Julian Mozo's article: Scola wants to play in the NBA this year

[bigzak25]

Very dissapointing. I want Scola as a Spur. I can wait though. Hopefully he can too. Once Rasho and Nazr are unloaded, and Horry gets another year older? There will be ample room for him. Work it out Pop.

[Rick Von Braun]

What?!

It's his responsibility (and his agent's) to work out a buyout with Tau. The Spurs can't work the buyout out for him.

It is a chicken or the egg problem. In reality, Tau, his agent AND the Spurs have to work it out. Because most of the buyout comes from Scola's salary, Scola's agent cannot negotiate the size of the buyout if he doesn't have a Spurs' offer on the table. An analogy would be trying to buy a house, and even negotiate the final price with the seller without checking if you qualify for a mortgage. You should check what line of credit you would have access to use before you even hunt for a house.

[benjirh]

Hmm.. Isn't that some kind of tampering? He's not a free agent.

Not if those 4 teams showed interest by inquiring about him through trades.

[Mr. Body]

Rattle of vengeance:

There are basically two camps here. Those who set out to belittle and make fun of Scola for his desires to play for the Spurs or elsewhere in the NBA. And those who sympathize with him and feel, regardless of whether he or his agent is correct about the buyout, that it must suck to be prevented from doing what you want to in those situations. The people in the latter camp are mystified by all the talk of whining and petty invective.

[benjirh]

It is too bad that people think that was whining. He never blamed SA for anything in the part that was posted at least. If the Spurs feel that they are not able to pay the needed buyout, then why shouldn't he want to be traded to another team that might pay that buyout. He is not under contract with the spurs. He is not complaining for more PT. This is just him desiring to play in the NBA. And he is right, SA is probably not the best place for him to put up major mins and stats. Going to Atlanta, NO, or even Toronto would give him more PT.

[benjirh]

Rattle of vengeance:

There are basically two camps here. Those who set out to belittle and make fun of Scola for his desires to play for the Spurs or elsewhere in the NBA. And those who sympathize with him and feel, regardless of whether he or his agent is correct about the buyout, that it must suck to be prevented from doing what you want to in those situations. The people in the latter camp are mystified by all the talk of whining and petty invective.

Three camps. The third thinks the other two are overstating their side and not looking at the whole picture.

[Mr. Body]

Do I hear four camps? Four?

[MannyIsGod]

Four Camps it is. There is the camp that really doesn't care.

[benjirh]

Four Camps it is. There is the camp that really doesn't care.

Actually can I switch, I like Manny's better.

[xcoriate]

that it must suck to be prevented from doing what you want to in those situations.

Then do you sympathise with me, I would love to be in Scolas position. He is not hard done by, his situation is unfortunate but if the Spurs feel he is not an NBA ready player yet then so be it.

As for the Spurs "lowballing" him Manu got a similar deal played it out and is reaping the rewards. You take what offers come your way to enter the league there are a thousand players like Scola who dont have the opportunity he does.

[nkdlunch]

Yeah, the Spurs wanted Scola more but offered more money to Oberto.

Makes perfect sense.

But they would have spent more money in the end for Scola than for Oberto right?

Clear as mud


I think it's just a complicated situation for Scola. Not really the fault of one side or the other. It looks like Spurs got scared away from his current contract's complications, and Tau didn't really negotiate w/anybody yet.

Hopefully a 2nd interested NBA team will step up. But it would be a little risky for them. Scola's agents did mention of 4 NBA teams being interested.

[5ToolMan]

It's still word against word. One side claims the buyout was there and wasn't taken, no contract offered. The other side claims a huge buyout that sounds ridiculous, then spins around and grabs a different, older player. I find myself trusting Scola's side much more than I am the Spurs at this point. But whatever. Since the Spurs have no intention of bringing him over, much less playing him, they need to trade his rights or renounce them. I'm not liking what I see out of them at this point.

Give it a break! Scola's agent did not accomplish the buyout in the time given, and the Spurs correctly moved to safer ground. This is in no way on the Spurs. Neither is it the Spurs obligation to release Scola's rights for nothing, just because Scola could not accomplish the buyout of the contract he signed.

The Spurs' rights to Scola has tremendous potential value... IF ... he can complete the buyout. If he cannot, it is a moot point. And who knows, staying another year overseas, after a potential European MVP or Championship, his value soars even more. Why would the Spurs just release him when they could get tremendous value at a later date?

