Blazers threaten the rest of the NBA [merged]

[Erroneous Subterfuge]

What about protecting cap flexibility makes your pride in the team diminish? It's an ugly situation regardless, and I applaud Paul Allen for not bending over and grabbing his ankles without putting up a fight.

What makes more sense?

1) Lose cap flexibility, handle the situation with dignity, and keep good faith with the rest of the league.

2) Or, Lose cap flexibility, handle the situation like a bully, and piss everyone off.

Those are your options. This is not protecting their cap space. This is a war they can't win.

 

[PapaG]

I think proving that would be pretty difficult, even under the scenario you speak of. And again, at any rate, I don't think the other team would be breaking any rules. Are they?

Depends on how you look at rules and ethics in business. Paul Allen is protecting his asset, and the email validates the Blazers expect other NBA teams to act in good faith.

What I really don't understand, however, is how 6 pre-season games can be counted prior to a ten-game suspension. That is horse-bleep and makes no sense to me.

 

[PapaG]

What makes more sense?

1) Lose cap flexibility, handle the situation with dignity, and keep good faith with the rest of the league.

2) Or, Lose cap flexibility, handle the situation like a bully, and piss everyone off.

Those are your options. This is not protecting their cap space. This is a war they can't win.

If another team acts in bad faith solely to screw your organization, and you do nothing about it, the entire NBA becomes about bad faith.

Business can be ugly. Anybody who has been around the block knows this. I don't understand the bashing of the team over this.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

What about protecting cap flexibility makes your pride in the team diminish? It's an ugly situation regardless, and I applaud Paul Allen for not bending over and grabbing his ankles without putting up a fight.

I'm acknowledgeing that there is another side to this . . . protecting the interests of the organization, I get that. I disagree with the way they handled it, but I see what they are trying to do.

But if you can't see why this might put Ptd in a bad light around the league, then I don't think you are looking this sitaution clearly.

If PA wants to put up a fight, sue somebody. Don't make a threat behind your president of operations and send a group email out. We have already seen one owner's public response . . . considers the email insulting and quite frankly a joke. I would love to hear the non-public responses from owners. The NBA has implied they will stand behind any signing of Miles which shows they aren't taking the email seriously.

Paul Allen isn't fighting anything, he is threatening to fight and I don't think anyone of importance is taking him seriously.

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

What makes more sense?

1) Lose cap flexibility, handle the situation with dignity, and keep good faith with the rest of the league.

2) Or, Lose cap flexibility, handle the situation like a bully, and piss everyone off.

Those are your options. This is not protecting their cap space. This is a war they can't win.

Niiiiicely put! My sentiments exactly. Not to mention they could get sued my Miles not for hindering his ability to get work

 

[Ed O]

Depends on how you look at rules and ethics in business. Paul Allen is protecting his asset, and the email validates the Blazers expect other NBA teams to act in good faith.

Each team can both be screwing over the Blazers AND acting in good faith. The two are not at all at odds with one another.

Teams sign free agents away from other teams. Is that bad faith?

What I really don't understand, however, is how 6 pre-season games can be counted prior to a ten-game suspension. That is horse-bleep and makes no sense to me.

Common sense and written rules don't necessarily have to jibe.

In this case, though, they do. Suspensions for regular season games have nothing to do with preseason games, just as they have nothing to do with team functions or practices.

Ed O.

 

[PapaG]

That's Jason Quick. Do we really think that he has a firm grasp on the CBA rules?

Are you saying it is false?

I don't understand why that would be the case.

Ed O.

Because a team could play Darius in a few pre-season games next year and it's all over for the Blazers. Kind of hard to argue bad faith over games that don't count on a contract that isn't guaranteed. This year, it's either a ten-day deal or a guaranteed contract from tomorrow forward.

I expect Darius to be in a camp next fall and I expect him to get some more run.

 

[hasoos]

I don't know how this effects things, but I realized that if the Blazers go over the cap, the money is split by other teams. Aren't there business ethics laws that preside over such things? It seems to me there is a huge conflict of interest here from other NBA teams.

 

[Ed O]

If PA wants to put up a fight, sue somebody. Don't make a threat behind your president of operations and send a group email out. We have already seen one owner's public response . . . considers the email insulting and quite frankly a joke. I would love to hear the non-public responses from owners. The NBA has implied they will stand behind any signing of Miles which shows they aren't taking the email seriously.

I think they are desperate, and figure an ounce of prevention would be worth a pound of cure.

I don't think that the email will be at ALL effective, but I also don't see any damage being done to the franchise here. This will blow over sooner rather than later (probably after the summer, when Portland lacks its expected salary cap space).

