ESPN: Cassell expected to be bought out if not traded

[P2]

Isn't it ironic that Stoudamire just agreed to join the Spurs, and suddenly all of the media talks about Cassell headed to Boston via buyout?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3223023

Stoudamire initially expressed strong interest in joining the Boston Celtics as a veteran counterpart to second-year playmaker Rajon Rondo, but it appears that the Celtics are banking on the future availability of Los Angeles Clippers guard Sam Cassell. It's widely expected that the Clippers will consent to buying out Cassell if they can't move him before the Feb. 21 trading deadline and Cassell remains close to this day with Celtics forward Kevin Garnett after their time together in Minnesota.

So basically we have to pray that nobody acquires "Sam I Am" within the next 3 weeks.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime ... ime-080131

Cassell didn't make big money early in his career, so it would be hard to walk away from a contract paying $6,150,000. Also keep in mind, as cheap as the Clippers are, they would try to squeeze as much money as possible out of Cassell especially now that he's their starting point guard looking at an opportunity to make a break for utopia. A source told the Boston Globe that the Clippers would be interested in a buyout if Cassell would give up major money.

So basically it comes to this: what's more important to Cassell, playing for a potential championship or getting paid?

The answer to that question will likely determine whether he will be reunited with Garnett.

I think that if KG really gets going and tries to get Sam here (remember, he really lobbied for getting Reggie, even spent a lot of time at his house), Sam won't even know what the word "money" means. So it's basically all depending on how much Garnett wants Sam/a championship.

Sam will leave money on the table, but just beacuse we would be the clear favorites to win the championship with him and he would be reunited with KG. Sam likes that more than losing meaningless games with the Clippers.

[sully00]

I broke this down the other day and it makes more sense that this happens after the trade deadline anyhow. At that point LAC and Sam are negotiating over 1.25 mil and not 2.5 mil. We don't need him to win games now and at that point Rondo will have gotten 60 games or so in as the floor general and will feel a little less threatened than if they added him now.

[P2]

I broke this down the other day and it makes more sense that this happens after the trade deadline anyhow. At that point LAC and Sam are negotiating over 1.25 mil and not 2.5 mil. We don't need him to win games now and at that point Rondo will have gotten 60 games or so in as the floor general and will feel a little less threatened than if they added him now.

Good point.

[Relative Autonomy]

Cassell won two championships with Houston so maybe he will go for the money if the clips low ball him on the buyout.

[BillessuR6]

Cassell won two championships with Houston so maybe he will go for the money if the clips low ball him on the buyout.

Well, he is making $6.15 million this year. So with half of the season gone he will be owed around 3 million. If he leaves 1.5 on the table and then signs with us for the minimum which would be around 600.000 he loses about a million...

Now we all know he wants to be a coach down the line so we should also offer him assisting position with the team after he retires. I know he said he wanted to be an assistant under Carl but if he gets a good offer why wouldn`t he sign here. I would love to have Sam here as an assistant coach.

[Celts17Pride]

There is no way the Clippers are going to buy out Cassell before the trade deadline. The Clippers are going to try to get some assets in return if they move Cassell.

The only way Sam gets bought out is after the trade deadline if he really pushes the organization to buy him out or if he gets traded to a non contending team like Minny for example.

[The_Pope]

I can't see Sam being too upset over losing a million or two. If he's set on being a coach then it's likely he could make good money after he retires anyway.

[hiphop1]

I hope it happens. He is ideal, he is a second coach on the floor and bench.

[return2glory]

Doanld Sterling has already stated that he wants to keep Cassell. There is no reason for the Clippers to buy him out. ESPN has nothing better to right about.

[TommyPoints]

Doanld Sterling has already stated that he wants to keep Cassell. There is no reason for the Clippers to buy him out. ESPN has nothing better to right about.

Who knows if they will keep Cassell, but the comments from Sterling doesn't mean much of anything. These guys say one thing and then end up doing another all the time.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

-= original quote snipped =-

Now we all know he wants to be a coach down the line so we should also offer him assisting position with the team after he retires. I know he said he wanted to be an assistant under Carl but if he gets a good offer why wouldn`t he sign here. I would love to have Sam here as an assistant coach.

Hmmm, learn how to coach from George Karl, or learn to coach from Doc Rivers? Yeah, that's a tough decision to make.