Scola playing in the NBA is all on Scola and his agent's ability to negotiate a buyout at a price to allow him to be able to accept market value from the Spurs or another NBA team that may want him at such price. Once Scola does that, the Spurs will bring him in or deal his rights at their increased value.

[Kori Ellis]

It is a chicken or the egg problem. In reality, Tau, his agent AND the Spurs have to work it out. Because most of the buyout comes from Scola's salary, Scola's agent cannot negotiate the size of the buyout if he doesn't have a Spurs' offer on the table. An analogy would be trying to buy a house, and even negotiate the final price with the seller without checking if you qualify for a mortgage. You should check what line of credit you would have access to use before you even hunt for a house.

Believe me, Scola's agent has an idea about how much the Spurs are willing to pay him. For three years they have been trying to reduce the buyout and didn't get it done. I don't know what people wanted the Spurs to do. Pay him the full MLE over 3 years so that he could pay the buyout?

Isn't Scola between 6'9" and 6'10"?

No. He's listed at 6'9 and reportedly a little under 6'8 with short arms for his height. That's why most people say that he's undersized.

There are basically two camps here. Those who set out to belittle and make fun of Scola for his desires to play for the Spurs or elsewhere in the NBA. And those who sympathize with him and feel, regardless of whether he or his agent is correct about the buyout, that it must suck to be prevented from doing what you want to in those situations. The people in the latter camp are mystified by all the talk of whining and petty invective.

You keep repeating that. Scola and his agent should have been able to get the buyout reduced to a reasonable level - they haven't. The Spurs aren't preventing him from anything - his buyout is.

Oh and what about the camp you are in .. the one who thinks that if someone refers to Scola as a whiner or questions anything about him, then they are "slandering" him and making him out to be the "devil"

[spurster]

There is a rumor in San Antonio that your buyout is around 14.5 millions dollars. Is that correct?

No. That buyout is only for teams of Europe. The buyout for the NBA is different.

How much?

I'm not saying it. I will only say that nobody guessed it right.

Very informative.

[Marcus Bryant]

Rattle of vengeance:

There are basically two camps here. Those who set out to belittle and make fun of Scola for his desires to play for the Spurs or elsewhere in the NBA. And those who sympathize with him and feel, regardless of whether he or his agent is correct about the buyout, that it must suck to be prevented from doing what you want to in those situations. The people in the latter camp are mystified by all the talk of whining and petty invective.

There's also my camp, which is that I'm sure Scola is a great player but given the cir stances the Spurs opted to get another international player they like under contract now, a move facilitated by the fact that the Spurs own Scola's NBA rights.

Here's hoping both Oberto and Scola tear up the NBA and that they do it wearing the Silver & Black.

[spvrs]

say it was a good move for the spurs... say you like oberto better... why does Scola have to be called a whiner?

or better question: where at any point did he whine?

[Kori Ellis]

why does Scola have to be called a whiner?

Many people have referred to him as a whiner long before this happened -- noting that he complained to the press when RC asked him to work on his rebounding/defense.

So get over it.

[nkdlunch]

whoever called Scola a whiner is an idiot. If you read carefully you see he says he's a Spur fan and he's happy for Oberto. He is very honest and of course dissapointed 'cause his dream is to play in the NBA. I hope he makes it somehow, he would be more successful than Oberto.

[spvrs]

what am I not over? the guy didn't whine in this case.

Maybe he should be called a pvssy if he's 'thank you sir may I have another...'

[5ToolMan]

It is a chicken or the egg problem. In reality, Tau, his agent AND the Spurs have to work it out. Because most of the buyout comes from Scola's salary, Scola's agent cannot negotiate the size of the buyout if he doesn't have a Spurs' offer on the table. An analogy would be trying to buy a house, and even negotiate the final price with the seller without checking if you qualify for a mortgage. You should check what line of credit you would have access to use before you even hunt for a house.

Your analagy has egg on your face. I negotiate and agree on the purchase price of homes all the time, before I know the exact terms of any potential financing, or even if I will take le, flip the deals to another investor, or walk with a "out" always in place within the agreement.

Scola's agent could and should negotiate the POTENTIAL buyout before he negotiates a POTENTIAL contract with the Spurs. In fact, he should have negotiated a much better "NBA" buyout before he had Scola sign the existing contract in the first place, since Scola has always stated a desire to play in the NBA. Again, he certainly should have got the POTENTIAL agreement in place since the day Scola was drafted by the Spurs. But that is a moot point, as failure to do so is all on the agent, who let Scola's value to Tau soar without having an iron clad "out" in place.

