Re: Blount

[Mark Piotrowski <markp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

if i'm understanding/remembering things correctly here's the deal on 
Blount (sorry to answer my own question, which i posed this morning):

He signed w/ Denver in the 2002 off-season -- to the contract that he's 
going to opt out of this summer (so it's not Ainge's doing).  As I 
understand it then, that's when his Bird-Rights-clock starts ticking.  
Bird and Early Bird rights are traded with the player so that he was 
traded from Denver to Boston, doesn't affect his Bird Rights.

So this summer will be year 2 of his Bird Rights -- giving us "Early 
Bird Rights"
[http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#17 ]

Early Bird Rights allow us to sign Blount to 175% his previous year 
salary (in his case 175% = $1.7 million) or the average salary (which 
is the same as the Mid Level Exception; which was just under $5 million 
last year).

So we'd be able to sign him to what amounts to the MLE trade him to 
someone (Orlando, Portland, Miami, etc), while (a) still retaining our 
ability to sign someone with the our MLE and (b) the other team can use 
THEIR MLE to sign a FA.

Given that I'd really push for us sending Blount + McCarty + Dallas' 
pick to Orlando for Drew Gooden, Andrew DeClercq and their 2nd Rounder 
(Waltah & DeClercq are for salary matching purposes...)

Like i said i might be wrong on understanding Bird-Rights.  But unless 
some team pays Blount MORE than the MLE we should be able to 
sign-and-trade him to get something decent in return back.  Of course 
with a sign and trade, Blount has to agree to it.

So lets say Blount wants to sign with Portland (b/c that's where Obie 
lands), but they'd rather not use their MLE to do it so they can add 
someone else.  Blount can say to Boston, i'd sign-and-trade to 
Portland.  Maybe we could throw in our 2nd rounder and get Darius Miles 
back.

(the other) mark



On Mar 22, 2004, at 2:36 PM, R Howe wrote:

> Agree with the positives written about Blount's play, not only 
> recently, but for most of the season (discounting the period just 
> after Obie's departure). He raises some questions with his inspired 
> contract drive play.
>
> He has been very public about his displeasure over Obie and his old 
> gang leaving and with Ainge's hand in it all. He is not leaving much 
> room for misinterpretation of his emotions to leave here. Someone 
> asked about sign and trade possibilities. How would this work? would 
> the C's go through his agent to seek sign and trade partners? I was 
> first of the opinion if he was not at least open to re-upping here 
> then why give him a stage to show his wares. But I am know of the mind 
> that raising his value can be good for the C's provided that a sign 
> and trade avenue is open. Anyone with a