Then they shouldn't have traded him. This rule should definitely be changed. On a side note, why is Washington even buying him out, don't they HATE the Cavs? Buy him out the day AFTER he is eligible for the playoffs.
I see what you're saying. But I see no downside in saying he can't go back to the team that same season. He can still negotiate a buyout. He can still play for another team for the rest of the current season. He would still have the option to go back to the team where he has history and family after the season (or he could sit out the rest of that season if he wanted to be with his family, and then return to his original team) Either way, I think you solve the issue and hurt no one by banning it
If there was good time to make a rule, it would have been after Stackhouse opened his big fat mouth when the Kidd trade taks were heating up. At this point there's no reason to stop it unless the league could find collusion or something. I'll be pissed if this loophole is still here when the new CBA comes however.
I agree. If the rule isn't changed to prevent the waived player from signing back with his original team for the rest of the season. Then this is the way to go.
It makes the league very top heavy. Lets contending teams load up. Trade Lebron for Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley Lebron gets bought out. Lebron resigns with Cleveland for pennies. Lebron/Dwyane Wade/Beasley/Jamison/Shaq. It only works with expiring contracts. But something like that could have conceivably happened.
If the Heat were willing to buy out Lebron? sure. And, I wouldn't have a problem with that highly unlikely scenario. The correct salaries were exchanged. I don't really see a problem with the way things are. If a team is willing to waive a player and that player is willing to sign for the minimum, I don't see the harm.
IMO this "practice" is not a complete ill because it demonstrates player loyalty to a team and the fans there. I'm so sick of hearing that sports is "just a business" (it is, but I still hate the concept) because entire cities and regions live and die with their teams. That loyalty and spirit is what keeps the game alive.
For most of the season the media have been reporting that any deal Cleveland makes would require the other team to buyout Big Z so he could he return there.
If there pursuing it now with Z, then I imagine the league will be sure to close the loophole in the next CBA. And, it's not something the union will want to fight hard to keep anyway. Some guys won't be able to go play for the team they want to play for, but other guys will avoid getting traded in the first place.
It is only "unfair" to the 28 other teams that would like a chance to sign the player. But if the player wants to return to his original team, what right do they have to restrict that? A more fair solution would be to just eliminate buyouts for traded players.
Source: NBA will not block Z’s returning to Clev. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...slug=ap-cavaliers-ilgauskas&prov=ap&type=lgns
It's BS that they block Stackhouse from going back but allow Z to go back to Cleveland. The NBA is rigged, because they want to pick and choose which players go back to their favored teams.