[hiphop1]

-= original quote snipped =-



Hmmm, learn how to coach from George Karl, or learn to coach from Doc Rivers? Yeah, that's a tough decision to make.

LOL!

[HighAboveCourtside]

Maybe Doc would be *his* assistant....

[sully00]

Cassell won two championships with Houston so maybe he will go for the money if the clips low ball him on the buyout.

Nobody is going to give more money than another if he is bought out. Teams can give him more mins and more of a role as well as talk about what they may be willing to do for him next season.

A couple of things to keep in mind. Sam is very much a tradeable commodity going into the deadline. He is not a great bet to slide through.

Look at GS for instance, they have addressed their front court needs with Webber and still have a fat trade exception from the JRich deal.

Ditto for PHX, they have a TPE from Kurt Thomas. Though I am not sure were Sam really fits into what they do.

DEN, CLE, and HOU all have expiring contracts that they could build a deal for Sam around.

[Celts17Pride]

The first team that offers expiring contracts and a 2008 1st round pick will get Cassell. The two things that Boston cannot offer.

My guess is some team like Orlando:

Arroyo, Evans & 2008 1st round pick for Cassell.

[TU OWL]

The first team that offers expiring contracts and a 2008 1st round pick will get Cassell. The two things that Boston cannot offer.

My guess is some team like Orlando:

Arroyo, Evans & 2008 1st round pick for Cassell.

That would be a steal for the Clips...

[TheMartian]

I have a bad feeling that one of our rivals here in the east will make a push for Sammy just so that he doesn't land with us. I wouldn't be surprised at all if that happens.

[horaceworthy]

Cassell would be ideal for you guys. Other than Nash or Billups, there's not a PG in the league whose game fits next to KG better than Sam. Probably the most underrated player of the last 15 years.

[campybatman]

I think Cassell wants to be a head coach at some point in his career and has said he would be interested in playing for Denver with Karl. So, money could be a determining factoring but I see him leaning more toward Denver than Boston. Perhaps, he can be a player's coach and possible join Karl's staff in a lesser capacity next season. But, if Kidd lands in Dallas. Cassell becomes the next top point guard who'll bring veteran leadership and experience to a championship contending team this season.

ESPN on Cassell...

Marc Spears, Boston Globe: Don't get the Boston Celtics wrong, they quietly had interest in Damon Stoudamire. But it seems like the reason they didn't make that move is because they were intrigued by the possibility of landing LA Clippers guard Sam Cassell.

Cassell has two championship rings from early in his career with Houston, is a former teammate of Celtics star Kevin Garnett, is a bigger guard than Stoudamire and could be a mentor to young Rajon Rondo. Adding Cassell's size and experience could help in guarding a crafty veteran guard like Detroit's Chauncey Billups in a possible Eastern Conference playoff matchup. All of which makes him very attractive to the Celtics.

The problem however is the Celtics don't have the attractive pieces to make a move via trade. The struggling Clippers would like to drop salary. So with that being said, the only way it seems Cassell will come to the Celtics is if he is bought out by the Clippers. Therein lies the problem.

Cassell didn't make big money early in his career, so it would be hard to walk away from a contract paying $6,150,000. Also keep in mind, as cheap as the Clippers are, they would try to squeeze as much money as possible out of Cassell especially now that he's their starting point guard looking at an opportunity to make a break for utopia. A source told the Boston Globe that the Clippers would be interested in a buyout if Cassell would give up major money.

So basically it comes to this: what's more important to Cassell, playing for a potential championship or getting paid?

The answer to that question will likely determine whether he will be reunited with Garnett.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime ... ime-080131

Cassell eyes Nuggets

Clippers guard Sam Cassell wants to be paired again with Karl.

Cassell, in the final year of his contract, said he wants to sign with the Nuggets in the offseason as a free agent and play one more season. He wants to learn the coaching ropes from Karl, his former coach in Milwaukee.

"We always talk about that," Cassell said. "(Karl) knows I'm serious about wanting to coach.'

Karl, who courted Cassell in 2006 before he re-signed with the Clippers, is open to Cassell, 37, playing a final season in Denver while preparing to coach.

"Sam's what we've always talked about, so I think it is a possibility," Karl said. "Sam, I think, will make a good coach, but there will have to be a transition period."

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/n ... 73,00.html

[bdawg]

i like our rotation right now, i am afraid getting sam will destroy everything.........