Bulls, Thomas discuss buyout

[Peter]

That's interesting. My guess is that they want to see what they have and they don't want to incur the lux tax expense to bring him into the fold today.

[Mr. Body]

I have no comment in regards to what he's been doing here

Parking cars? No?

[ca®lo]

That's funny. You thought he's 25. Some other posters thought he's 35.

I guess that many people don't know exactly who he is.

including me. i thought he was a vet or something. hehe

[Streakyshooter08]

Well I had the idea of signing TT some week ago. I think adding a player for the vet min is never a big risk, espescially if he is 6'10 and able to knock down a 3. If he doesn't work out: sit him or waive him... I hope it works out.

[Obstructed_View]

including me. i thought he was a vet or something. hehe

He came out in the same draft as Duncan. I remember hoping the Spurs might get him because I didn't figure we had a shot at Timmy.

[Peter]

He came out in the same draft as Duncan. I remember hoping the Spurs might get him because I didn't figure we had a shot at Timmy.

He's also about a year younger than TD. He has plenty of basketball left. It'd be great to have him in SA, but that seems like a long shot.

[Kori Ellis]

Thomas update

While the Knicks' lineup is set for the rest of the season, the Nets are still awaiting a buyout between the Chicago Bulls and Tim Thomas. The two sides continued talks Friday.

New Jersey, San Antonio and Philadelphia will compete for Thomas' services if he is bought out and waived before March 1, the last day he would be eligible to play in the playoffs.

Because the Bulls are competing with the 76ers for the eighth playoff spot, Chicago could fashion a buyout that would give Thomas more money by not re-signing with Philadelphia.

Thomas is owed what remains of the $13.975 million he made this season. The Nets can only offer a pro-rated league minimum of over $300,000.

Greater returns

The Nets made it known Friday that they also acquired two trade exceptions (one for $2 million and another for $719,000), along with small forward Bostjan Nachbar, from the New Orleans Hornets when they traded Marc Jackson and Linton Johnson III on Thursday.

The Nets have one year to use each trade exception. They can not be combined.

Nachbar is expected to join the Nets today.

http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...602250355/1011

[Kori Ellis]

Because the Bulls are competing with the 76ers for the eighth playoff spot, Chicago could fashion a buyout that would give Thomas more money by not re-signing with Philadelphia.

I didn't know they could put conditions like that on a buyout.

[yourtehclay]

^^^
I don't think it's possible

I'd this guy could be a decent addition but part of me doesn't want it. We need to develop chemistry now.

[Despot]

Because the Bulls are competing with the 76ers for the eighth playoff spot, Chicago could fashion a buyout that would give Thomas more money by not re-signing with Philadelphia.

Would whatever scenario he is alluding to prevent him from signing with any teams?? Are teams required to pay a waived player the remainder of the salary that is left after the buyout or do they just pay the pro-rated minimum salary? I'm confused.

[Rynospursfan]

Yes a player can be signed at a Pro-rated minimum contract. As long as he clears waivers, which in this case is no problem since his contract was so ourtragous.

[Peter]

I didn't know they could put conditions like that on a buyout.

Obviously that would be awesome from the Spurs' POV, but it doesn't sound right. Per the CBA FAQ a team and player can agree to how the remainder of the salary under the contract is paid out, among other issues. Maybe that's the angle.

[Rynospursfan]

Yeah that doesn't sound right to me either but a buyout is a deal between the team and the player so unless the CBA specificly has a rule against this it may be a possiblity. It just seems like if teams could negotiate such terms they would have in the past. You never want to build a division or conference rival.

[Streakyshooter08]

Any news here? TT needs to be under contract by wednesday to be able to play in the playoffs, right? I wonder what the Bulls will do...

[grjr]

Yeah that doesn't sound right to me either but a buyout is a deal between the team and the player so unless the CBA specificly has a rule against this it may be a possiblity. It just seems like if teams could negotiate such terms they would have in the past. You never want to build a division or conference rival.

Not counting the amnesty thing with Finley, how often have teams waived a player and then worried about him helping a rival? Seems to me if the BUlls think he could help someone else that much then maybe they should just play him.