I found these quotes by Walsh in the Boston Globe.
''For those of us who are way over the luxury tax number, it's a wonderful opportunity," said Pacers president Donnie Walsh, whose team payroll will be well above the luxury tax threshold of $61.7 million.
''When I went over the rosters, I didn't see as many guys as I thought I'd see because a team didn't really need to do it or a team couldn't afford to lose the guy," Walsh said. ''But we're looking at it. In our situation, we have to."
Pacers president Donnie Walsh is very high on Celtics draft pick Ryan Gomes. In fact, Walsh said Gomes was considered by Indiana at No. 17. ''At first glimpse, you think he's Corliss Williamson," Walsh said. ''But then you realize he's got a perimeter game, too. We had him in for a workout and were very impressed." Asked why the Pacers passed on Gerald Green at No. 17, Walsh said Indiana had both Danny Granger (whom it drafted) and Joey Graham (who went 16 to Toronto) rated ahead of Green ''as for our team's needs." And as for the addition of Lithuanian sharpshooter Sarunas Jasikevicius, Walsh said, ''He really fits our team well. There aren't a lot of guys you could say that about. But you can say that about him." One of Jasikevicius's hopes was to land with a team that has a chance to win an NBA title; he's won everything there is to win in Europe. With Indy, he has that opportunity, and the Pacers have bought themselves a long-range gunner to fill the hole left by Reggie Miller's retirement.
The full article below.
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketb...luxury/?page=4
Making cuts will be a luxury
By Peter May, Globe Staff | July 31, 2005
The white smoke rose from the NBA's chimney in New York early Saturday morning, and now the business of basketball can begin again. Free agents will sign, trades will be completed, and, for a few high-priced, underperforming lads, an involuntary change of scenery may be in the offing.
For lack of a better term, call them The Amnesty Guys.
One of the twists in the new collective bargaining agreement is a one-time opportunity for teams to jettison a highly paid player who, for whatever reason, is no longer remotely worth what he's earning. (Yes, we know that that constitutes 90 percent of the league, but we're dealing with NBA reality here.)
The released player will still be paid his full salary. The released player's salary still stays on the team's payroll for salary cap purposes. The released player becomes a free agent and can sign with another team.
So what's the benefit to cutting him loose?
If you're one of the league's big (not to be confused with wise) spenders, such as New York, Dallas, Indiana, or the Lakers, you have a chance to save millions in luxury tax payments with this one fell swoop. The player's salary will not count when the luxury tax bills are computed. That can be a considerable savings.
''For those of us who are way over the luxury tax number, it's a wonderful opportunity," said Pacers president Donnie Walsh, whose team payroll will be well above the luxury tax threshold of $61.7 million.
So far, the two biggest names associated with the clause have been the Knicks' Allan Houston and the Mavericks' Michael Finley. Both New York and Dallas have payrolls well above $60 million. Finley is owed $52 million over the next three years. By designating Finley for amnesty status, the Mavericks would thus stand to save that $52 million because the luxury tax penalizes teams with a dollar-for-dollar levy if you're over the threshold. And Dallas doesn't appear to be going anywhere south of $60 million in the next few years.
Again, there is nothing other than potential luxury tax savings for a team. But, as just noted, Mark Cuban could save $50-plus million, although he'd also lose Finley while still paying Finley's salary and still having Finley's salary on the payroll for cap purposes.
Finley and Houston (almost $40 million due for this season and next) have been the two most prominently mentioned candidates. But there are others, including the Lakers' Brian Grant, the Raptors' Jalen Rose, the Pacers' Austin Croshere (owed more than $18 million this year and next), the Blazers' Derek Anderson, and, possibly, even the Magic's Doug Christie. (The guess here is that Indiana could waive Croshere, save the luxury tax money, and never know he's gone.)
Other names thrown out there, but unlikely to be designated are guys such as Eddie Jones of Miami, Chris Webber of Philadelphia, and even the Celtics' Raef LaFrentz. Basically, their existing teams still need them and the savings would not be worth the lost player.
In Boston's case, with a payroll stocked with rookie-scale salaries and the like, the Celtics are in no danger of getting hit this season. Also, by the time some of their kids may appear at the will-call window for bigger, better deals, the Celtics won't have Vin Baker's number anymore ($5.3 million this year and next) and LaFrentz will be in the last year of his contract.
