Bucher: Cassell's camp working on buyout, odds 50-50

[P2]

http://realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=765119

FWIW: Ric Bucher said Cassell's camp is working on a buyout but he put the odds at "50-50 or less" that it gets done in the end.

[loflin3hree5ive]

i still don't see sterling paying for sam to go away and have a chance to play for a contender. if sam wants to be bought out he's likely going to have to accept next to nothing from the clippers and take a decent sized pay cut.

los angeles sees the lakers have been improving their team the past couple of weeks, i doubt the clippers think this is good timing to start buying out our starters to make themselves even more irrelevant than we already are.

[P2]

i still don't see sterling paying for sam to go away and have a chance to play for a contender. if sam wants to be bought out he's likely going to have to accept next to nothing from the clippers and take a decent sized pay cut.

los angeles sees the lakers have been improving their team the past couple of weeks, i doubt the clippers think this is good timing to start buying out our starters to make themselves even more irrelevant than we already are.

I think that this season is basically over for you. You won't make the playoffs with so many teams over .500 in the West. Next season is where it all starts to count, and as Cassell's contract runs out after this season, it doesn't even matter if he's here this season. Also, you can get yourselves a better draft pick.

Cassell has already received more than half of his $6.2M salary, so it won't matter that much if he got 20% ($470K) from what he's owed ($2.3M).

As crazy as it may sound, it makes sense for you guys.

[Manhattan Project]

If they are going to buy out Cassell, why not trade him at the deadline? That is something I dont understand, I really dont. Im sure there are teams that would want him aside from the Celtics. Now if we do waive him we get nothing in return.

[PlinkingPanda]

If they are going to buy out Cassell, why not trade him at the deadline? That is something I dont understand, I really dont. Im sure there are teams that would want him aside from the Celtics. Now if we do waive him we get nothing in return.

The only thing I read was Cassell+Williams for Miller, but that didn't work out apparently. I would have at least like to see the front office do more as well. Expiring contracts seem to be the craze this year. I'm sure we could have gotten something decent if they put more effort. I'm a little annoyed nothing happened.

[P2]

It's not about what the team wants anymore, the player's opinion also looms large in that situation. But you get to save cash. If you let him expire, however, you indeed get nothing, and probably lose the respect of player agents if Sam wants a buyout and you don't satisfy his wish. Your draft pick will also suffer if you keep Sam.

So actually you get more if you buy him out rather than let him expire.

[jgustav1]

It's not about what the team wants anymore, the player's opinion also looms large in that situation. But you get to save cash. If you let him expire, however, you indeed get nothing, and probably lose the respect of player agents if Sam wants a buyout and you don't satisfy his wish.

I hate to break it to you, but the Clippers don't have a lot of respect from agents around the league to begin with.

[JJ LoDuca]

So actually you get more if you buy him out rather than let him expire.

Dude, who are you lobbying for? You gotta stop looking so blatantly one-sided here. I definitely hear what you're saying-- the Clippers buying out Sammy bodes extremely well for the Celtics, but think about it from a West Coast standpoint. First, thinking about the lineup...letting Sam go for nothing leaves us with, well, nothing at the PG spot (just like the C's) for the rest of the year. Then you come in talking about our season is over like it's the latest breaking news we've never heard before, then try to make some point about how the buyout is better for the Clippers by bringing up the organization's integrity? You know that don't matter in pro sports!

The way I see it, if Sam wants out bad enough, he'll get out. If he throws enough of a fit, we'll let him go. Otherwise, I don't think Sterling & Baylor are gonna make the move just to be seen as "good guys." We're way past that.

[loflin3hree5ive]

Cassell has already received more than half of his $6.2M salary, so it won't matter that much if he got 20% ($470K) from what he's owed ($2.3M).

dude, you're talking about 2 million dollars. i highly doubt that it "doesn't matter" to cassell if he gets his two mil, even if he is an nba player. i posted this a few weeks ago, that this is a great opportunity for sterling to save some money. sam wants the privelage to play for the celtics? then he'll have to take a cheap buyout that will save our owner at least a million. unless sterling is that worried about putting and keeping butts in the seats, i think he'd rather keep a cool million in his pocket than have sam hanging around to play out the rest of a lost season.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

It's not about what the team wants anymore, the player's opinion also looms large in that situation. But you get to save cash. If you let him expire, however, you indeed get nothing, and probably lose the respect of player agents if Sam wants a buyout and you don't satisfy his wish. Your draft pick will also suffer if you keep Sam.

So actually you get more if you buy him out rather than let him expire.

From what I've read from what you've posted on this forum, it seems to me that it would be in your best interest that the Celtics get Sam Cassell. I wouldn't have minded if we traded Cassell because he may not want to be with this team any longer. But we can't just let him go for nothing. JJ brought up the point that we won't have much at PG if we let Sam go. Your Celtics will be fine and Rando has played very well this season.

But before you start thinking how we will "benefit" from letting Cassell go think about what will really happen to this team. You just think it's best to get a lottery pick because as far as you're concerned our season is over. To be honest our season isn't over and neither is yours.

I believe in fighting until you can't fight anymore. No one said that we were eliminated from anything. We still have games to play and we will still play those games.

[GregB]

-= original quote snipped =-



But before you start thinking how we will "benefit" from letting Cassell go think about what will really happen to this team. You just think it's best to get a lottery pick because as far as you're concerned our season is over. To be honest our season isn't over and neither is yours.

Not trying to be a jerk. But your season is over. You are 14 games out with only 31 games to go.

You really need to look at the big picture. I understand that you guys prob dont like being in the lottery. But don't you think you would be a lot better off with a guy like Rose, Bayless or Mayo?? I am not saying you should tank. But, If you bought out cassell you really wouldnt have to. What value is there to keep him?Especially, If he doesnt want to be there anymore.

