Rockets/sharks negotiation hasn't reached solution after 3 hours discussion.

Goldberg will close the deal, he is one of the best.

 

Hell, they've probably been drinking tea for 3 hours.

 

'stance', micheon, Goldberg doesn't have a choice.

 

btw, as an aside...

I'm glad that we got all of this stuff ironed out before we drafted Ming. Mother Mar...

 

I can imagine that. The reporters are making stories about it taking all day but when you go inside they are playing tag or something. Then the eat a snack, play some video games and watch TV. Then Goldberg says something about the deal and the Sharks say "sure, do whatever."

 

Well, he can't pay more money, but I think they can agree to do camps or whatever. If they're talking about that, 3 hours is nothing.

 

The Sharks can receive $350K up front and $900K per year times 4yrs from the Rockets. However, anyone (agent, politician, old team, old league) can be paid this, so whether the Sharks have dibs on all $4m is unknown.

We definitely cannot pay more than $3.6m + $350k.

The $900K yearly payments of additional buyout counts against Ming's maximum salary. Maximizing that buyout reduces his maximum pay to $14.4m over 4yrs. The buyout shouldn't matter one way or another to Les Alexander, since he isn't actually spending more money, just giving $3.6m to China and less to Ming.

There really is nothing to discuss. I think the Chinese officials just like to have meetings....lol

 

Certainly not as part of a Ming contract. Separate contracts between two business are what we'd be talking about. That is walking a fine line. The league could view anything as compensation and count against Ming's salary. By the same token, summer camps are all over the place, and Vince Carter did a "camp," so the league is down for accepting stuff like that, but not if you are trying to circumvent the salary cap rules...to add compensation.

I think the best way to look at it is precedence. Players are allowed to train with coaches, scouts, summer leagues...etc. That already exists. You don't need contracts for that. Trying to get stuff like that into a contract could be interpreted as a no no.

As an example, last year people suggested that the Grizzlies go play an exhibition game in Spain and let Pau Gasol's team take the receipts, as a way to compensate them. That's a no no.

Seems like the Carter "camp" was sponsored by the NBA and Nike, no??? The Rockets organizing a special tour of of Rudy and Francis and the Sharks with gate receipts is probably a no no.

 

As bad as Stern and the NBA want to pry open the Chinese market they should be able to come to some agreement on all these other issues outside of Ming's contract.

I don't see any correlation between Ming's contract and these other events anyway. All these events involve the Rockets and the Sharks/CBA. Ming would just be a player on the Rox like Francis or the others. How could the NBA justify holding Ming's contract liable for events outside of his negociation?

 

By the way, michecon:

I know we've thanked windandsea around here but have we ever really thanked you for your posts? You give us some great information. So,

Thanks.

 

There is a clause in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that allows the NBA to invalidate any contract which they think is a result of outside means to usurp the salary caps rules.

Any outside agreements between the Rockets and the people who will release Ming will be scrutinized closely, you can bet on it. Any contracts conditional on Mings release are completely within the realm of the NBA invalidating Ming's contract with us. Not to say this will happen, but is it worth risking?? Reason dictates that you pass any outside agreements by the league office before signing. And why exactly would the league office OK us setting up a Rockets/Sharks Summer League in China, for instance. The league already has all that. Why would the allow change that they can't control? Do other teams have exclusive camps for foreign players/teams?

 

I'm not worried. It will get done!