''The hardest thing may be for teams which aren't going to be luxury tax payers this year, but may be down the road," said Portland general manager John Nash. ''That might be the case with us. Will we do something? I don't know. But my guess is we'll wait until training camp before we make a decision."
Once the player is released, he becomes a free agent.
Finley, whose game is clearly on the back nine, already has been ticketed to Phoenix or maybe his hometown of Chicago. (Presumably, he would sign on the cheap because he's still getting all of his Dallas salary.)
Houston probably would retire; he only played in 20 games last season for the Knicks and 50 the year before.
Grant can still play, but barely.
Christie ($8.2 million this year) would be an obvious cut because (a) the Magic don't want him, (b) he doesn't want them, and (c) by cutting him, they'd avoid a luxury tax this season.
In the end, however, it may not be the widespread bloodletting many had originally predicted when word of the amnesty clause first surfaced.
''When I went over the rosters, I didn't see as many guys as I thought I'd see because a team didn't really need to do it or a team couldn't afford to lose the guy," Walsh said. ''But we're looking at it. In our situation, we have to."
Magic trick will be getting him to reappear
The Magic were caught off guard when a report from Spain indicated that the team's No. 1 draft pick, Fran Vasquez, was going to stay overseas this season. Rest assured, that had not been the thinking in Hooterville when Orlando drafted Vazquez No. 11 overall last month.
There was a lot of scrambling going on after Vazquez was quoted in a Spanish newspaper, saying, ''I'm not a coward, but I prefer to stay in Spain, progress and, who knows, maybe jump to the NBA in a few years." The collective reaction in Orlando? What? ''You know, maybe the league should legislate that if you stay in the draft, you get drafted, you owe the team the years," said Magic co-GM-for-now Dave Twardzik (who shares duties with Otis Smith). ''All the people we talked to said it was a dream of his to play in the NBA. This one took us by surprise."
While Vazquez's contract had a $650,000 buyout, Twardzik said, ''That was never an issue. We were prepared to pay the full amount, whatever that might be." (In the previous CBA, it was $350,000.) While saying the decision ''is not set in stone," Twardzik said that if Vazquez does stay in Spain, it's not exactly the end of Western civilization as we know it.
''He's playing in the best league there is over there," Twardzik said. ''He's playing for an excellent coach. There'll be physical growth. There'll be emotional growth."
Vazquez, a 6-foot-10-inch forward, was expected to help a Magic front line that can best be described as underwhelming. How underwhelming? The team may have to go take a second look at re-signing Andrew DeClercq. Orlando still retains its rights to Vazquez, who turned 22 May 1.
Etc.
Will Antoine walk?
Antoine Walker visited Miami last week as the one-month anniversary of his free agency status approached. It hasn't been the hottest of markets for Walker, who has watched guys such as Dan Gadzuric and Samuel Dalembert get deals while he still is on the outside looking in. If anything percolates with Miami, the Heat might be able to start Walker at a deal around the $5.7 million mark by offering Michael Doleac and a trade exception (which can be combined) in a deal to Boston. The Celtics are disinclined to make any sign-and-trade unless it upgrades their team, and it's hard to see how Doleac does that. The Celtics' position on Walker is to let him see what's out there -- and how cold it is. Then, by Labor Day, if he hasn't gone anywhere, he can come back to Boston at a midlevel exception number (which is about what he's worth in today's open market). Then again, it only takes one team to blow the whole thing wide open.
Eyeing up-and-comers
Travelin' Man Chris Wallace, the Celtics' peripatetic general manager, will be on the scene next week when the World U21 Championships tip off in Argentina. (It's for players under the age of 21.) The US team was just finalized and among the 11th-hour cuts was Boston College's Jared Dudley. Two University of Connecticut players, Rudy Gay and Marcus Williams, will compete for the Yanks. The US team, all collegians, will be coached by Phil Martelli of Saint Joseph's and assisted by former University of Massachusetts head man Bruiser Flint, now at Drexel.
