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Post by kgooglog on Jul 15, 2009 5:39:13 GMT -5
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Post by kgooglog on Jul 15, 2009 8:02:45 GMT -5
From Alan Hahn (NY Newsday):
"Of course, if Robinson takes the Olympiakos deal, the Knicks would only have to make a qualifying offer next June to retain his NBA rights as a restricted free agent."
Hmm...
My initial reaction to hearing that Nate is considering playing in Greece was a bit of anger, because Robinson's agent, Eric Goodwin (named Aaron Goodwin in Newsday) never even brought this variable up, despite having contract talks with the Knicks' team president, Donnie Walsh 24 hours ago. Walsh and the Knicks apparently heard about this information through an inadvertent blurb on an Internet site.
Newsday reports that the offer is for 2 years at $5,000,000 a year. If I were Walsh and Nate bolts from the Knicks in this manner, which, IMHO, is completely unprofessional but typical of Robinson's ridiculous behavior, I would keep him a restricted free agent next summer simply to show him that he cannot circumvent restricted free agency just because the Knicks have rewarded him with a fanbase, organizational loyalty, and an opportunity to be a blossoming star in this league.
I am not begrudging Robinson for wanting to play overseas and for more money. However, I am pissed that his agent didn't even give the Knicks a chance to discuss a new contract or to possibly negotiate a one year deal at $5,000,000, which can still be done. I only hope that the Knicks do not fall for this extortion tactic, and the last guy I would ever expect this behavior from is Nate Robinson. And this is the guy who loved being a Knick. He can kiss my ass.
If Nate leaves in this manner, and I do not think he is even stupid enough to do this, than he can also kiss the Knicks goodbye--As a GM, I would purposely keep offering qualifying offers to Robinson no matter what so he never cashes in on NBA fame and fortune, and trade him to the worst NBA city in existence.
So this is the way Nate repays the love and accolades which have been bestowed upon him? Walsh needs to make it peefectly clear that Robinson's "Bird" rights are the Knicks, and we have those rights, even if he decides to play in the North Pole.
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Post by irish2u2 on Jul 15, 2009 8:35:05 GMT -5
Ken
Basketball is a business first and last and some of the Euro teams are throwing major amounts of money around. I don't hold it against Nate for taking the money. His career might last 10 years and he has to gather unto him what he can now. ; )
We Average Joes would switch jobs in a heartbeat if we were offered positions making two, three and even more what our currently salary might be. Why should athletes be different?
Whatever he does I wish Nate well.
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Post by kman414 on Jul 15, 2009 11:52:54 GMT -5
If Nate goes to Greece its because of his parasitic agent. Agents are so low they have to look up to look down. No one's gone yet.
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Post by kgooglog on Jul 15, 2009 20:15:33 GMT -5
Ken Basketball is a business first and last and some of the Euro teams are throwing major amounts of money around. I don't hold it against Nate for taking the money. His career might last 10 years and he has to gather unto him what he can now. ; ) We Average Joes would switch jobs in a heartbeat if we were offered positions making two, three and even more what our currently salary might be. Why should athletes be different? Whatever he does I wish Nate well. Bill... I did react very emotionally to the initial report--now, apparently it is being relayed by Yahoo Sports that Nate would prefer to stay in the US and in the NBA nd with the Knicks. I was more miffed that Europe is coming up with all these so-called offers for Nate, and that the Robinson camp didn't even mention them to Donnie Walsh. It's fine if Nate wants to leave for the $5,000,000 per, but jeez, can't we have a chance to negotiate with our man? Basketball is business and part of that business is respecting the parameters of the game, which restricted free agency is a part of. Why can't Nate's people bring these offers up to Donnie Walsh? Maybe Walsh would ante up a one year deal for $5.2 million, and Nate wouldn't have to ruin his NBA career. Anyway, Nate going to Greece is as about as far-fetched as Eddy Curry going to Valerie Bertinelli's house for a dinner of broccoli and string beans, which, if you think about it, isn't that far-fetched at all. Plus I really want Nate and Jeffries to be traded to Sacramento together--like birds of a feather... Oh, am I jonesing for Kenny Thomas and a Kings' first rounder in 2010, lottery protected I suppose. BTW, It appears if Minny GM David Kahn was chatting it up with Mike D'Antoni in Vegas...Wonder if the topic of Mr. Rubio was broached? |
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Post by ReneNYG1 on Jul 16, 2009 19:24:21 GMT -5
If Euro teams can raid our league why do we have to draft Euro's they should be free agents then.I would sign the Greek's team point guard out of spite if they signed Lee or N8.
