http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1089624675142581.xml Boozer deal could get worse Monday, July 12, 2004 Branson Wright Plain Dealer Reporter The six-year, $68 million offer sheet presented to Carlos Boozer by the Utah Jazz may do more than just leave the Cavaliers empty-handed. It could literally cost them. That's if the allegations are true that Boozer and the Cavs made an oral agreement before the two-week negotiating period that started July 1, a violation of the league's collective bargaining agreement. If so, the Cavs could be fined, forced to give up draft picks and any team personnel involved suspended. The Minnesota Timberwolves were slapped by the league in 2000 for signing forward Joe Smith to a series of illegal contracts in violation of the salary cap. The league voided the contract, fined the Timberwolves $3.5 million and stripped the club of five first-round draft picks. Two of the picks, in 2003 and 2005, have since been restored. There's a major difference between the two cases. In Minnesota, Smith signed a written contract. Boozer allegedly made an oral agreement with owner Gordon Gund and General Manager Jim Paxson. This incident between the Cavs and Boozer may have a rippling effect on future negotiations. Right now, there's a 13-day waiting period for players and teams to express their interest to negotiate and decide their intentions. The 14th day is the first time players and teams can sign offer sheets. Once an offer sheet is signed, the player's current team has 15 days to either match the offer or allow the player to move on. "What happened between Boozer and the Cavs will have an adverse affect on how GMs and owners deal with agents," said agent Aaron Goodwin, who represents LeBron James. "You won't see anyone trusting again. I say by next year, there will be no more window. Once a team draws up a contract, the player will be able to sign right then." The league office has reserved comment, so right now it appears the Cavs could escape any penalties and Boozer will move on. The Cavs will have to regroup. After narrowly missing the playoffs this past season they became heavy favorites to make the postseason. That has also changed. "Anyone that doesn't believe it's going to be difficult in making the playoffs now is fooled," Goodwin said. "Boozer is a stud. He was coming along and it's not easy to replace a young gun. But now you just have to reload, sweep this under the rug and find someone else to come in." I wonder what the Cavs GM would have to explain about this? If there was a secret oral deal with Boozer, then they broke the CBA rules and should get punished by the league. If there weren't any deals, then how can they blame Boozer for the so-called back-stabbing/double-crossing? I really want to see what they have to say about this? Is there anyway to suck more than being a Cavs fan now? I mean... holy three gorge DAMN! This is excruciating, egregious and biabolical! That franchise is totally screwed if the league takes away five of their first round picks. With their roster, they could be in the lottery five years in a row and have to forfeit all their picks. Lebron James might just well walk after four more years of misery there, and their franchise gets relocated to either Las Vegas or Nashville. Things are not pretty in Cleveland, and I feel for their fans. Glad I am a Rockets fan.
Doesn't make much sense to me. Does Nash not have an oral agreement with Phoenix?? Does Daniels not have an oral agreement with Dallas?? Does Barry not have an oral agreement with SA?? Someone explain the difference to me.
The alleged Cavs' secret deal with Boozer occur BEFORE July 1st, which is the time that FA period begin. All these offseason deals/agreements/understanding can only take place after this date, according to the league rules. However, if the Cavs made a deal before that date, they were trying to take advantage of other teams by making secret deals to FAs before other teams could, which is not allowed.
Ahhhhh. Thanks for the clarification. So what date was the oral deal made?? Whats the cutoff point for teams negotiating with their own FAs?
I gotta tell you guys, it's HILARIOUS up here in Cleveland right now! People are jumping off the Cavs bandwagon like it was on fire! Oh well, more tickets for me next season.
If I am Paxon I think I would just let them know that it must not have been much of an agreement since Boozer obviously signed with someone else.
Boozer and his agent really did this in a clever way. The Cavs cannot even claim that Boozer promised anything, because otherwise they are in trouble. However, if they cannot claim that Boozer promised something, nobody can blame Boozer!
Nashville, maybe, but no way an NBA franchise gets relocated to Las Vegas. The league is too touchy about sports betting.
The problem with that little scenario is that we all know better. Boozer is as crooked as a cork screw.
Yeah, I think Las Vegas is the one metropolitan area that doesn't have a major pro sports team but could and wouldm support one and probably deserves one too.
They should void Boozer's new contract with Utah and force him to play for Cleveland next year at the option price ($600K) for his role in the deal.
The league wouldn't be able to prove any circumvention so they won't pursue it. I'm 99% sure Cavs do not get into any trouble for this. There was an admission on the Cavs' part, but none on Boozer's part. Without proving that, the league won't be able to make punishments stick.
Yep. But they can spin it...in a couple of years, this will not be forgotten, but probably forgiven...and he will have a lot more $$...which obviously was a priority here!
