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Mavs agree to deal that makes Leon Smith a free agent.

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by 3pointer, Feb 2, 2000.

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  1. 3pointer

    3pointer Member

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    Mavs agree to deal that makes Leon Smith a free agent 02/02/2000

    By Marc Stein / The Dallas Morning News

    Just as the Dennis Rodman experience descended upon Dallas, the Mavericks' chapter of the Leon Smith saga reached an
    earlier-than-expected conclusion.

    Thwarted in their bid to retain the troubled
    teenager's rights, the Mavericks agreed
    Tuesday - at the behest of the NBA Players
    Association - to sign a buyout agreement that
    makes the suspended, twice-arrested Smith a
    free agent.

    The deal, however, now includes a provision
    that will require any NBA team that signs
    Smith to immediately pick up the payments on
    his three-year, $1.45 million contract. If Smith is unable to resurrect his NBA career, the Mavericks will pay all of that guaranteed
    money over a 10-year span.

    "Mark wanted to explore the option of Leon staying with us, and we did that to his satisfaction," Mavericks president Terdema Ussery said of Mark Cuban, the club's new owner pending NBA approval.

    "But Mark made it clear from the very beginning that whatever the Players
    Association thought was in Leon's best interests is what we would do."

    Ussery and Players Association chief Billy Hunter opened negotiations on a Smith buyout in early December, following Smith's two arrests in Chicago and subsequent suspension without pay by the Mavericks. In the
    original agreement, the Mavericks would have been responsible for all of Smith's salary even if he later joined another team.

    The new arrangement will absolve the Mavericks from paying for Smith's potential development with another NBA franchise. It also clears Smith to immediately work out for other clubs, with Hunter suggesting recently that two teams are already interested in the 6-10, 235-pounder.

    Mavericks coach-general manager Don Nelson said Jan. 22 that Cuban "would like a chance to investigate the psychological reports and research as much as we can to see if Leon could just stay with us."

    Hunter, however, was apparently eager to get Smith away from the Mavericks - and Nelson in particular. The New York Times reported
    Sunday that the Players Association informed the Mavericks that Smith would not return to Dallas as long as Nelson was coach or general
    manager.

    Hunter has refused numerous interview requests from The News since Nov. 30 and could not be reached for comment. Smith, who relocated to Houston in January under Hunter's watch, also could not be reached
    Tuesday.

    But on Jan. 20, in his first public comments since a Nov. 14 suicide attempt in Dallas, Smith told a Houston television station that he was open to rejoining the Mavericks "because that's the team that traded for me."

    The Mavericks acquired Smith in a draft-day deal with San Antonio in June. The Spurs selected Smith on Dallas' behalf with the last pick in the first round (No. 29 overall), making the ex-Martin Luther King High School star the first ward of the state in NBA history.

    Smith, estranged from his parents at age 5, spent much of his childhood in various Chicago foster homes before declaring for the draft.

    Cuban, too tied up with finalizing the Rodman deal, was not immediately available to discuss the Smith situation.

    "The reason why we've done the deal this way is so, if Leon doesn't end up playing, he'll at least have some consistent income to get healthy and get his life together," Ussery said.
     
    #1 3pointer, Feb 2, 2000
  2. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

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    Devin Gray was just signed for the season, so I doubt he'll be waived now. He'll go on the IR when Rogers gets back, I'm sure. I'd love it if Leon Smith could take Curley's slot.

    By the way, are the Mavs really allowed to say that any team that picks up Smith has to pay his entire contract? I guess so, but it sounds weird.
     
    #2 JuanValdez, Feb 2, 2000
  3. 3pointer

    3pointer Member

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    I know the kid has had many problems but from the comments he has made on tv. it seems as if he really would like to be here and it seems he has talked to the rocket players.... I truly think this would be a great place for him because our youth , mainly people around his own generation , it would be easier to fit in and it seems he NEEDS to fit in and he did not in Dallas !
     
    #3 3pointer, Feb 2, 2000
  4. Francis3

    Francis3 Member

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    Give him a chance. I know he has alot of talent!

    [This message has been edited by Francis3 (edited February 02, 2000).]
     
    #4 Francis3, Feb 2, 2000
  5. TeXaSalsa

    TeXaSalsa Member

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    Leon might be worth a gamble. He would need to move in with a veteran aka pig miller aka hakeem aka walt williams for mentorship, guidance, and as a role model and to keep him out of trouble. Rockets would be good becuase if theres one thing Rudy T can do fairly well is make guys get along, blend egos, and be a good role model. Leon has an excellent build and in a few years with som1 to teach him could have a nice future.

    ------------------
    --TEX
     
    #5 TeXaSalsa, Feb 2, 2000
  6. sailor

    sailor Member

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    I don't think we should take a chance/gamble on him. The question is not if he can be a good player or not, it is what influence he would have on our other young guys (Steve, Cuttino, Kenny).

    Sailor
     
    #6 sailor, Feb 2, 2000
  7. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    Sailor

    I seriously doubt Leon have that much influence on Cuttino or Frances etc.

    A. He'd be the youngest
    b. Cutt and Francis seem to have more dominant personalities and they work off each other.
    c. Rudy would not allow it


    Rocket River
    Give him a Chance. . .WHY NOT
    WE NEED A YOUNG SF right?
    BTW - Why does who ever pick him up
    pays his salary? Why not a situation like
    us and Augment/Maloney/Shaw?
     
