Caron Butler

[Phillip]

I have read up on it. Howard's contract has the same unique advantage as Damp's. The only difference is that Damp's contract is worth 12.1M and Howard's is worth 10.9M.

research fail

[Mel_13]

Are you sure about that? I have never read that before. And if that was the case (howards contract being like Damps) I'm pretty sure Mike Fisher would have devoted 15 threads and a couple t-shirts praising it.

The details are slightly different, but the net effect is the same. Both players are under contract for 2010-11, but the teams that hold the contracts can decide to let players go with no financial consequence.

In Damp's case, his contract is conditional based on meeting certain thresholds for games and minutes played. He has not met those thresholds. At some point after the season ends, the team holding his contract can let him go and owe him nothing. So Dallas can trade him after the season ends, but before the date specified, for approximately 10-14M in contracts from another team. The other team can cut Dampier and save a huge amount of money in 2010-11 salaries and taxes.

Howard's contract has a team option for 2010-11. Washington can use his contract in much the same way that Dallas can use Damp's.

Perhaps Fisher did not include Howard when he wrote about the DUST chip and the BUCK shot because he may have actually viewed Howard as a player worth retaining for 11M in 2010-11 at the time he wrote the pieces.

If I'm wrong about any of this, point me to better information. It's not like it never happens.

[The Franchise]

^ It's looking like someone is going to get a bargain basement deal on Howard next season. Could be a nice one year rental.

[WESTACKED]

Why would anyone a) pick up the team option, or b) trade for him after that? That's guaranteed money. $11.8 Million. Straight cash, homey.

you think a team can pick up an option on a contract, then trade him and the next team won't have to foot the bill on that 11.8? Sorry but his contract isn't written that way. And he can't be traded before then. Either the Wizards pick up his option, or Josh is a free agent. Josh's best value was being used as an expiring contract this season. Which the Mavericks did.

Dampier's contract, on the other hand, can be traded, and he can be dropped by his new team with no money owed to him.

shrewd deal!!!