Ed O.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Are you saying it is false?

Yes. I'm almost positive that it's 10 games combined over 2 seasons.

 

[Ed O]

Are you saying it is false?

Nope. In fact, I believe it's correct according to Larry Coon's NBA Salary Cap FAQ. Jason Quick just isn't a good source for CBA info.

Because a team could play Darius in a few pre-season games next year and it's all over for the Blazers. Kind of hard to argue bad faith over games that don't count on a contract that isn't guaranteed. This year, it's either a ten-day deal or a guaranteed contract from tomorrow forward.

I expect Darius to be in a camp next fall and I expect him to get some more run.

Darius playing next year is much less relevant, though. Portland probably only needs the space THIS summer. They're almost certainly going to be over the cap in 2010.

Ed O.

 

[PapaG]

I'm acknowledgeing that there is another side to this . . . protecting the interests of the organization, I get that. I disagree with the way they handled it, but I see what they are trying to do.

But if you can't see why this might put Ptd in a bad light around the league, then I don't think you are looking this sitaution clearly.

If PA wants to put up a fight, sue somebody. Don't make a threat behind your president of operations and send a group email out. We have already seen one owner's public response . . . considers the email insulting and quite frankly a joke. I would love to hear the non-public responses from owners. The NBA has implied they will stand behind any signing of Miles which shows they aren't taking the email seriously.

Paul Allen isn't fighting anything, he is threatening to fight and I don't think anyone of importance is taking him seriously.

I don't care if PDX is put in a bad light around the league, and I think that you are overstating that anyhow. Gilbert's pissed because his star player/franchise will be gone by the end of next year. I bet he wishes he could do something, heck ANYTHING, to the Knicks or Nets pre-emptively. Had he the proper perspective, he'd likely agree with the sustance of the email.

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

I think they are desperate, and figure an ounce of prevention would be worth a pound of cure.

I don't think that the email will be at ALL effective, but I also don't see any damage being done to the franchise here. This will blow over sooner rather than later (probably after the summer, when Portland lacks its expected salary cap space).

Ed O.

I see other teams taking offense to this and it might hurt them in making trades....and like I've stated before...there will be money spend in court and lost in the settlement if Miles sues them for hindering his opportunity to get employment

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Darius playing next year is much less relevant, though. Portland probably only needs the space THIS summer. They're almost certainly going to be over the cap in 2010.

Ed O.

Good point . . . didn't think about that.

If Allen doesn't care about 9 mil (or 80% of it), I don't care what happens to Miles next year.

 

[PapaG]

Nope. In fact, I believe it's correct according to Larry Coon's NBA Salary Cap FAQ. Jason Quick just isn't a good source for CBA info.

Quick correct, two posters who bash him (not meaning you) incorrect. Hilarious.

Darius playing next year is much less relevant, though. Portland probably only needs the space THIS summer. They're almost certainly going to be over the cap in 2010.

Ed O.

That's a good point.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Miles I think wants to play, all the other teams in the NBA know he's done. So this issue does come down to just sticking it to the Blazers. Miles will not be on any team next year and we all know it. If this is the case than the merit of signing him is completely in question.

How else can one look at it? If this is allowed it will open a very ugly time in the NBA!

 

[PapaG]

Good point . . . didn't think about that.

If Allen doesn't care about 9 mil (or 80% of it), I don't care what happens to Miles next year.

Neither had I. See KMD, we agree! And it's Ed O. that made it all happen.

 

[Entity]

Darius playing next year is much less relevant, though. Portland probably only needs the space THIS summer. They're almost certainly going to be over the cap in 2010.

By 2010 he comes off the books.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I don't care if PDX is put in a bad light around the league, and I think that you are overstating that anyhow. Gilbert's pissed because his star player/franchise will be gone by the end of next year. I bet he wishes he could do something, heck ANYTHING, to the Knicks or Nets pre-emptively. Had he the proper perspective, he'd likely agree with the sustance of the email.

I'll back off and edit my response . . . papa we have battled before (politics) and been all good afterwards. Hope the same here.

So many posts in this thread, you might have missed it but I am being emotional about this topic because I experienced being threaten on a business level . . . obviously small potatoes compared to this, but it does boil my blood again . . . and that was about 3 years ago.

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

Miles I think wants to play, all the other teams in the NBA know he's done. So this issue does come down to just sticking it to the Blazers. Miles will not be on any team next year and we all know it. If this is the case than the merit of signing him is completely in question.

How else can one look at it? If this is allowed it will open a very ugly time in the NBA!

regardless of if you think some teams think he's done or not....they had no right to put out these threats they can't legallly back, which make it harder for him to find employment.

