http://www2.dailynews.com/sports/ci_2927723 By Ross Siler, Staff Writer The Lakers have decided to waive forward Brian Grant, taking advantage of a one-time provision to the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement allowing them to save nearly $30 million in luxury tax penalties. "We understand from a business standpoint there's a huge economic incentive with the luxury tax savings," Grant's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Tuesday. "We know it has nothing to do with Brian's abilities as a player and has everything to do with dollars." Grant was the Lakers' second-highest paid player after Kobe Bryant and still is owed $29.8 million on his contract. He averaged a career-low 3.8 points and 3.7 rebounds last season while battling chronic tendinitis in his knees. The Lakers will have to pay nearly all of Grant's remaining contract, even if the 33-year-old forward signs with another team as a free agent, and will gain no additional salary cap flexibility until after the 2006-07 season, when Grant's contract expires. Where the Lakers will benefit is in removing Grant's salary from the NBA's luxury tax calculations, present and future. The league assesses a dollar-for-dollar penalty for the amount teams spend over the luxury tax threshold, which will be $61.7 million for next season. The Lakers' payroll for the upcoming season is projected to be in excess of $75 million. They have until Aug. 15 to take advantage of the amnesty provision, but are expected to release Grant as early as today. Grant will join Portland guard Derek Anderson and Orlando guard Doug Christie (Pepperdine) as the league's first three amnesty casualties. Anderson worked out for the Lakers on Monday and will visit Minnesota and Detroit before making a decision early next week about where to sign. "We like that situation," Anderson's agent, Tony Dutt, said about the Lakers, "but there are others we like as well. We're still exploring the market." The Lakers are in need of a ball-handling guard as well as a shooter, and Anderson fits the bill for both. They have $5 million to spend but appear adamant about splitting their midlevel exception on two players while Anderson would like the full amount. Dutt said the Lakers also want to wait and see which players become available as the amnesty deadline approaches. Anderson, meanwhile, underwent a physical for the Lakers, which Dutt said resolved any questions about his health. Anderson missed a combined 66 games the last two seasons and has battled back problems. After arriving from Miami last year as part of the Shaquille O'Neal trade, Grant struggled with a neck injury in training camp. He missed only six games during his last two years with the Heat but was forced to go on the injured list for a month in late November due to the tendinitis. Last season Grant was reduced to a bench role and averaged only 16.5 minutes per game, with his price tag outweighing his productivity. The Lakers also are facing a deadline today to buy out the contract of their 2004 second-round draft pick, forward Marcus Douthit. They are unlikely to do so but could retain Douthit's rights for another year by tendering him an offer.
I would love him on our team for the min. Can't handle more than 10 mins a game max, but he's the perfect compliment to Yao and Swift. Defender first, garbage guy, strong and physical. I'd much prefer Kurt Thomas, but that never happened. Evan
This guy has always been one of my favorites, although I have no idea why. I guess it stems from the year right before the Blazers turned into a revolving door of overpaid thugs...You know, the year they either went to the WC semis or finals and lost to the Spurs? That was a really fun team to watch. He's always been a guy who will maul you on the low block. I hope he at least regains some of his health and can become a productive bench player for some team. I would rather have him for the minimum over CSpoon and Vin Baker.
Although unlikely, wouldn't it be awesome if Miami picks up Grant again for the minimum? So basically the Lakers got Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown, and some picks for Shaq. Wait till they see Kwame be a bust. The trade for Shaq continually haunts the Lakers, and I'm loving it.
I would love to see BGrant sign w/ the Rox for the LLE.. he provides a nice contrast of styles for our post players. Yao - tall, shot blocker, man-man defender, (awesome low/midrange game) SSwift - quick, athletic, weakside shot blocker (decent midrange game) Jhoward - defensive liability, vet, (decent midrange game) Deke - tall, shot blocker, rebounder, defensive specialist now add BGrant - stocky, rebounding machine, strong but looking at this roster we could use Padgett back (outside shooting 4) J
Hmm What the Hell are the lakers going to do? I mean the roster has turned ugly. Yeah your right in that there proably going to go after finley but you know what.. I'm going to go Area 51 on this but I really do believe they are trying to free up cap space and offer extra incentives ( however you put it ) to entice Yao to join them once Yao's contract is up. But I'm hoping that will be totally false.. Rockets need to ink Yao as soon as possible..!!!!!!!!!! Max on Max
I think Grant would be the perfect body to bring off the bench with the Rockets. He wouldn't have to play a ton of minutes, the Rockets are already loaded with big men. He can log minutes, his the glass, play defense and add depth. That's another piece to the Rockets making a title run this upcoming season.
Agreed.... BG was never blessed with the physical talents but always played with a tremendous amount of heart. He is a model citizen and would be a good backup like many have stated and would also be a great player too have in the locker room. Everything this guy does on and off the court quickly turns him into a fan favorite. I still remember going to the Blazers game after the summer he got traded to the Heat and his first game back in Portland he was at the free-throw line and fans started cheering his name and he teared up.
hmmm.... can the lakers cut Grant then sign him again with the minimum???? Anyway, between Brin Grant and Lonny Baxter, who would you choose?? I will prefer the Rockets sign Baxter then Grant...
He has always been one of my favorite players alo. A ton of heart!!! But I was shocked to see how far his numbers have fallen.
Grant's a bruiser. Not a lot of talent, but a lot of hustle and he really roughs up opponents near the hoop. With Swift and Howard, Grant doesn't fit on our team.
If theres room for Bowen, among Spoon and Baker than there's for sure got to be a way to have BG. On a side note howcome we haven't used our amnesty clause on Baker yet? Can we? Are we? Why haven't we?
I absolutely, positively think we should waive Spoon (not Baker). Spoon is to be paid over 6 million this year. If we waived him, we'd have room to bring in more talent. I think many teams are waiting until the 15th before they do more dealing. Then they'll see a bunch of people get waived and things are gonna go crazy.
Not sure exactly what the rules exactly states, but I know for certain that a team can't cut a player under amnesty provision and resign them until after that orginal contract is up.
I think Grant has lots of talent. He hasn't been in a position or a roster to really showcase it since Portland, really. I think he has pretty solid offensive skills around the bucket, and he's a great rebounder. He just hasn't really fit well with Miami and LA. I thought he would do very well with Miami. I think they may have misused him, or stifled him in favor of other players. Hard to say.