Sending out invitations
Another national team will gather in Miami Friday to begin workouts leading up to the world championship qualifier later this month in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. There are 15 players invited for the 12 spots on the team that will try to qualify for the 2006 world championships in Japan. Ten teams are competing. The top four, along with Argentina, earn automatic bids. And host FIBA also has four wild cards, which means the United States could field a team with the likes of Tyus Edney and Ernest Brown and somehow still get an invitation. Actually, Brown and Edney are candidates for the US team, which is being coached by Mo McHone with assistance from ex-Celtic Dennis Johnson. Of the 15 players in camp, two are from the NBA's developmental league, four from the CBA, two from pro leagues in Korea, and seven from pro leagues in Europe. Edney and Brown, both of whom had a stint with the Celtics at some point (Brown less so), are among the better known of the invitees, which means it's not exactly a star-studded lineup.
Wise choices
Pacers president Donnie Walsh is very high on Celtics draft pick Ryan Gomes. In fact, Walsh said Gomes was considered by Indiana at No. 17. ''At first glimpse, you think he's Corliss Williamson," Walsh said. ''But then you realize he's got a perimeter game, too. We had him in for a workout and were very impressed." Asked why the Pacers passed on Gerald Green at No. 17, Walsh said Indiana had both Danny Granger (whom it drafted) and Joey Graham (who went 16 to Toronto) rated ahead of Green ''as for our team's needs." And as for the addition of Lithuanian sharpshooter Sarunas Jasikevicius, Walsh said, ''He really fits our team well. There aren't a lot of guys you could say that about. But you can say that about him." One of Jasikevicius's hopes was to land with a team that has a chance to win an NBA title; he's won everything there is to win in Europe. With Indy, he has that opportunity, and the Pacers have bought themselves a long-range gunner to fill the hole left by Reggie Miller's retirement.
Nobody's fools
What's going on with the Clippers? They're actually starting to act like a real NBA team. First, they go out and sign someone else's free agent, inking Cuttino Mobley to a lucrative deal. Now word comes that they may actually be re-signing one of their own without having to match an offer sheet. The fortunate fellow is none other than Zeljko Rebraca, who averaged only 16 minutes a game last season. But according to the Los Angeles Times, Rebraca is set to sign a $12 million deal with the Clippers. Can the playoffs possibly be next?
On the rebound
Get well wishes go out to Leo Papile, the Celtics' director of basketball operations. He had to make an emergency trip to the hospital while coaching his AAU team in Florida, but is back in town and recovering nicely. When a team official was asked if Papile had suffered any long-lasting injury, the official cracked, ''none more than he already has!"
''For those of us who are way over the luxury tax number, it's a wonderful opportunity," said Pacers president Donnie Walsh, whose team payroll will be well above the luxury tax threshold of $61.7 million.
''When I went over the rosters, I didn't see as many guys as I thought I'd see because a team didn't really need to do it or a team couldn't afford to lose the guy," Walsh said. ''But we're looking at it. In our situation, we have to."
Pacers president Donnie Walsh is very high on Celtics draft pick Ryan Gomes. In fact, Walsh said Gomes was considered by Indiana at No. 17. ''At first glimpse, you think he's Corliss Williamson," Walsh said. ''But then you realize he's got a perimeter game, too. We had him in for a workout and were very impressed." Asked why the Pacers passed on Gerald Green at No. 17, Walsh said Indiana had both Danny Granger (whom it drafted) and Joey Graham (who went 16 to Toronto) rated ahead of Green ''as for our team's needs." And as for the addition of Lithuanian sharpshooter Sarunas Jasikevicius, Walsh said, ''He really fits our team well. There aren't a lot of guys you could say that about. But you can say that about him." One of Jasikevicius's hopes was to land with a team that has a chance to win an NBA title; he's won everything there is to win in Europe. With Indy, he has that opportunity, and the Pacers have bought themselves a long-range gunner to fill the hole left by Reggie Miller's retirement.
The full article below.
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketb...luxury/?page=4
Making cuts will be a luxury
By Peter May, Globe Staff | July 31, 2005
The white smoke rose from the NBA's chimney in New York early Saturday morning, and now the business of basketball can begin again. Free agents will sign, trades will be completed, and, for a few high-priced, underperforming lads, an involuntary change of scenery may be in the offing.
For lack of a better term, call them The Amnesty Guys.
One of the twists in the new collective bargaining agreement is a one-time opportunity for teams to jettison a highly paid player who, for whatever reason, is no longer remotely worth what he's earning. (Yes, we know that that constitutes 90 percent of the league, but we're dealing with NBA reality here.)
The released player will still be paid his full salary. The released player's salary still stays on the team's payroll for salary cap purposes. The released player becomes a free agent and can sign with another team.
