Jopatmac - In answer to ur ? 51. How do retired players count against the cap? Any money paid to a player is included in team salary, even if the player has retired. For example, James Worthy retired in 1994, two years before his contract ended. He continued to receive his salary for the 94-95 and 95-96 seasons, so his salary was included in the Lakers' team salary in those seasons. It is at the team's discretion (or as the result of an agreement between the team and player) whether to continue to pay the player after he has retired. There is one exception whereby a player can continue to receive his salary, but the salary is not included in the team's team salary. This is when a player is forced to retire for medical reasons and a league-appointed physician confirms that he is medically unfit to continue playing. There is a waiting period of two years (if the injury or illness occurred between January 1 and July 1) or until the second July 1 following the injury or illness (if it occurred between July 1 and January 1) before a team can apply for this salary cap relief. If the waiting period expires mid-season (on any date prior to the last day of the regular season), then his entire salary for that season is removed from the team's team salary. For example, Luc Longley suffered a career-ending injury in March 2001. In March 2003, the Knicks were allowed to remove his entire 02-03 salary from their books (and since the luxury tax is based on the team salary as of the last day of the regular season, the Knicks avoid paying any tax on Longley's salary). There is also some luxury tax relief associated with disabled players -- see question number 15 . If a player retires, even for medical reasons, his team does not receive a salary cap exception to acquire a replacement player.
It would be slightly cheaper to cut VB instead of Ward. If Wards knee is 100% he might actually get some playing time, I don't see VB getting any playing time.
I guess it would be cheaper, but I don't see Ward getting any PT, healthy knee or not. Sura-James-Head DA-Wesley-Barry That is 6 guards that all deserve PT more than Ward, maybe not Head, but the rest for sure.
My thought is the guy could actually stay and play. He is expendable, of course, but he was a JVG guy and understood the JVG sets and defense. He was never a very good player but he made a living listening to the coach and carrying out instructions.
We have three vets who without a doubt can play a better point than Ward at this point in their careers: Sura, James and DA. We have a rookie, under contract and taking a roster spot in the NBDL or not, who might be better and could use the PT. We have another vet (Mooch), probably about as good as Ward. Thus Ward is at best 4th, and maybe 5th or 6th on the depth chart. Pretty much no chance he ever sees the floor this year. Baker and Mooch's expiring contracts are much bigger and could be of more use before the trade deadline. So if we waive a player, it is Ward. I love to trade any of Ward, Baker or Mooch in a 1-0 trade (add in a 2nd rounder) to a team that needs more salary for 05-06, then add Baxter in a 2 year min deal with a team option though.
Tiger, So, then based on what you are saying, Ward could decide to retire and the team could decide not to pay him as a player for the remaining year on his contract, right? Then they could hire him as a coach and give him a coach's salary. Can anybody see this possibility of happening? It gives us a little bit of cap space and a roster spot. At the same time, we could coax Ward into retirement by telling him if he stays as a player he ain't gonna play, he's gonna spend the year on the reserve list. Why wouldn't Ward retire under this scenario and coach for us for a season at a very good salary? See my point?
It's time to cut his ass. The only good thing he did as a Rocket was in the home opener vs. Sacramento. He hit a few clutch 3's to win the game basically and it was a nice exciting time. I had some kind of hope for Charlie Ward after that game. That was the last time i would say that for the rest of the season. Charlie...thanks for Game 1...enjoy your stay in some beach somewhere retired after we cut you or trade ya.
This is true- one cut per team - if not, Zeke would have cut the entire Knicks squad...well, everyone but Allan Houston (but that makes sense, right?).
If Andre Barrett thiught so highly of Ward maybe he will make a good mentor for Luther Head? It's not like the 14th or 15th guy on the roster is expected to play anyway.
Ward is going to make $1.87MM this year. Not only does JVG not need him as a coach, we wouldn't pay him anything near that much. Ward is not going to retire and lose his money. The chances of your scenario happening seem to be between nil and zilch. That $1.87MM is a nice little pop to go out with. Merry Christmas to Ward from JVG.
at this point in his career I doubt Ward has put as much thought in his game as we did in this thread but it is kinda funny that we were so optimistic about Ward, Reece Gaines, and Tyronne Lue coming on board... we figured at least 2 of em would play some role on the team... hopefully we're luckier this year with DA and whoever else we can pick up
That actually might work, he retires with the understanding that he waives his players contractual rights and then we sign him as a coach. There is a player coach circumvention rule in place that prohibits teams from having player coaches which allowed teams to pay a player a low salary for playing but overpaid him as a coach. I would think that for this to be interperted as legitimate Ward would have to forgo his 3.64 million in salary and sign an asst coaching deal at a competitive salary for it not to be ruled circumvention. Ward would have to be pretty generous to do this. I'm not sure though so maybe a CBA guru could answer this.
The money only works if he sees as a launching of his post basketball career and doesn't look at it as a 1 year gig. There would have to be that understanding that he is signing up with Van Gundy for the long haul.
Ward wasn't actually that bad. I was much more comfortable with the ball in his hands than when it was in Lue's at the start of last season. He's a valuable guy to have as a 3rd PG and won't cause any problems if he doesn't get any PT (which he won't if everyon'es healthy). He had that game against Sac (first home game of season) where he hit a couple of nice 3's to ice the game in overtime. He can do a job for us I think.
Apparently I hit close to home. You shouldn't judge yourself too harshly... few become professional athletes ... ... although there are a lot of multimillionaires ...
First, I'm not that happy we have Ward now but I understand why he's here and accept it as part of the business. We got Ward because we needed a guard and he was what our team decided was the best of limited options at the time. Every move by the front office has risks and not all work out. To criticize each one that doesn't work out... using hindsight ... when we clearly have one of the best admins in the league... is feeble. And to criticze a player because he played with the knicks ... what does that have to do with anything? Shall we send all ex-knicks away, including JVG? Uh...since I never claimed that they were in the majority here, it appears that you agree with my point?
You know what? With Toronto GM publicly declaring he is the market for another veteran PG to backup Calderon and STML, it will not be far fetched that he will be willing to take on Charlie or Mooch to fill in that slot for them in exchange for a second round pick and filler. Moochie especially will fit in fine and his contract is friendly. It is safe to say that they may not be a ble to land any of the "quality" PGs still left on the market (Janero, Watson, Jason Williams, Jones). Other teams that might be interested in adding depth to their PG arsenal (veteran or otherwise) include Sonics, Milwaukee (because of Ford's uncertainty), Charlotte, Philly and maybe a few others. Of course there is another team with a glut of PGs in Boston and what they could offer may be more attractive to those teams seeking PG depth/help. So there is hope.
