Big Baby Davis

[sully00]

We keep coming back to 5 mil being starter money, and it isn't. 7-10 mil is starter money. Yeah you can get lucky like we did with Perk but use the salaries around the league of back up veteran big men they cost 4-5 mil a year.

[sully00]

ryaningf

Boston would use their Early Bird rights to resign Davis the MOST Davis can be paid is the average league salary equal to the MLE from any team for the first year. It doesn't start there it ends there we can sign him to a salary anywhere between his QO and 5.6 mil.

[MVP16]

To us, Davis is worth 9-10M over 3 years IMO. He would be the 4th big in the rotation and he isn't a great fit next to Sheed either. A guy like Powe would be a great fit - someone who plays next to the basket and a plus rebounder. But Baby is more of a jumpshooter. And I think we could get a minimum type player and there wouldn't be a huge dropoff. Some min. guys to consider would be - Ike Diogu, Stromile Swift, Mike Sweetney (if he drops 20 pounds before training camp) and Gooden/Wilcox (if they don't get a deal they like and want to sign a 1 year deal with a contender in hopes of landing a Posey deal in 2010).

But at reasonable money ~3M/year, we will probably keep him. He would be very useful if any of Perk/KG/Sheed get injured for an extended period of time. Also, he could be a good trading chip at the deadline to fill another need possibly packaged with some of our expiring contracts.

[ryaningf]

ryaningf

Boston would use their Early Bird rights to resign Davis the MOST Davis can be paid is the average league salary equal to the MLE from any team for the first year. It doesn't start there it ends there we can sign him to a salary anywhere between his QO and 5.6 mil.

That makes sense, at least in terms of the spirit of the Early Bird rights, but the language in the collective bargaining makes it seem like it HAS to be for the MLE or 175% of the original contract, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. Here's wikipedia's entry:

Early Bird exception

This is the lesser form of the Larry Bird Exception. Free agents who qualify for this exception are called "early qualifying veteran free agents," and qualify after playing two seasons without being waived or changing teams as a free agent. Using this exception, a team can re-sign its own free agent for either 175% of his salary the previous season, or the NBA's average salary, whichever is greater. Early Bird contracts must be for at least two seasons, but can last no longer than five seasons.

See, it's an either/or situation, whichever is greater. Or at least that's my reading. Can you cite any examples where Early Bird players were signed by their original teams for anything less than the MLE? I can't find anything to support that conclusion, though as I said above it makes sense in terms of the spirit of the exception.

[floyd]

http://www.nbpa.com/cba_articles/article-VII_6.php

This is the horses mouth. Check out 3-i (Early Qualifying verteran free agent) under Veteran Free Agent Exceptions (6-b). It states they can be offered a contract up to the greater of 175% or the MLE.

A riveting read.

edit:
Here's the section pared down so as to be readable.

If the player is an Early Qualifying Veteran Free Agent, the new Player Contract ... may provide in the first Salary Cap Year up to the greater of: (A) 175% of the Regular Salary for the final Salary Cap Year covered by his prior Contract, ... or (B) Salary plus Unlikely Bonuses totaling 108% of the Average Player Salary for the prior Salary Cap Year

[ParticleMan]

I thought so too but I was wrong. It's called the Gilbert Arenas rule, which was put in a few years ago. Guys on their 1st 2-year contract can only be paid up to the MLE, and the team they were with always has the right to match (without spending the MLE). So we are guaranteed to be able to keep Davis if we want to spend the money.

[sully00]

ryaningf

It needs an "or up to" or something I agree.

Kyle Korver, Matt Bonner, Daniel Gibson, Trevor Ariza, and Amir Johnson all signed for more than 175% of their previous salary (that is the QO) and less than the MLE.

http://www.storytellerscontracts.info/r ... laries.htm

This is useful page and lists what exception was used to sign each contract.

[ryaningf]

Thanks guys! Damn stupid wikipedia! How could they forget the 'or up to'! It makes a ton of difference.

This makes me feel a lot better. We actually have the ability to sign Baby to a contract which approximates his worth.

[sully00]

Thanks guys! Damn stupid wikipedia! How could they forget the 'or up to'! It makes a ton of difference.

This makes me feel a lot better. We actually have the ability to sign Baby to a contract which approximates his worth.

The wikipedia is just cut and pasted from the CBA FAQ linked on RealGM, it says the same thing it just isn't clear.

[ryaningf]

Thanks guys! Damn stupid wikipedia! How could they forget the 'or up to'! It makes a ton of difference.

This makes me feel a lot better. We actually have the ability to sign Baby to a contract which approximates his worth.

The wikipedia is just cut and pasted from the CBA FAQ linked on RealGM, it says the same thing it just isn't clear.

Not clear? More like misleading. Little things like the omission of 'up to' can cost millions. Somebody outta change those FAQs.

[Kefa461]

The fact of no offer as of yet might mean he stays.......

[Mike-Dub]

The fact of no offer as of yet might mean he stays.......

Sure hope it does!

[Avalanche]

Celticsblog saying Mcdyess is likely to end up in San Antonio (good pick up for them) , So davis may be running out of options

I would really like to see him back so we can limit KG in the regular season, and have depth in case of injuries

[Mike-Dub]

The fact of no offer as of yet might mean he stays.......

Sure hope it does!

[Mike-Dub]

The fact of no offer as of yet might mean he stays.......

Sure hope it does!

[Joekickass2008]

I said it a while ago....I think BBD is a loyal fella...Boston gave him a chance as an overweight second rounder...he one a chip....he started alot last year and improved outa sight....he likes the place...I think he would luv to stay...if an offer doesnt come along that he would be stupid not to take...he will stay.

He is the kinda fella who could be a C for long long time. I hope so anyways.

[Dave_From_NB]

So going on this very recent theme that Davis might not get any offers, lets assume he doesn't get any offers. How low ball does everyone think the Celtics might go if there is no competition for his services? Could we actually be talking EH/TA type money, maybe $2.5 mil? Or would the Celtics even go as low as the 175% measure, which is something like $1.2 mil?

[Dirty Water]

I think the fact of the matter is that teams are reluctant to go after a notorious fat basketball player who had half a good season. Too many teams have been burnt on crap like that in the past. I think he stays with us because he is the most valuable to us. It's mutually beneficial for both parties. I doubt he gets anything over 4 mill/yr

[sully00]

Lets not get our hopes up that because the day before FA nobody has an offer sheet in for Big Baby that one isn't coming. Teams don't like doing it so unless they are in love or are pretty damn sure that the previous team won't match they are going to pursue unrestricted options first.

I can think of one team that Davis would fit in with real well that has a need for a PF and their best player's name rhymes with LeRon.

Davis has no need to sell himself short. He has a contract offer from Boston for 1 year and 1 mil that is his. He can take that and be a FA again next year. Obviously Boston might be wise if there is not an immediate offer for Baby's services in the next few days to step up with an offer, 3 years 9 mil is probably too low but it isn't so low that Baby is going to get mad and maybe they can work things out without it dragging out all summer. It isn't rare that restricted FA's don't get offer sheets it is quite the opposite actually.