So what's the benefit to cutting him loose?
If you're one of the league's big (not to be confused with wise) spenders, such as New York, Dallas, Indiana, or the Lakers, you have a chance to save millions in luxury tax payments with this one fell swoop. The player's salary will not count when the luxury tax bills are computed. That can be a considerable savings.
''For those of us who are way over the luxury tax number, it's a wonderful opportunity," said Pacers president Donnie Walsh, whose team payroll will be well above the luxury tax threshold of $61.7 million.
So far, the two biggest names associated with the clause have been the Knicks' Allan Houston and the Mavericks' Michael Finley. Both New York and Dallas have payrolls well above $60 million. Finley is owed $52 million over the next three years. By designating Finley for amnesty status, the Mavericks would thus stand to save that $52 million because the luxury tax penalizes teams with a dollar-for-dollar levy if you're over the threshold. And Dallas doesn't appear to be going anywhere south of $60 million in the next few years.
Again, there is nothing other than potential luxury tax savings for a team. But, as just noted, Mark Cuban could save $50-plus million, although he'd also lose Finley while still paying Finley's salary and still having Finley's salary on the payroll for cap purposes.
Finley and Houston (almost $40 million due for this season and next) have been the two most prominently mentioned candidates. But there are others, including the Lakers' Brian Grant, the Raptors' Jalen Rose, the Pacers' Austin Croshere (owed more than $18 million this year and next), the Blazers' Derek Anderson, and, possibly, even the Magic's Doug Christie. (The guess here is that Indiana could waive Croshere, save the luxury tax money, and never know he's gone.)
Other names thrown out there, but unlikely to be designated are guys such as Eddie Jones of Miami, Chris Webber of Philadelphia, and even the Celtics' Raef LaFrentz. Basically, their existing teams still need them and the savings would not be worth the lost player.
In Boston's case, with a payroll stocked with rookie-scale salaries and the like, the Celtics are in no danger of getting hit this season. Also, by the time some of their kids may appear at the will-call window for bigger, better deals, the Celtics won't have Vin Baker's number anymore ($5.3 million this year and next) and LaFrentz will be in the last year of his contract.
''The hardest thing may be for teams which aren't going to be luxury tax payers this year, but may be down the road," said Portland general manager John Nash. ''That might be the case with us. Will we do something? I don't know. But my guess is we'll wait until training camp before we make a decision."
Once the player is released, he becomes a free agent.
Finley, whose game is clearly on the back nine, already has been ticketed to Phoenix or maybe his hometown of Chicago. (Presumably, he would sign on the cheap because he's still getting all of his Dallas salary.)
Houston probably would retire; he only played in 20 games last season for the Knicks and 50 the year before.
Grant can still play, but barely.
Christie ($8.2 million this year) would be an obvious cut because (a) the Magic don't want him, (b) he doesn't want them, and (c) by cutting him, they'd avoid a luxury tax this season.
In the end, however, it may not be the widespread bloodletting many had originally predicted when word of the amnesty clause first surfaced.
''When I went over the rosters, I didn't see as many guys as I thought I'd see because a team didn't really need to do it or a team couldn't afford to lose the guy," Walsh said. ''But we're looking at it. In our situation, we have to."
Magic trick will be getting him to reappear
The Magic were caught off guard when a report from Spain indicated that the team's No. 1 draft pick, Fran Vasquez, was going to stay overseas this season. Rest assured, that had not been the thinking in Hooterville when Orlando drafted Vazquez No. 11 overall last month.
There was a lot of scrambling going on after Vazquez was quoted in a Spanish newspaper, saying, ''I'm not a coward, but I prefer to stay in Spain, progress and, who knows, maybe jump to the NBA in a few years." The collective reaction in Orlando? What? ''You know, maybe the league should legislate that if you stay in the draft, you get drafted, you owe the team the years," said Magic co-GM-for-now Dave Twardzik (who shares duties with Otis Smith). ''All the people we talked to said it was a dream of his to play in the NBA. This one took us by surprise."
While Vazquez's contract had a $650,000 buyout, Twardzik said, ''That was never an issue. We were prepared to pay the full amount, whatever that might be." (In the previous CBA, it was $350,000.) While saying the decision ''is not set in stone," Twardzik said that if Vazquez does stay in Spain, it's not exactly the end of Western civilization as we know it.
