They are apparently waiting for some other "thing" to develop before the Mobley signing is announced, but it will be "very soon". Don't they have to wait until Aug. 1st to sign Mobley. They way I understand it, teams aren't suppose to even start negotiating with free agents (your own or others), until July 1 and you can't sign deals until Aug. 1st. Even if the Rockets have been doing under the table negotiations with Mobley, they wouldn't want to announce anything until at least July. ------------------ [This message has been edited by aelliott (edited May 30, 2000).]
aelliott- glad you brought it up. I was wondering the same thing. I doubt it could be considered 'tampering' to negotiate with your own free agent. After all, the new CBA focuses on helping teams keep the players they have. If they have to wait until July or August to sign, would they bother announcing that they've "agreed in principal" to a deal? btw- thanks again, Pop. We love you, man.
All I have to say to this totally illegal negotiating with a free agent that Popeye is reporting is: 1. The NBA watches websites like this for rumors representing league violations, 2. The Rockets know about #1, 3. The Rockets float false rumors as a means to track where leaks are coming from. 4. Clutch is still keeping his rumor secret so he doesn't hurt the Rockets. Popeye may be correct about some closed door negotiating, but if he is, he is only hurting the organization by reporting league violations. Speculation is the Devil! Popeye is the Devil's Messenger! [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited May 30, 2000).]
aelliott I never even gave that a thought when they told me. Mmmmmmm. I understood the "wait" as having something to do with another development. A more or less "soon" sort of thing, more than a "later". It never occurred to me it was waiting until August to announce it. HP Yeah like the San Antonio Spurs and others have not contacted Tim, and no one has mentioned the sign and trade of their free agents during the discussions about draft pick swapping, and well .... ya'll get the picture ...... Signed; The Devil Incarnate On a more serious note ......... Tampering As I understand it, the definition of tampering relates to a team other than the player's present team, contacting him and negitiating any action including contracts, offers, proposals, etc.... It does not supercede nor contradict the relationship between a player and his present team. FA's Home Team Negotiations According to the CBA, in order to secure their right of first refusal a team must submit a qualifying offer to their free agent by June 30. It would appear to be very difficult to do this without negotiating with Mobley at some point, or in fact as the Rockets have been doing since the end of the season. [This message has been edited by popeye (edited May 30, 2000).]
If everything concearning Mobley is a done deal then this is a major step for the rockets in knowing wish way they are going to go in the lottery . Now they don't have to worry about replacing him even if it means passing on some good players now they can focus on the "big man" issue ... who would it be ? we shall find out ! ------------------ It's all about marketing !
Hello, paranoia. Take some deep breaths, 'pardner. There have been times in the past when Popeye held his tongue to protect negotiations. In fact, Pops, I remember you being privy to some very interesting possible trades with Maloney and Bullard et al in the Fall, but didn't even mention them 'till later. To this day I wonder what those 'almost-trades' included.
popeye, You're correct that it's not tampering, but it still is a rules violation. As far as the qualifiying offer, there's nothing to negotiate. The qualifying offer is just a minimum amount that you have to offer in order retain the right of first refusal. All the Rockets have to do is tender Mobley an offer of 125% of his previous salary or $150K above the minimum for a player of his experience in order to retain the right of first refusal. Both of those numbers are under $1M, so obviously it's not something that Mobley would accept. The way it works is you tender the qualifying offer and the player becomes a restricted free agent. Then (when you're allowed to negotiate) you can work any deal that you like. It works simarly in the NFL. ------------------
BornRocketRed: You hit it right on the head...the most important step of the offseason has been taken. This is more important than any acquisition we could have made, because the only direction we can now go is forward. The acquisition of a star player can now no longer be offset by a loss of Cuttino Mobley.
an additional tidbit I just picked up sort of relating to this on Bill the Rockets guy, through bskball.com: If Mobley doesn't commit by the draft (June 28), the Rockets will replace him (according to BTR). perhaps popeye was only speaking of a verbal deal, and Mobley said to someone "I'm signing with the Rockets for sure" at no time having any discussions with Rocket officials. or, is it still tampering if Mobley talked to Rudy, and said "if you give me the Early Bird Contract, I'm a Rocket" ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!
Teams aren't allowed to negotiate with free agents until after July 1. So, if Mobley discussed a contract with the Rockets it would have been a rules violation. Also, I wouldn't put much stock in what Bill the Rocket Guy says. He doesn't have a very good track record. ------------------ [This message has been edited by aelliott (edited June 01, 2000).]
DaDakota-Maybe they did. We just have no clue who popeye's source was; it could be the ball boy or some trucker, or it could be Les Alexander or CD. ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!
Absolutely DaDakota. But it isn't easy. Certainly this would never be written down. Think about, who would know such a thing. Mobley (maybe), his agent definitely, and few in the mgmt--a very loyal few. So, Mobley slipped up? His agent did thus jeopardizing future under the table negotiations? Some spy in the organization? I'm sorry I just don't see it. This was a sting!! It still boggles my mind that some source fell for it. There is no way the organization doesn't to its upmost best prevent a leak of such magnitude. IMO, this is a huge chain of extrapolating hearsay about a harmless quote, or someone fell for a planned false rumor and got nabbed like they should. I hope the source fell for a sting. Like you say DaDakota, they should get caught. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited June 01, 2000).]
I just want to creep closer to my coveted summer goal of reaching 1000 posts. DaDakota ------------------
You know what HeyPartner, Upon reflection, I don't think it was a sting. I think it is too sensitive an issue to try a sting. I think the Rockets would not have picked a topic that the NBA league office would be interested in, they would choose something less likely to cause a ripple at NBA headquarters. DaDakota ------------------