 

[Ed O]

I see other teams taking offense to this and it might hurt them in making trades....and like I've stated before...there will be money spend in court and lost in the settlement if Miles sues them for hindering his opportunity to get employment

The amount of money spent on a potential Miles lawsuit would be money well spent IF the Blazers somehow retained their cap space. I guarantee it would be worth the team spending a few hundred thousand on legal fees and then treble damages for hindering his ability to be employed (let's say that's 1.5m at three times half of a year's minimum salary).

Not that it's my money, and not that $2m is irrelevant, but if Portland could secure that cap space I'm sure they'd do it. This is, after all, a franchise that's spent millions of dollars to pay for first rounders that are used on Ints that might never come to the NBA. It also would reduce the amount of luxury tax that Portland would have to pay... so it'd more than pay for itself.

As for other teams not trading with them... I don't buy it. Even if a team is mad at the Blazers, why would they make what would otherwise be a good trade just to stick it to Portland?

The Celtics and the Grizzlies can spend some money knowing that they're going to get a chunk of the redistributed over-luxury-tax money that Portland will owe.

But if the Grizzlies could make a trade with Portland that makes sense for Memphis? I'm sure they'd do it in a heartbeat irrespective of the email or of the Miles situation altogether.

Ed O.

 

[Ed O]

By 2010 he comes off the books.

Well there you go

Ed O.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

if a team does screw the blazers...can't wait until Pritch's revenge......

 

[Ed O]

regardless of if you think some teams think he's done or not....they had no right to put out these threats they can't legallly back, which make it harder for him to find employment.

People and companies do this thing all the time.

The email might chill the employment opportunities for Miles, but unless he has actual damages to show (i.e., no contract to sign) I doubt he has any kind of case.

And, as I pointed out above, I'm sure the Blazers would be happy to pay him some money to go away.

Ed O.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

People and companies do this thing all the time.

I thought I read this type of email was a first in the NBA.

 

[Ed O]

I've said this before, jokingly, but I am totally serious now:

Portland should have claimed Darius on waivers.

They should have nabbed him after Memphis waived him and they should have had him sit on the bench, inactive, for the rest of the year.

Once he's cleared waivers, he can decide where he wants to sign... meaning NOT Portland.

If every other team (or at least two) can claim that he's good enough to take a look at, Portland certainly should have been able to avail themselves of the same thing.

Hell... the case is MORE easily made now that he's able to help (in the right circumstances) than when Boston or Memphis gave him a shot.

That Darius might only get into one more game the rest of the year? That would be tragic but he just wasn't QUITE able to contribute as an active player in two games. Tough break.

But, oh, we get to keep the cap space...

Ed O.

 

[Giantsfan1]

idk, if this was posted but

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-gilbertresponse010909&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Cavs owner says suck my cock basically.

 

[Ed O]

I thought I read this type of email was a first in the NBA.

This whole situation is unique.

I can guarantee you, though, that cease and desist letters (often with little or no legal foundation) are sent out all the time.

Ed O.

 

[Erroneous Subterfuge]

I don't know how this effects things, but I realized that if the Blazers go over the cap, the money is split by other teams. Aren't there business ethics laws that preside over such things? It seems to me there is a huge conflict of interest here from other NBA teams.

That's actually a very good point I hadn't thought of, and I'm sure that's a big part of what the NBA and the union are going to be discussing today. Who's to say Boston, Memphis and 'the next team' didn't work together, each paying their share, with those ten game contracts, to get Miles to that ten game mark, which would in turn take money from Portland and put it back in their own wallets. Whether or not that was the case here, it could be the case next time, and it does seem pretty problematic.

I can definitely understand Portlands frustrations here, I just don't think this was a very intelligent/productive move.

 

[MrJayremmie]

I was extremly angry to here this pile of crap...it is so wrong on many levels (as stated by many other posters). The Blazers have no grounds to sue any team for signing a free agent bases merely on the fact that it would fuck up thier cap space.
When it's all said and done i see even more teams looking more closely at signing him and it's just plain wrong to throw a threat around that can hurt the chance of Miles getting a job.

I wouldn't be surprised if Miles ends up sueing the Blazers for this....and they could end up losing even more than just the 9mil a year for next two....very stupid move.

Or you don't know whats going on, maybe? The Blazers don't care if he is signed. They said they have knowledge that some teams want to sign Miles for one reason, to screw up Portlands cap space. Not to help their team, or because he is the best player they can get.

That is what the letter was saying. Don't forget, the league and the players union said he wasn't fit to play, not portland.