RealGM

I'm not sure if anyone here reads ESPN The Magazine, but Bill Simmons had an article about the Celtics and Lakers in the most recent issue. He states that the free agency rules were "mysteriously" changed a year before Shaq became a free agent in 1995. What exactly is he referring to? Which changes were made?

there was a new collective bargaining agreement.

its not that mysterious

I want to say that the effect of the change was that teams can now do sign and trades. I remember before you had to trade a player in the last year of his contract and now you can let it expire because he will resign with you to keep his high salery.

I could be off on this though.

10scott10 wrote:there was a new collective bargaining agreement.

its not that mysterious

It sounds to me like Simmons is claiming that the new free agent rules helped the Lakers get Shaq. I assume it's more than just that.

Celtsfan1980 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-


It sounds to me like Simmons is claiming that the new free agent rules helped the Lakers get Shaq. I assume it's more than just that.

Well it wasn't to only help the Lakers it was for any team . The old CBA prior to 95 gave teams a sure shot and almost a grantee they wouldn't lose their star players.

Shaq became a free agent in the summer of 96, teams were able to renounce the rights to players to clear cap space even if those players had years left on their deals.

They also changed the number of years it took for players to attain his "Bird" rights, making it shorter. That's why you didn't hear of guys becoming free agents in the 80's era so frequently as you do todays players.