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February 18, 2008
NBA 'explains' trading of cadavers
If Keith Van Horn isn't the luckiest guy in the NBA, who is?
The Dallas Mavericks plan to sign Van Horn out of his unofficial retirement, simply to create a $4 million salary slot, to be included in the Jason Kidd trade proposal. Van Horn wasn't looking to play, but he'd never filed his retirement papers with the league, and that opens the door to include him in this deal, since he last played for the Mavericks.
Peter May of the Boston Globe calls this "trading cadavers" -- as in trading players not because they can still play but because their salary slots balance the scales under the NBA's cap rules.
I remember the then-Vancouver Grizzlies asking Kenny Gattison not to make his retirement official long after injuries made him ineffectual. The idea was to keep moving Gattison's guaranteed money to another team's cap.
The league is finally catching wise to how silly this looks. Joel Litvin, the NBA's chief legal counsel, tried to address this Saturday night, following commissioner David Stern's news conference.
We asked him what wouldn't be approved and Litvin explained it this way: The player must demonstrate both the desire and ability to resume his career. The desire to accept the paycheck, without earning it, isn't sufficient.
Or as Litvin joked, if the Los Angeles Lakers try throwing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar into a sign-and-trade, the league wouldn't approve it.
OK, but who says Van Horn is any more ready to play that Kareem would be?
Posted by Observer Sports on February 18, 2008 at 02:43 PM | Permalink
Comments
Speaking of cadavors....we have just a few days left to trade Sean "Dead Man Walking" May....every time I go to the Arena and look at the end of the Bench...I TOO see dead people! This boy hasnt uttered a live breathe since they stopped selling the Mile High Peanut Butter Pie at the Front Court Lounge! Stuff our boy back into a satin lined box and send him off for burial somewhere else in the NBA in exchange for a couple of big men that have a pulse!
Posted by: mike | Feb 19, 2008 10:55:35 AM
Dallas' 2nd round pick, PF/C Nick Fazekas was waived in this trade. He's been averaging 19 pts., 10 reb. 2 ast. 1 blk. while shooting 55% FG and 77% FT in 31 min./game in the D-league...and he can even hit an occasional 3. He has 12 double doubles in 28 games.
Sign Nick Fazekas! The Bobcats can always use a young, talented big man...and he comes cheap!
Posted by: Don | Feb 19, 2008 3:31:36 PM
You always bring a smile to my face, Mike!
Posted by: firesamvincent | Feb 19, 2008 5:29:46 PM
Oh, no Don...we (and by we, I mean BobCat Johnson) wouldn't want to cut Othella Harrington and eat the money on his contract. He's getting stronger every day, I hear.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Feb 19, 2008 8:48:01 PM
Carroll in shooting slump - 8/11 shooting and 3/4 on 3's. We need more players in a shooting slump. Time played has a relation to this important part of the game
Posted by: Puzzled | Feb 28, 2008 9:05:21 AM
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