''He's playing in the best league there is over there," Twardzik said. ''He's playing for an excellent coach. There'll be physical growth. There'll be emotional growth."
Vazquez, a 6-foot-10-inch forward, was expected to help a Magic front line that can best be described as underwhelming. How underwhelming? The team may have to go take a second look at re-signing Andrew DeClercq. Orlando still retains its rights to Vazquez, who turned 22 May 1.
Etc.
Will Antoine walk?
Antoine Walker visited Miami last week as the one-month anniversary of his free agency status approached. It hasn't been the hottest of markets for Walker, who has watched guys such as Dan Gadzuric and Samuel Dalembert get deals while he still is on the outside looking in. If anything percolates with Miami, the Heat might be able to start Walker at a deal around the $5.7 million mark by offering Michael Doleac and a trade exception (which can be combined) in a deal to Boston. The Celtics are disinclined to make any sign-and-trade unless it upgrades their team, and it's hard to see how Doleac does that. The Celtics' position on Walker is to let him see what's out there -- and how cold it is. Then, by Labor Day, if he hasn't gone anywhere, he can come back to Boston at a midlevel exception number (which is about what he's worth in today's open market). Then again, it only takes one team to blow the whole thing wide open.
Eyeing up-and-comers
Travelin' Man Chris Wallace, the Celtics' peripatetic general manager, will be on the scene next week when the World U21 Championships tip off in Argentina. (It's for players under the age of 21.) The US team was just finalized and among the 11th-hour cuts was Boston College's Jared Dudley. Two University of Connecticut players, Rudy Gay and Marcus Williams, will compete for the Yanks. The US team, all collegians, will be coached by Phil Martelli of Saint Joseph's and assisted by former University of Massachusetts head man Bruiser Flint, now at Drexel.
Sending out invitations
Another national team will gather in Miami Friday to begin workouts leading up to the world championship qualifier later this month in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. There are 15 players invited for the 12 spots on the team that will try to qualify for the 2006 world championships in Japan. Ten teams are competing. The top four, along with Argentina, earn automatic bids. And host FIBA also has four wild cards, which means the United States could field a team with the likes of Tyus Edney and Ernest Brown and somehow still get an invitation. Actually, Brown and Edney are candidates for the US team, which is being coached by Mo McHone with assistance from ex-Celtic Dennis Johnson. Of the 15 players in camp, two are from the NBA's developmental league, four from the CBA, two from pro leagues in Korea, and seven from pro leagues in Europe. Edney and Brown, both of whom had a stint with the Celtics at some point (Brown less so), are among the better known of the invitees, which means it's not exactly a star-studded lineup.
Wise choices
Pacers president Donnie Walsh is very high on Celtics draft pick Ryan Gomes. In fact, Walsh said Gomes was considered by Indiana at No. 17. ''At first glimpse, you think he's Corliss Williamson," Walsh said. ''But then you realize he's got a perimeter game, too. We had him in for a workout and were very impressed." Asked why the Pacers passed on Gerald Green at No. 17, Walsh said Indiana had both Danny Granger (whom it drafted) and Joey Graham (who went 16 to Toronto) rated ahead of Green ''as for our team's needs." And as for the addition of Lithuanian sharpshooter Sarunas Jasikevicius, Walsh said, ''He really fits our team well. There aren't a lot of guys you could say that about. But you can say that about him." One of Jasikevicius's hopes was to land with a team that has a chance to win an NBA title; he's won everything there is to win in Europe. With Indy, he has that opportunity, and the Pacers have bought themselves a long-range gunner to fill the hole left by Reggie Miller's retirement.
Nobody's fools
What's going on with the Clippers? They're actually starting to act like a real NBA team. First, they go out and sign someone else's free agent, inking Cuttino Mobley to a lucrative deal. Now word comes that they may actually be re-signing one of their own without having to match an offer sheet. The fortunate fellow is none other than Zeljko Rebraca, who averaged only 16 minutes a game last season. But according to the Los Angeles Times, Rebraca is set to sign a $12 million deal with the Clippers. Can the playoffs possibly be next?
On the rebound
Get well wishes go out to Leo Papile, the Celtics' director of basketball operations. He had to make an emergency trip to the hospital while coaching his AAU team in Florida, but is back in town and recovering nicely. When a team official was asked if Papile had suffered any long-lasting injury, the official cracked, ''none more than he already has!"
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