    #7 Rocket River, Feb 2, 2000
  8. aelliott

    aelliott Member

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    Give him a Chance. . .WHY NOT WE NEED A YOUNG SF right?

    Leon Smith is not a small forward.


    BTW - Why does who ever pick him up pays his salary? Why not a situation like us and Augment/Maloney/Shaw?

    This is because his contract was terminated and this was one of the conditions that was agreed upon by the Mavs and the NBA Players Association. It was a compromise so that Dallas didn't have to pay his entire contract if he goes to another team and that Dallas wouldn't seek to terminate his contract based on his behavior and leave the kid with nothing. Seem fair enough to me. Those other guys were simply released from the Rockets, but their contracts were still valid.
     
    #8 aelliott, Feb 2, 2000
  9. Francis3

    Francis3 Member

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    Leon Smith will play small forward in the nba.
     
    #9 Francis3, Feb 2, 2000
  10. sailor

    sailor Member

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    RR:

    Thing is, none of our young guys has developed any leadership yet (on and off the court, you can say that Steve has leadership on the court, but he certainly has not shown any off the court yet). Of course, he is a rookie and Cat, Shandon, Cato are still young, it is too early to ask them for that. My point is, since they are still at the very early stage of their career, any bad influnce can be amplified. I would feel more comfortable if we bring somebody like Leon Smith say 3 years from now.

    Age doesn't necessarily have anything to do with "influence". If they hang out together a lot, they sure will influence each other in one way or the other.

    Sailor
     
    #10 sailor, Feb 2, 2000
  11. UT Baller

    UT Baller Member

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    I wish the Rox would pick this kid. He is exactly what we are looking for in terms of a young forward. If anyone were to be his mentor I would have to say it should be Rogers though. Someone has mentioned this before and it makes sense. They both have had ****ty lives, but Carlos has persevered and could be aguide for Smith. The kid also comes with a small price tag (1.5 for three years?). Just think about how good the Rox could be:
    Francis
    Anderson/Mobley
    this year's pick
    Smith (if he bulks up)
    Cato

    That is a championship team in a few years.
     
    #11 UT Baller, Feb 2, 2000
  12. Malone the Moses

    Malone the Moses Member

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    Sorry, guys. I have a quick question. Is Leon a hero of French action movie directed by Luc Besson in 1994? If he is not an Italian well-trained sharp-shooter, just forget him! Leon Whatever...... [​IMG]

    [This message has been edited by Malone the Moses (edited February 02, 2000).]
     
    #12 Malone the Moses, Feb 2, 2000
  13. haven

    haven Member

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    Moses: Leon Smith is a talented, young small forward. We're a team that needs a talented, young small forward. Do you see a connection?

    I agree his personal life is troubling... but it seems that Dallas did mishandle him. I think he deserves another chance.
     
    #13 haven, Feb 2, 2000
  14. thacabbage

    thacabbage Contributing Member

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    No, don't sign him. This is a human being we are talking about, a very troubled human being. This is someone who is not ready to handle the pressures of the NBA. Leon Smith needs help right now, and unless Rudy is willing to adopt him into his own home, I am against this. This is a person who not only tried to take his own life, but endangered the lives of others. Some things are more important than basketball, and rather than thinking about "filling our small forward slot" we should think about getting help for this person. I don't want the Rockets to be responsible for not giving Leon Smith full-time attention, and him blowing up on himself again.

    I say, no thankyou.
     
    #14 thacabbage, Feb 2, 2000
  15. aelliott

    aelliott Member

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    Leon Smith will play small forward in the nba

    I'll say it again, he's not a small forward. He can't handle the ball and doesn't have any kind of outside shot. He's strictly an inside player.
     
    #15 aelliott, Feb 2, 2000
  16. fromobile

    fromobile Member

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    Sign him. This is a human being we're talking about here. He can make his own decisions. If he wants to play and we can use him we should definitely sign him. Hell, it's not new to commit disservices to players by giving them contracts. We enable horrible people like Anthony Mason to be millionaires, and to keep respect when they should be stripped of it. What's the difference? If he wants to play, let the kid play.
     
    #16 fromobile, Feb 3, 2000
  17. sailor

    sailor Member

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    fromobile:

    Isn't there a difference between "let him play" and "let's pay him to play for us"?

    Sailor
     
    #17 sailor, Feb 3, 2000
  18. Rocketball

    Rocketball Member
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    Now the question is, do the Rockets take a gamble on this kid? And do they do it this year, before anyone else gets him?

    To add something to this, Bill Curly has his second 10 day contract come up today, and is doubtful the Rockets will keep him. Since they can only offer 2 ten day contracts, then they either have to let him go or sign him for the season. My bet is they will let him go, and this will open up a roster space. Which could eventually be used by Carlos, however he could take Devin's spot, and we can waive him since he never plays.

    Just food for thought, what do you guys think?
     
    #18 Rocketball, Feb 3, 2000
  19. sir scarvajal

    sir scarvajal Member

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    Thacabbage I see where you are coming from, but perhaps the NBA, or an NBA team in particular, could be the best family and environment for him (what are his options: overseas ball, CBA, going to school?). Granted I don't know the much about the players/situations or how comparably they are (probably not very much), but A. Davis did take in a Al Harrington to live with his family in Indianapolis. Maybe a situation like that somewhere would be the best environment for him.
     
    #19 sir scarvajal, Feb 3, 2000
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