Stunning. Stunning that Lawson would agree to this, and stunning that Morey was able to pull that off, regardless of the situation Ty finds himself in now with his DWI's. One would think that Morey would have a hard time topping himself after the several deals of the last few years, both large and small, but this just might be the topper. Wow. WOW!
Morey does it again, there is literally no risk having Lawson and nothing but reward even it doesn't work out with him cause we'll still have a chance to go for Durant next summer.
Just to be clear. A team option is not the same thing as a non-guaranteed contract. Non-Guaranteed contract is better than a team option. Of course in this scenario it pretty much acts the same.
If Lawson has a great season, do we still let him go and pursue Durant? Is it possible to keep Lawson and acquire KD?
Thats good for Lawson since it would put him in free agency while all the teams still have max money to use. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Guarantee date on Lawson's salary means that (if he doesn't work out in HOU) he could be a pre-draft trade asset. But no good for S&Ts.</p>— David Weiner (@BimaThug) <a href="https://twitter.com/BimaThug/status/623263663865004032">July 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It'll really blow your mind when we trade CB, sign durant, then re-sign Ty using his newly acquired bird rights.
Technical correction: This is not really a Team Option, as you can't shorten a contract (which is what that would do). Rockets and Ty Lawson are just agreeing to alter the amount of compensation protection (ie the amount guaranteed). It effectively works like a Team Option, but still has its slight differences. This was probably part of the trade negotiation at the offset. Denver was likely in buyout negotiations with Lawson anyhow, per the "waive" reports we were hearing. He likely wasn't going to get released from DEN without a 50% buyout anyhow. So Morey is just getting the "buyout" (reduced guaranteed salary) placed into the contract by renegotiating the guarantee portion of it.
Screw the drama trolls. This is the thread of the Summer, and I bet a lot of GMs are going crazy over this news. It's going to change a lot of deals going forward. Book it.
Has their even been an annual amount this large that was non guaranteed? The Haywood contract maybe? Just when you think we've cashed in all of our assets, Morey makes another one.
One of the unsaid reasons why Lawson was brought here was to help recruit Durant. By Lawson non-guaranteeing the last year of his contract, Morey will position us to be able to either trade for Durant or sign him outright by waiving Lawson. What this does is provide Durant the opportunity to tell OKC he's gonna walk after next season and let us know that he wants to come here. OKC can then choose to trade him to the team of his choosing or ignore him and risk him walking. Morey will know all that as it will play out in the media and he will be able to decide whether or not to waive Lawson in order to sign Durant (if that opportunity does come about). It's all about options. Lawson wants to be here. And he wants to play with Harden and Dwight .................and Durant. So, we could waive Lawson (he'll have to clear waivers, and will probably clear waivers since his $$$ would become guaranteed), and then he could re-sign with us for the Room exception for 2016-17, after we sign Durant. He would be essentially giving up around $10 million in that season but we could then re-up him in 2017 and make up for him giving up that $10 million. That is....if a trade for a 4th superstar (Durant, possibly DeMarcus or Butler) doesn't materialize before the guarantee date.
He probably had a verbal commitment from Lawson or his agent to renegotiate the contract prior to the deal.
Morey and Cuban couldn't be more different. Morey is aggressive and shrewd, Cuban is aggressive and stupid.
I placed a correction in my post. Contract "Renegotiations" (extensions, salary increases, etc) cannot be part of a trade, but some modifications can be; for instance, CP3 removed his Player Option as part of the trade to LAC, and converted it to a not-option year. Modifying the guaranteed portion as part of a trade is OK as well.
It's not a renegotiation. It's a modification. The question is can they complete a modification of his contract prior to the 3-year anniversary of him signing his extension (10/30/2012)? I'm thinking the reason the modification hasn't been officially disclosed is because it can't be completed until that 3-year anniversary. Guys like Lowe uncovered it (finally) with their sources but it's a verbal agreement only and won't be official until or after 10/30/2015. Maybe Bima can confirm this.
Yes, CP3 did that as part of his trade to LAC. He had two yrs left on his contract with a Player Option for the 2nd year. LAC wanted two yrs committed. So CP3 agreed to modify his contract at take away the PO and converted to a non-option year. The anniversary date is only for renegotiations. You can't renegotiate a contract until after the 3rd year, but as you say, this is just a modification to what is guaranteed compensation. No salary increases or yr extensions is part of it.
So we gave up a late first round pick and end of bench players, and we have an out on next years pay if needed? Unbelievable deal.
