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Barriers to Jazz FA

mellow

Well-Known Member
NBA players don't become FA s until July 1. Teams are prohibited by league rules from contacting players or their agents while a player is still under contract unless the team gives permission. If a new team does contact a player or his agent I It's called tampering. Last week Phill Jackson was fined 25k for talking about and maybe with Derrick Fisher. Here is a story about FA to be Trevor Booker. He announced in an interview that he has already talked with several teams about signing with them and that he is already in negotiations. Clear violations of the tampering rules.

The story: https://probasketballtalk.nbcsports...pering/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

And the quote:
“It’s the first time so my agent is talking me through it, letting me know every step. A lot of teams are calling right now that are interested,” he said. “We’re in negotiations with a few different teams, so I guess we’ll just see how the summer pans out.”

Revisiting a memory from Jazzdays gone by...in the summer of 2005 KOC was mad that a certain Jazz Player (don't you dare name him) announced he was joining another team shortly after the FA negotiating period began. KOC said angrily that the Jazz couldn't do much if you call a guy at 12:05 and a deal was already done. Insinuating that a deal was done before the rules allowed it.

The NBA never took action against the player or team. And that is where the problem is for the. Jazz. The nba has rules on the book for tampering, and sometimes it enforces those rules. Other times the NBA turns a blind eye to tampering. But the ever noble Jazz have declared that they will play by the rules, it is their mantra it is their identity. And it could be their Achilles.

So do the Jazz continue holding the line? Or do they loosen up, and let Lindsey and Zanick do a little talking like everyone else is doing? If they did loosen up will the Jazz suddenly see FA that were never available to them before?
 
I would think this would be a huge disadvantage to the player. Why would you agree to a deal without knowing all the other offers? You cant sign the actual deal until that time anyway so there is literally nothing to be gained from a players standpoint, unless the team trying to sign you says "you have to agree now or the offer is off the table". If thats the case you and your agent are ****ty at playing poker.
 
The Jackson fine was a joke. He was talking to Derrick about coaching, not playing. Sure, I realize DF has not officially retired. But why should he do so? Fisher should have been allowed to vet the coaching opportunity while still maintaining his current player status. If the coaching gig didn't come about for whatever reason, then DF can re-sign with OKC or become an UFA on July 1st. Apparently something has been worked out since NY has amped up their efforts to get him as their HC.

As for Booker, it will be interesting to see if Silver launches an investigation. I'm sure there will just be a denial by the agent. In the absence of a "Stiviano" (i.e. an illegally recorded conversation), he'll just say he told Booker there would likely be a few teams interested and he'd start negotiations as soon as he could. Booker took that to mean right away, but he meant 12:01 on July 1st.
 
I would think this would be a huge disadvantage to the player. Why would you agree to a deal without knowing all the other offers? You cant sign the actual deal until that time anyway so there is literally nothing to be gained from a players standpoint, unless the team trying to sign you says "you have to agree now or the offer is off the table". If thats the case you and your agent are ****ty at playing poker.

That's basically what happened with "he who must not be named." According to him, Phoenix wanted a yea or nay right then so they could move on to a different option if necessary.

AS to advantage/disadvantage, that's a definite crap shoot. Sometimes the market dries up once FA $ has been spent. Millsap signed for an absolute bargain with Atlanta.
 
And the quote:

Revisiting a memory from Jazzdays gone by...in the summer of 2005 KOC was mad that a certain Jazz Player (don't you dare name him) announced he was joining another team shortly after the FA negotiating period began. KOC said angrily that the Jazz couldn't do much if you call a guy at 12:05 and a deal was already done. Insinuating that a deal was done before the rules allowed it.

That was Rajah Bell ... as I'm sure many of us recall.
 
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