I ask since Ainge doesn't believe Rondo is a maximum contract player right now, and Pierce isn't getting younger. First, I'll say, I'm a fan of both players and this isn't an implication I want to see either traded. I'm just throwing the question out there.
To answer my own question, I would wait and see if Boston is a team Durant would've a serious interest in playing for.
I believe Durant can become a FA or he'll be RFA by 2011. Will Oklahoma City "break the bank" to retain him? Boston will have Garnett and R. Wallace still under contract in 2011-2012. But, preferably, you want Pierce resigned for a lesser contract.
Conversely, Paul would be a welcome but if you've Rondo, and can convince he and agent to sign for a contract that isn't for the maximum, you don't need to replace him.
It's possible the NBA could end up bringing back the amnesty rule that resulted in teams saving millions of dollars in luxury tax during the summer of 2005.
When the NBA reached an agreement on its current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that summer, teams were allowed a one-time opportunity to waive one player and not have to pay any luxury tax on him. The player, though, got the full amount remaining on his contract, and that counted against the salary cap.
With NBA economy in peril and the luxury tax next summer possibly dropping by more than $5 million from $69.92 million, NBA commissioner David Stern has spoken to owners about the possibility of the amnesty rule again surfacing, although any possible resurrection of that rule likely wouldn't be put on the table until late in the collective bargaining process.
If such a rule were to be implemented prior to the summer of 2011, which is when the current CBA will expire if the NBA doesn't pick up the 2011-12 option, it likely would have to be approved by both players and owners. But it could end up being part of the next CBA, and there's a chance the current one could be torn up and a new one implemented prior to 2011.
New Orleans star point guard Chris Paul insisted he was serious when he said there's a chance he soon could be traded.
Paul was interviewed Thursday by Pro Basketball News, and asked about his team's financial situation. The Hornets are staring at being well over the luxury tax, and might have to dump some big contracts.
"In this league, anything can happen," said Paul, at the summer league to watch his Hornets. "I can be dealt."
Paul then was asked that surely he can't be serious he could be traded.
"It's possible," he said. "It's possible."
The Hornets made a move last February to save money by dealing center Tyson Chandler to Oklahoma City. However, the trade ended up being rescinded after health concerns surfaced regarding Chandler.
Paul is hopeful the Hornets will end up retaining their key players, but knows nothing is certain.
http://www.probasketballnews.com/story/?storyid=647