Today, if Scola wants to play in the NBA, it is still his agent's duty to negotiate a POTENTIAL buyout at a known price. This would allow the Spurs to evaluate the total cost of bringing him over and/or allow the flipping his rights to another team at a value enhanced by known parameters.

Under the present conditions, the Spurs chose not to spend energy trying to bring Scola over at the price they feel it would be too high with the current buyout in place. And without known parameters, trading his rights will not give the Spurs fair value even if they wanted to comply with Scola's desire to try to hook on with another NBA team. Therefore, this is all on Scola and his agent to get his potential buyout complete. If not ... the Spurs wait.

[manubili]

What a mess!

This is what I think is going on (but not so sure):

Oberto is better than Scola, I know it, the argentine coach knew it, and the spurs management know it. Scola is great, and younger. He has time to improve and become better at defending, rebounds, etc.

Tau doesn't want him to go, and that's why he couldn't get his buyout solved. He wasn't Spurs first choice, and that's how he got stucked in the mud.

I don't think Spurs will trade his rights, though I wish they did. They will wait for a whole season and see how Oberto adapts to the NBA. If Oberto just doesn't get it, spurs will have the Scola option still arround.

I'm Sorry for Scola, but he signed that awful contract. As far as I can see, he isn't winning, he undestood that he wasn't the better option, and now is dealing with it.

Spursfans, be happy. The Oberto - Manu duo will rock when TD is resting.

[GrandeDavid]

Guys, I'm not too concerned about all this because I'm still in that "rah rah the Spurs just won the championship" mood. What's more, Tim and Manu will get to rest their legs this summer and should have terrific upcoming seasons. We've got Big ing Shot Rob coming back. We've got one of the deepest benches in the league even cosidering Devin's questionable back and especially with the addition of Fabri Oberto. Things are good. Luis Scola, regrettably (for him), will not be a Spur next season. Still, he will continue to get paid in full in Spain and somehow, someway, someday will be a player in the NBA.

[GoSpurs21]

There's a difference between "not being high" on a player and outright slander. Which is what's coming out of your calumnious maw. I mean, God forbid the guy has his future in mind and doesn't want to suck at the teat of the Spurs organization forever if they're jacking off.

That's not the point. Godspeed to him wherever he goes, who really cares. What's abyssmal is you leading the charge, along with Whottt, in exacting some kind of adolescent, abstract revenge on him for reasons unclear to the adult minds of the forum. So he wants to come to the NBA. So he gets upset when he's prevented from doing so. So you call him a whiner. So shut the up. Don't be such a freaking baby and wave your little rattle of vengeance.

what is childish is someone who doesnt take responsibility for their own actions. now please be quiet while the grown ups are talking

[constantstate]

if you're going to say he's short and undersized and is no lock to make any kind of impact in the nba - than don't say he has great trade value.

if you're going to say the spurs soured on him and wanted oberto all along - than ignore all the articles writen about how the spurs wanted him to get that buyout and come over this year.

if you're going to say an undersized european who's considered by most, the best power forward in europe can't make it here... than dont say an undersized european center can.

does that cover all the arguments?

[Kori Ellis]

Your breakdowns are ridiculous.

if you're going to say he's short and undersized and is no lock to make any kind of impact in the nba - than don't say he has great trade value.

If he's a tad short and undersized at power forward, that's not really why he's no lock to make an impact in the NBA. Nobody is a lock, everyone can bust. And he has very good trade value right now because he has a solid offensive game and has been touted as the best power forward in Europe.

if you're going to say the spurs soured on him and wanted oberto all along - than ignore all the articles writen about how the spurs wanted him to get that buyout and come over this year.

The Spurs have long questioned his defense and rebounding ability. It's not a matter of souring on him; it's a matter of finding a good fit for the team at a reasonable price. Would the Spurs have brought him over at their price and seen what he could do? Of course.

if you're going to say an undersized european who's considered by most, the best power forward in europe can't make it here... than dont say an undersized european center can.

Again it's about team needs. With Tim Duncan and Horry at PF, there's not really much place for Scola right now. Sure, if he was willing and able to come on the cheap and play spot minutes, then that would be fine. Again, no one is saying that Oberto could flourish here either. Just that he addresses a need for the Spurs - defense and rebounding upfront.