5M each) or take the room exception. What could he do? Right now, he has our offer as leverage.

Pretty much. Spurs would have to reach that point to cut the cord, maybe they are there at this point.

[Marcus Bryant]

I’m going to laugh when the NBA docks them a first round pick for these shenanigans when they’re going to be in the top 4 for lottery balls.

The league office would never do that to its Knickerbockers. C'mon.

[cjw]

The league office would never do that to its Knickerbockers. C'mon.

NFL did it to the Patriots and Saints

And NBA has precedent on the Joe Smith saga

[exstatic]

I’m going to laugh when the NBA docks them a first round pick for these shenanigans when they’re going to be in the top 4 for lottery balls.

Silly you. The NBA only enforces these things with small market teams, like Minnesota, for instance...

[monty4329]

Anybody has memory of something similar, relatively recently?

[cjw]

Silly you. The NBA only enforces these things with small market teams, like Minnesota, for instance...

Meanwhile the Knicks get cold envelopes but no les since then to show for it

[ZeusWillJudge]

My point in bold. Not saying you don't make sense, just I can't fathom how Bullock can accept that.

About 'partially failing', if indeed he has still a plantar fasciitis, that can certainly prevent him playing for a few months (see Teodosic two seasons ago, played a couple preseasons games and one reg season before sitting months -he didn't get it during training camp, I suppose).
I can see his agents telling Knicks 'don't kill the deal, his career would be over, sign him anyway for less'.

Yeah, but my question was: have you EVER known of a team to say that a player "partially failed" their physical, so they are willing to pay partial money? I wonder if you can even get insurance for a player that you've already admitted has a serious medical condition?

I said it in the other thread - I think they have Bullock over a barrel. If they say he failed and that he's unfit, he's screwed. If they find a creative way to split the difference, even if it's back-door, he's better off than trying to go on the open market this late with the reputation of being unfit to sign.

[monty4329]

Yeah, but my question was: have you EVER known of a team to say that a player "partially failed" their physical, so they are willing to pay partial money? I wonder if you can even get insurance for a player that you've already admitted has a serious medical condition?

I said it in the other thread - I think they have Bullock over a barrel. If they say he failed and that he's unfit, he's screwed. If they find a creative way to split the difference, even if it's back-door, he's better off than trying to go on the open market this late with the reputation of being unfit to sign.

OK, say that's the case.

To sign Morris? Are they totally mad? I know it is the Knicks, but Mills is a reputable executive, this is suicidal.

(let's sign Bullock....)

[Dverde]

To do all this for the hope of an eighth seed seems ridiculous. I could understand if they had the same agent. We all know they are trading Marcus Morris or buying him out.

[ZeusWillJudge]

OK, say that's the case.

To sign Morris? Are they totally mad? I know it is the Knicks, but Mills is a reputable executive, this is suicidal.

To do all this for the hope of an eighth seed seems ridiculous. I could understand if they had the same agent. We all know they are trading Marcus Morris or buying him out.

That's the cherry on the cake. It's the ing Knicks. You can see from that NBC article I posted - they pissed off all that cap money, and they are STILL worried about how bad their spacing will be even with Bullock. And they're scared about how bad it will be without him.

Yes, they're that stupid and desperate. And have been for a lot of years.

[Dverde]

So do Spurs fan boo both brothers or only Marcus? I’m thinking both.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

Great analysis, Zeus.

[Mr. Body]

This Knicks team may be the worst all-time. , have you seen R.J. Barrett play? He's straight up trash at this moment, tunnel vision with no skills.

[Marcus Bryant]

That's the cherry on the cake. It's the ing Knicks. You can see from that NBC article I posted - they pissed off all that cap money, and they are STILL worried about how bad their spacing will be even with Bullock. And they're scared about how bad it will be without him.

Yes, they're that stupid and desperate. And have been for a lot of years.

What they are trying to pull is obvious and it would directly screw a player. It's a bad precedent for players to have deals rescinded over a common player condition like this. I would be very surprised to see this go down without some kind of blowback.

[monty4329]

What they are trying to pull is obvious and it would directly screw a player. It's a bad precedent for players to have deals rescinded over a common player condition like this. I would be very surprised to see this go down without some kind of blowback.

Motiejunas got a ton of millions on a settlemnt for something somewhat similar, freom HOU (differnt case, but involved a dispute over a pulled offer and failed physical)

[Mr. Body]

He's not thinking at all, because there's nothing to think about. $15M > $10M. You're either about the money, and you go to NY, or you're not, and you go to SA. Since he's not in SA, he's about the money, and is waiting for NY and Klutch to make this happen behind closed doors.

This isn't really accurate. What he's going for is a big FA payday in a seller's market next summer. He's not considering how ing over a franchise might impact things for him next year. Hint: he's a FA if he wants either way. Of course Marcus Morris ain't known for thinking.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

What they are trying to pull is obvious and it would directly screw a player. It's a bad precedent for players to have deals rescinded over a common player condition like this. I would be very surprised to see this go down without some kind of blowback.

I think it would take a national reporter to write a negative article for a blowback to occur. And it can’t be Skip.