Amnesty Clause For Finley Looking Increasingly Certain

[captain bill]

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_a...ause_for_finley_looking_increasingly_certain/

15th July, 2005 - 11:12 pm

ESPN - The Mavs would save at least $51 million and perhaps much more by waiving Michael Finley under a provision in the NBA's new labor deal known as the amnesty clause. This one-time escape hatch lets teams avoid the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax obligation on one contract.

The money owed will still count against the salary cap. And the player will still get his guaranteed money -- plus more from whatever team signs him next. Players can't rejoin the team that cuts them until after the existing contract expires. In Finley's case, that would mean no sooner than the 2008-09 season.

"We haven't given up on trying to figure out a way to get the savings and keep Mike in a Mavericks uniform," team president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said Friday. "We've come up with creative solutions to problems before, and we're trying to pull a rabbit out of our hat again. But of the multiple scenarios, we're down to the last few. It's looking less and less likely."

Nothing can happen until the collective bargaining agreement is signed, which is expected by the end of next week. The amnesty opportunity expires once the upcoming season begins.

__________


Perhaps Finley shall finally be stopped, if at least only for the short time before he signs with another team.

 

[PixelPusher]

You know how Petrie is always blindsiding the media and fans with his unanticipated, out-of-the-blue deals? Finley is a 2-guard...

 

[captain bill]

I have absolutely no interest in seeing our young talent logjammed behind a guy like Finley, preventing them from developing their games more. I wouldn't be entirely shocked if we picked him up cheap, seeing as he shouldn't come with a high price tag as he will continue to be paid be Dallas. I just hope if we do grab him we can play our young guys as much as needed.

STOP FINLEY
...from squashing the Kings' young talent

 

[Bricklayer]

Yeah, I don't see finley doing anything much for us. Not that he's nto still a quality player (albeit slowing down), its jsut that he is not the sort of guy a rebuilding team hshould be wasting their time with. If you're on the verge of a title and just need one more piece? Sure. Detroit, Phoenix, whoever, its a great pickup. But for us? Maybe he adds a win or two but we're still nto contenders and the kids get squished. I'll cheerfully squish two uncertian prospects for an established two guard still in his prime who fixes our weaknesses, but not for an aging guy on the way down who is at best a couple year patch and isn't going to get us where we want to go.

 

[C Diddy]

Is there a thread somewhere with the details of this amnesty thing? Could we sign Finley for the minimum? He still gets his guaranteed money anyway. You'd think a player cut under the amnesty clause waive process would sign for the cheap for a contending team. I'd take Finley for a season at the minimum. It couldn't really hurt.

 

[Packt]

Hmm.. does the players salary only count against the cap this year or would it continue to count until the contract ends?

 

[captain bill]

"The clause allows teams over the luxury tax threshold (the trigger number is $61 million) the option of waiving one player and that player's salary would be eliminated from the tax rolls. They would still be responsible for paying the player's salary and it would still count against the cap."

" The money owed will still count against the salary cap. And the player will still get his guaranteed money -- plus more from whatever team signs him next. Players can't rejoin the team that cuts them until after the existing contract expires."

"It's called the "amnesty clause," and it allows NBA teams a one-time exception to waive a player and not have that player's contract count against the luxury tax. Teams would still have to pay the player's full salary, and the full amount would still count against the salary cap, but it wouldn't count against the luxury tax."

These are some quotes on the clause and all tell something slightly different about what it means. The phrase "guaranteed money" makes me think that the rule might not require them to pay the full player salary, as a lot of that is dependent on the players actually playing. Other articles say "full salary", which implies that the team pay everything except bonuses. Either way, Finley signed a $100 million deal, meaning that he's still in line to be making bank until the end of the 08 season.

The player's contract counts against the cap until it is fully paid off- this clause gives absolutely no cap relief, as that would give an unfair advantage to teams with big contracts that they are trying to unload. (Poof! KT's contract is gone! If only...)

What is unclear is whether the luxury tax benefits would continue past this year. The agreement says the offer expires after this year, so any player must be dumped this year to get relief. I assume the relief will continue, wouldn't make much sense otherwise, but who knows?

Anyway, from a player's perspective, amnesty would be great. Sure, you have to leave your team and move on, but you make all your guaranteed cash and then get to pile on more. Making money from two jobs by only working one. If Finley gets an even decent deal to add to that 100 mill he's got now, he could easily become one of the highest paid athletes in all of sports, overnight. Cha-ching. Which also means money shouldn't be an issue for him, so he can basically go to a contender for a $5 million bonus. Doesn't sound too bad to me.

 

[VF21]

If he can go to a contender, he's going to be looking at teams like the Suns, the Rockets, the Spurs, perhaps the Wolves, etc. I don't want to be rude, but the Kings aren't anyone's first pick right now... I wouldn't be surprised to see the blasted Lakers pick him up as a cheap backup for whats-his-name.

 

[captain bill]

If he can go to a contender, he's going to be looking at teams like the Suns, the Rockets, the Spurs, perhaps the Wolves, etc. I don't want to be rude, but the Kings aren't anyone's first pick right now... I wouldn't be surprised to see the blasted Lakers pick him up as a cheap backup for whats-his-name.

Of course. When I said he could go wherever he wants, I certainly didn't mean us.

 

[VF21]

whew...

 

[Elektrik]

I think it would be great having a guy like Michael Finley on our team. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Geoff is waiting to see who is released under the amnesty clause that he could pick up on the cheap. Finley's a very good player, a good guy, with a good locker room presence. I understand guys like Brian Grant and Jalen Rose are said to be possibilities to be waived by their respective teams also. Why not sit tight and see what comes up. It would be a shame to blow the Exception and then not have any money to sign one of these guys that has been waived. Any of those three players I mentioned could be a help to us .....for the right price.

 

[thesanityannex]

if finley's dirt cheap, sure, as long as he goes down with an injury during the first game.

 

[thesanityannex]

in all fairness though, he is still a decent player to have on your roster.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

I think it would be great having a guy like Michael Finley on our team. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Geoff is waiting to see who is released under the amnesty clause that he could pick up on the cheap. Finley's a very good player, a good guy, with a good locker room presence. I understand guys like Brian Grant and Jalen Rose are said to be possibilities to be waived by their respective teams also. Why not sit tight and see what comes up. It would be a shame to blow the Exception and then not have any money to sign one of these guys that has been waived. Any of those three players I mentioned could be a help to us .....for the right price.

I dont want Finley, and I definetely dont want Brian Grant, as banged up as his legs have become over the last few years, he hasnt been the same player he used to be since injuries he's had the last 4 years. Not sure about how a guy like Jalen would work out here, either. Should be an interesting next month or so for Petrie, and also for us fans, too.