You guys would be a very dangerous team next year with a healthy Brand and one of those young PGs.

[jgustav1]

-= original quote snipped =-



But don't you think you would be a lot better off with a guy like Rose, Bayless or Mayo?? You guys would be a very dangerous team next year with a healthy Brand and one of those young PGs.

Yes drafting one of these guards would improve the team but there won't be enough time for Brand to play with one of the young PGs and develop into a dangerous team. If he doesn't opt out this offseason, he will next year. Mayo isn't a PG anyway, although I like the other two PGs you mentioned.

[loflin3hree5ive]

if anybody knows how it is for your season to be over by the all-star break it's celtics fans. so i'll take their word for it.

combine sterling's recent pr moves and hiss tight pockets and i think it will add up to buying out cassell not being such a sure thing like celtics fans wish it was. sam will have a decision to make if between money and a shot for a third ring, assuming the clippers even give him that opportunity.

[GregB]

if anybody knows how it is for your season to be over by the all-star break it's celtics fans. so i'll take their word for it.

combine sterling's recent pr moves and hiss tight pockets and i think it will add up to buying out cassell not being such a sure thing like celtics fans wish it was. sam will have a decision to make if between money and a shot for a third ring, assuming the clippers even give him that opportunity.

LOL, A clipper fan trying to make fun of another teams futility. You guys have had years of experience in the lottery. You should certainly know better than a celtics fan that your season is over. Especially in a year when for the first time ever, a team could win 50 games and potentially not make the playoffs.

As far as Cassell, I certainly don't think its a sure thing like P2. He acts like he is already on the team. But, I think it makes a lot of sense now that the trade deadline has passed. We will see if the money makes sense for both parties though.

[mkwest]

-= original quote snipped =-



Not trying to be a jerk. But your season is over. You are 14 games out with only 31 games to go.

You really need to look at the big picture. I understand that you guys prob dont like being in the lottery. But don't you think you would be a lot better off with a guy like Rose, Bayless or Mayo?? I am not saying you should tank. But, If you bought out cassell you really wouldnt have to. What value is there to keep him?Especially, If he doesnt want to be there anymore.

You guys would be a very dangerous team next year with a healthy Brand and one of those young PGs.

We would easily be a lot better off with one of those 3 or a couple other players, but only Bayless is likely to be available where we draft (assuming the lottery played out with current records). Cassell or no Cassell, we're more than likely not going to be a bottom 3 team this year with Brand returning in a matter of weeks. Tanking didn't get you guys a top 3 pick last year (fortunately, you guys had the prospects to trade for Garnett & Allen). If we were Miami or Minnesota we could stand to count our chickens before they hatch, but we don't have that luxury at this time.

[JJ LoDuca]

I don't know what kind of cooky arguments these C's fans are trying to make...but it looks like we'll be in the lottery with or without Sam Cassell. What I'm hearing from the Celtics camp represented on this board is, "Hey Clipper fans, how does giving up Sam Cassell in exchange for OJ Mayo or Derrick Rose sound?! Sweet deal right?!" Um, riiiight. Bottom line: we have nothing to gain by letting Sam go. We have nothing to lose by keeping him. He'll go if the situation gets pissy and feelings are hurt, that's it. You can't be seriously saying that if we buyout Sam we'll have a better shot in the lottery.

BTW, I was at the Galen Center for the USC/Oregon game tonight..... OJ is waaay overrated anyway. Now that James Dunleavy-- dude knows how to rock a polo. Talk about a baller.

[P2]

From what I've read from what you've posted on this forum, it seems to me that it would be in your best interest that the Celtics get Sam Cassell. I wouldn't have minded if we traded Cassell because he may not want to be with this team any longer. But we can't just let him go for nothing. JJ brought up the point that we won't have much at PG if we let Sam go. Your Celtics will be fine and Rando has played very well this season.

But before you start thinking how we will "benefit" from letting Cassell go think about what will really happen to this team. You just think it's best to get a lottery pick because as far as you're concerned our season is over. To be honest our season isn't over and neither is yours.

I believe in fighting until you can't fight anymore. No one said that we were eliminated from anything. We still have games to play and we will still play those games.

I don't want to sound offensive, but you must be delusional if you think the Clippers make the playoffs in the West, where the 10th seed is 4 games over .500. It's just not happening.

And Rondo hasn't played too well, and sometimes there are situation where you just want a veteran running the point instead of him. He killed our chances on Wednesday against Golden State.

[loflin3hree5ive]

knowing you aren't gonna make the playoffs and knowing your season is "done" are two different things P2, i hope you get that clear. i'll give you an example. the warriors in 04-05 had a record of 16-38 by the trade deadline, that's actually worse than the clippers record this season by the deadline. they acquire baron davis and go 18-10 for the rest of the season and it sets the tone for what looks to be a perennial playoff team for the foreseeable future. when elton and hopefully shaun come back i think clippers fans are anxious for the same jump start baron provided oakland. in other words, there is still a lot left to see this season.

that being said, gregb is correct that it is a matter of money at this point that will determine if sam gets bought out or not. of course it makes sense for the celtics to add sam, but not as much for the clippers. either sterling or cassell is going to have to sacrafice a lot of money to make this work. and usually if you're the guy signing the pay checks, you're going to get what you want.

[P2]

FWIW, Cassell and Clips reach agreement on buyout:

http://realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=765383

I don't know, but if the guy is an insider, I expect this matter to hit the news by tomorrow or even tonight.

[loflin3hree5ive]

i'd really like to know what figure they settled on that got both sides to agree so quickly. i won't believe it 'til it's official but if sterling only had to pay sam a small portion of his remaining contract i wouldn't be surprised if donald was planning to let this happen from the get-go.