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Post by kgooglog on Jul 17, 2009 3:06:27 GMT -5
If Euro teams can raid our league why do we have to draft Euro's they should be free agents then.I would sign the Greek's team point guard out of spite if they signed Lee or N8. Rene... I think that when any player signs an NBA contract, they should abide by it, including the well known fact that every player will have a year in which they are restricted free agents. The CBA is way too player friendly, IMO, and I cite the Eddy Curry, Jerome James, Fat Weatherspoon scenarios, and a host of other Knicks who have literally broke their signed, legal, and binding contracts by not being in NBA playing shape. When I was on Eddy Curry's case--back when we were all on the AOL MBs, I truly believed that Curry was in violation of no less then three conditions of the Uniform Player Contract, as outlined by the current collective bargaining agreement. I truly thought and still think that Donnie Walsh had an excellent case to void Curry's contract. According to the most recent HoopsHype report, Nate Robinson has now received an official offer of $4.5 million per year for two years which is apparently $6,000,000 less than what Robinson apparently expected from this team. If Nate signed the one year qualifying offer by NY, he would earn $3,000,000 for this season and become an unrestricted free agent in 2010-11. Should Robinson accept this overseas offer, the Knicks would still be in control of Nate's NBA status, meaning that if and when he came back to play in the NBA, he would still be a restricted free agent and limited to the $2.9 million dollar one year deal. Back to your point. It does bring up an interesting issue which is now just receiving attention, primarily because of the Rick Rubio situation. Rubio would only be able to take $500,000 from the T'wolves which would be applied to the $6.5 million buyout of his contract with his Euro team. What irks me is that Nate Robinson's perspective Greek team, or Nate himself, should be subjected to paying the Knicks a "buyout", for despite his RFA status, Walsh would offer Robinson the one year qualifying offer of $2.9 million dollars, as a minimum. Let's see how quickly Euro teams would go after NBA players if they had to pay for their rights. More importantly, how many players in the NBA would or could afford to escape restricted free agency by having to pay millions of dollars to go outside of the NBA. I hope that $tern addresses this issue in the next CBA meeting and agreement. |
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Post by irish2u2 on Jul 17, 2009 14:31:57 GMT -5
Excellent observations Ken. If we have to pay buyouts to Euro teams why not the opposite? It's not like the NBA couldn't use the cash and it would keep European teams that have lots of cash and no cap from raiding the NBA.
I like it. Now for trades too. I'll take Baby Shaq (Sofo something or other ; ) and 2 million for Nate. I hear Sofo is even bigger than Curry so his job will be to get to the buffet table before Eddy and eat up all the food. ; )
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Post by ReneNYG1 on Jul 17, 2009 20:54:14 GMT -5
Bill that would be a board problem Kenny would have a picture too big for our site if we signed big BabyLOL,good points Kenny I would call you if I need a lawyer .LOL
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Post by irish2u2 on Jul 17, 2009 21:15:15 GMT -5
Rene
Kenny would simply have to adjust. One picture for one week would be Eddy jamming his Whopper with Cheese and the next week would be Sofo with a lamb. A whole lamb. ; )
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Post by kgooglog on Jul 18, 2009 13:47:05 GMT -5
I remember that fellow. Sofolakaphis or something like that. I recall we used to like him, but he went in the second round in the draft.
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