Boozer to Jazz! Can Rockets make TE deal with Cavs?

Clutch, I was just going on the information posted at the beginning of this thread. You are always in the know, far better than I.

I know Chad Ford made all sorts of statements that they had a deal going, but he claimed he had sources that the deal with McGrady wasn't going through, so I really don't trust his sources.

Is there any more official information on the specifics of the supposed verbal deal besides the article at the beginning of this thread?

I just know how so many business deals go ... often when both sides have hidden agendas, things can be left vague, and then lead to misunderstandings, each hoping the deal goes their way. This just looks like CLE was hoping they could get Boozer cheap, but got caught. There's an old NY street saying, that goes, "the easiest person to con, is someone trying to con you."

 

I think Boozer's a prick for treating Cleveland that way.

They could have just paid him around 700G's next season and instead were willing to give him ~5mil next season. So how does Boozer repay this raise?

Jumping ship. You guys say he sold out for 28 mil. I think it's closer to 24 mil when you consider Cleveland was about to give him a nice, fat raise.

Boozer definitely does not come out of this smelling like roses.

 

I think Boozer will probably be hearing the first three letters of his name, when he's on the road next season.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOzer

 

So are the Rockets in the running for Boozer? Or Battie?

 

I dont get why this is so shocking.

NBA is a business, and people (owners, gms, coaches, players & agents) are sc***ing people every day.

How is this different then when CD & Les Tell Francis that he is the cornerstone of their future, so he signs his extension last year. Then one year later they trade him to one of the worse teams in the league.

Or when CD & Les were in talks to trade Hakeem to Toronto, at the same time Hakeem was doing PR to help the Rockets get their new arena.

NBA is a business, and the Cavaliers were just stupid to let him out of his contract. Your word is honorable, but an extra 28 million is enough to make just about anybody change their mind. Cavaliers should of known their was a chance somebody would drop the loot on Boozer.

 

I agree.

I doubt this is possible, but if I'm Paxson, I tell Boozer I will release him to pay him the average salary of $5 million, but I have both "contracts" in the room at the same time and make him sign the the new contract before releasing him. Then you just come out with a press release that says "Cavs release Boozer, proceed to sign him to [x] deal" - otherwise, you pick up the option and pay him next year.

At the very least, make some calls, see what his market value is, and realize that nobody in their right mind is going to pass up that kind of salary difference, regardless of what they say.

 

That about sums it up. No one would be blaming Pax if the cash difference wasn't so freakin huge.

 

We saw verba agreement all over the places lately. All the contract agreements were verbal before July 15th. But anyone heard any verbal agreement between Cavs and Boozer? I did not. I guess I read something like "understanding" but no verbal agreement.

Maybe Boozer or his agent tricked Cavs to release him by make them thinking that he will resign with them. But I heard no verbal agreement reported between Boozer and Cavs. It's not reports dare not report any likely rumors of any kind of verbal agreements around NBA.

So I think Cavs' GM is stupid failed for a trick here. HAHA!

 

It doesn't work that way.

 

Cavs screwed this one up, they took a risk and lost out on it. However, if Utah is willing to pay Boozer 11M+, then they can have him.

 

NIKEstrad, what do you think about my last one?

Is it theoretically possible?

 

They probably are saying to themselves, "Wow, my agent just got Carlos another $28 million, I wonder how much he can get me?"

 

SJC- Just looked at it...interesting, though you forgot to mention dealing Nachbar

Theoretically, yes...realistically, they're adding a large 3 year committment, losing an all-star center, and their PG.

 

I don't know why some of you suggest we get Illgauskas for the TE and then let him go next year. Z is not what we want. We need a defensive big man to replace Cato as Yao's back up. Battie is the perfect fit.

The only Cav players that fit our need, imo, are Battie (backup big) and McInnis (starting PG). We have other options for the PG need (Barry, Fisher, Hudson, etc.). The most logical target should be Battie here.

 

I like Boozer, but not for almost $12 mil per season. Let him milk the Jazz.

 

Stop dreaming. Boozer is now officially public enemy #1 in Cleveland. Imaging bring in Malone or Stockton to Rockets? Boozer's case is even worse. If Cavs get rid of all the depth to keep Boozer, they still won't go far in playoff anytime soon. Worse, what will the entire team feel about Boozer? How much boos will Boozer get from home crowd? Tons of problems will appear. Maybe they can trade him after a year or two, but that will make Cavs look even more stupid.

Bottom line is, I feel Cavs won't match Jazz's offer. The best they can do is to hope Boozer can't produce in Utah so it will make Utah look bad for overpaying him.

 

in any given situation it's probably safe to assume everyone is acting in their own best interest, whatever that may be.


from the cavs perspective, i don't think paxson was thinking "man, i could be a really nice guy and give carlos a nice raise next year." what he was really thinking was "man, i could make it look like i'm giving carlos a nice raise while i'm really just locking him into a six year contract for way below his market value." a good thought, but not exactly prudent when you don't have a ton of capspace to match offers.


from boozer's perspective, he and his agent were thinking one of two things:

a) damn, i bet i could get out of my current contract and get a huge payday a year early by promising to sign back for cheap. jp will love the thought of locking me up for less than market value and once he releases me i'll go to one of those teams with enormous capspace and get my market value a year early.

or

b) i don't really like the thought of playing for the minimum after a 15/11 year. maybe i could tell pax he can lock me up for the next six years (and hey, that's six years of security and financial security for the rest of my life right now instead of chancing it a year down the road) at the mle if he lets me out of the team option. i get a nice payday a year early and get to stay with lebron and i probably won't get much more than that next year anyway.

and then boom, "oh damn, you mean i can get 68 million over the next six years instead of 41? i really like paxson and don't wanna go back on my word like this, but i can buy some new integrity with the extra 27 million. where do i sign up?"


now in option A, boozer is a huge prick who deliberately deceived cleveland (although duped is more like it) for more money. he's a super rich prick, but a huge prick nonetheless.

in option B, he's just more like a jerk. a super rich jerk, but not someone who intentionally hurt cleveland, but someone who just couldn't pass up that much extra money (since i'll never me offered an extra 27 million dollars, i can't say i would've passed it up).


however, since i find it hard to believe he and his agent missed his market value by about 5 million a year, i'm going with option A and boozer looks really bad in all of this.

 

If the cap is set at $46, they only need to dump Battie and one more player, or just Z is ATL is dump enough.

Regarding chemistry, I doubt the team will take it personal. Players know what it is about, and they would do the same. Besides, even if they don't get along well, they can move Boozer to get other players. $68M/6year for Boozer is very reasonable.

 

Wanna bet? Boozer not only lied to Paxon, he lied to Cavs owner too. If Cavs do match the offer , the entire orgnization will be disrespected by their own fans. Plus, because of the way the contract is consturcted, they'll have to unload at least 10mil. Only Z's contract is big enough, but Z is not ATL' s target. 6year/$68 is somewhat overpaid for a 2nd year player who is averaging 15,11 depending on how you look at it.