The Bender Rumor

abeer3 wrote:this is a very elaborate "smokescreen".

mm708 wrote:I think this is just a smokescreen and the Bender is going to be in Los Angeles before the draft. Weren't the Pacers the team that said that they wouldn't trade Jalen Rose, but the next day he got shipped off to Toronto?

LAL25 wrote:Is it REALLY that hard for you people to wait 6 freaking days???

LAL25 wrote:Is it REALLY that hard for you people to wait 6 freaking days???

msb212 wrote:

LAL25 wrote:Is it REALLY that hard for you people to wait 6 freaking days???

no, but I prefer not to.

Hey all - I've been swamped with other things outside of basketball - Lionel's response is basically the general consensus from my sources - a universal shrug - we'll see what happens vibe. They think it's still on.

I talked to an Indiana source who covers the Pacers and he says that the denials aren't anything out of the ordinary before a trade is executed by Indiana.

We'll all know soon enough.

In other news - unless LA finds a trade partner from a pick - a doubt any big deal happens before July 1. There are some caveats to the new collective bargaining agreement that may change things signficantly.

I'm trying to hone this down but it sounds like each team can waive a single player and it won't count against the cap at all (previously reported as just not counting towards the luxury tax). If this is true - the Lakers may have more incentive to simply waive Brian Grant. Or if they can trade him and the other team works out a buy out - if permited - could be a boon.

If I'm understanding this rule - could LA trade Brian Grant for Theo Ratliff and Derek Anderson? Then the Blazers waive Grant and the Lakers waive DA? The Blazers save money - the Lakers take on a bigger contract but Ratliff should have more left in the tank than Grant.

I'm not recommending this happen - and I'm not even sure it's legal in the new CBA- but until this is clear I could see most NBA teams waiting before making a move.

LA should be trying to move Vlade though in a smaller deal since his $3+ mil savings expires on July 1.

Just some thoughts . . .

Hey - I hope I'm right - my sources are pretty damn sure - but I won't really be comfortable til it's announced.

abeer3 wrote:vlade's gotta move before july 1, i would think.

if this "waive a player" rule is real, could it actually be bad for la?

they wouldn't have as much time to shop grant around for a good deal, and if teams can just waive bad contracts, they might be less willing to deal them (overpaid players are generally the ones that move in expiring contract trades). don't know, haven't thought it through, but i was sort of ok with the fact that grant would be trade bait in 2007...

KB8@CL wrote:

abeer3 wrote:vlade's gotta move before july 1, i would think.

if this "waive a player" rule is real, could it actually be bad for la?

they wouldn't have as much time to shop grant around for a good deal, and if teams can just waive bad contracts, they might be less willing to deal them (overpaid players are generally the ones that move in expiring contract trades). don't know, haven't thought it through, but i was sort of ok with the fact that grant would be trade bait in 2007...

Well IF you can waive a player its from the new CBA so thats going to work AFTER July 1st so we have enaugh time to trade Grant. Divac has to go on the other side of the table QUICKLY. DUMBchuck do it!
As for Grant I think there will be troubles with the Grant trade because every team could waive someone and get rid of a bad contract but we can do nothing but wait to see what Sky and Eric have to say.

abeer3 wrote:

KB8@CL wrote:

abeer3 wrote:vlade's gotta move before july 1, i would think.

if this "waive a player" rule is real, could it actually be bad for la?

they wouldn't have as much time to shop grant around for a good deal, and if teams can just waive bad contracts, they might be less willing to deal them (overpaid players are generally the ones that move in expiring contract trades). don't know, haven't thought it through, but i was sort of ok with the fact that grant would be trade bait in 2007...

Well IF you can waive a player its from the new CBA so thats going to work AFTER July 1st so we have enaugh time to trade Grant. Divac has to go on the other side of the table QUICKLY. DUMBchuck do it!
As for Grant I think there will be troubles with the Grant trade because every team could waive someone and get rid of a bad contract but we can do nothing but wait to see what Sky and Eric have to say.

i think it's moot, anyway. every source i've seen says the money still counts against the cap, meaning that it would be better for the lakers to just pay grant for another year.

abeer3 wrote:
i think it's moot, anyway. every source i've seen says the money still counts against the cap, meaning that it would be better for the lakers to just pay grant for another year.