Cleveland Sports Chatter

[POJO_Risin]

And the story gets even more interesting...

Boozer was the asshole in all of this...his agent has resigned...

In the wake of the controversy, a number of agents have claimed that they would resign if their client reneged on a verbal commitment.

"I'd resign immediately if a client wanted to renege on a deal, even a verbal one," one agent told Ford last week. "I still believe integrity in this business matters. If you agree on a deal, you have to live with, no matter what else happens. I personally believe that Boozer and his agent miscalculated a bit here. But I also understand what they did. Players want security. The Cavs can offer that. It just means he has to take less money to get it now. It's a tradeoff."

According to sources, SFX and Pelinka grew increasingly concerned in the aftermath of the agreement that Boozer's betrayal would sully the reputation of the agency and prevent them from conducting good faith negotiations with league owners in the future.


Wow...the agent gets him more money...then resigns before he can claim any of it...

[POJO_Risin]

and one more...

The source told The Salt Lake Tribune for Sunday's editions that Boozer has been surprised and hurt by the intensity of the negative reaction for Boozer's move.


The sentiment on Boozer in the Cleveland area is largely that he is a "backstabbing, double-crossing, money-grubbing Judas," according to the Tribune. Yet, the source told the paper that Boozer contends he did nothing wrong and had been careful not to commit or promise anything to the Cavaliers.


The discrepancy in Boozer's and the Cavs' take on the existence of a gentlemen's agreement hinges on public statements made by Boozer in an interview with The Associated Press on July 1 -- the day Boozer became a free agent when the Cavaliers did not exercise an option in his contract.


At the time, Boozer expressed an intention to re-sign in Cleveland for the team's full mid-level exception -- approximately six years and $40 million. And so, the Cavaliers say, they did not pick up the option.


"Our actions have been based upon what Carlos told us he wanted," the Cavaliers said in a statement Thursday by owner Gordon Gund and general manager Jim Paxson.


"We are both very surprised and very disappointed."


But, according to the Tribune's source, Boozer did not agree to anything -- both because of NBA rules and his own bargaining position.


"He actually pulled out the collective bargaining agreement," the source told the paper, and noted the clauses prohibiting "undisclosed agreements."


The source, who had knowledge of a June 30 meeting in which the Cavs contend Boozer verbally agreed to re-sign, told the Tribune that Boozer "did tell the Cavs that [he] wanted to be in Cleveland & but did not make a commitment or a promise."


Now, the Cavs are almost certain to lose Boozer. The Cavs have the right to match the Utah offer, but they would have to trade and/or renounce the rights to a number of players to clear enough room to do so.


And Boozer, who just a few weeks ago publicly declared his happiness in Cleveland, is reportedly expressing good feelings about his agreement with the Jazz.


The source told the Tribune that Boozer and his wife, CeCe, "are excited that [Jazz GM] Kevin O'Connor is giving them this opportunity," and look forward to moving to Utah.

[POJO_Risin]

And even more intriguing...

amidst the Utah offer...and now Boozer agent canning HIM...

the Cavs have made an interesting under-the-radar move to keep Boozer...

they've offered him a 1 year deal for 5 million...

under this deal...the Cavs could then offer him a monster deal next year...making the Utah deal look imbecilic...

What a fucking mess this is...

Funny...BOOZER's taking the heat from NBA execs...the fans...his own agents...

when the real imbecile...is Paxson...and Gund...

interesting...

[twonabomber]

Originally posted by POJO_Risin
when the real imbecile...is Paxson...and Gund...

Poj, we've been watchin' this for YEARS...fuck, where does one start? i mean, all you have to do is drop names, and they make ya cringe...

John "Hot Rod" Williams, Danny Ferry, Shawn Kemp...all fiascos in their own right...Diop, a potential fiasco in the making...then the coaches, Wittman and Lucas...one guy better as an assistant, the other better out of basketball...the dismissal of Fratello...and Paxson isn't really proving he's got what it takes to be a GM. they can't even hire good on-air talent to call the games (Joe Tait excluded)...

why we get all the shitty team owners here, i'll never know.

[POJO_Risin]

Well...twona...I'll never forget in 1989...when Magic was asked who would take over for the Lakers and Celtic as far as the team of the 90's...

and he said, "Wayne Embry's Cavs"

The funny thing about that team...is even with the Cavs being a might strapped financially...because of the Hot Rod deal...they could have won with that nucleus...

Doherty, HotRod, Nance, Harper, Ehlo and Price...quite the nucleus...

[POJO_Risin]

But true...complete morons running all the Cleveland franchises...

morons...

[ALinChainz]

Some buzz about sending Ilguskas (sp?) to the Knicks for Kurt Thomas.

[POJO_Risin]

Yeah...curious to see the difference in their contracts...because that deal just makes no fucking sense at all...

[twonabomber]

A Letter from Gordon Gund Regarding Carlos Boozer


July 14th, 2004

To: Cavaliers Fans
From: Gordon Gund

I know last week’s developments with respect to Carlos Boozer are a source of extreme disappointment for you. I want to assure you that I feel exactly the same way. Like you, I believed in Carlos.

Several days have now gone by. This has helped me to gain perspective. I hope this letter will do the same for you.

First, Jim Paxson has taken a tremendous amount of criticism in the media for what happened. As the team owner, I made the decision not to pick up the option on Carlos’ contract. Any criticism should be directed to me, not to Jim Paxson. I want to be very clear that any fault is mine.

Up until late last week when the trust was broken, I believed in Carlos Boozer, the player, and Carlos Boozer, the person. That is why I tried to do what he said he wanted. We tried to do right by him, by the team and by you in trusting in his repeated insistence that if we showed him respect, he would show respect to us.

Carlos and his agent first approached us in December of 2003, stating his desire for financial security as well as his desire to remain in Cleveland and be a key part of the future of this franchise. He and his agent made it very clear that if we respected them, and provided the security he was looking to gain, he would respect us. Given his record on the court, with the franchise, and in the community, we had every reason to believe his commitment.

Over the course of several months, we had multiple meetings that involved Carlos, his wife and his agent. In our most recent meeting on June 30, Jim Paxson and I told Carlos we had two options. He could play this year on his existing contract and test the market for free agency next year, or we could elect not to exercise the option if we had the understanding with him that as soon as legally possible he would negotiate a contract with us for the maximum we could pay him under league rules.

I told him that as we could not have an agreement at that time given the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement, we would have to trust one another’s intentions. I said I define trust as his intention to stay in Cleveland and enter into a long term contract with us as soon as possible under the league rules. In that meeting, we were clear with him that he could make more money in the open market a year from now than we could pay him by redoing his contract this year. I told him he needed to understand that and we did not want him to later think we had taken advantage of him. Jim told him, “There are at least seven teams that have cap space right now who will want to pay you more than we can now. We don’t want to lose you. Why would we not pick up the option?” Carlos said “Because we'd like long term security and we want to stay in Cleveland.” Carlos went on to say that he was happy to be a Cavalier and never indicated any concern with his role on the team or his relationship with Coach Silas.

Carlos, his wife and his agent – all of whom were in that room -- knew what our maximum ability would be to pay him. Both Carlos and his wife responded that they wanted financial security now and therefore were anxious to pursue the second option of entering into a long term contract with us as soon as possible and that they would live with any consequences from this decision.

Carlos’ agent then said he wanted to go to another room to talk with his client and his wife alone which they did. When they returned, his agent said he had again explained everything to them so that they understood everything involved and said that their thinking had not changed.

Jim Paxson then told him, “We'd like to begin, as soon as permissible, to negotiate an agreement that we can sign on July 14th.” Carlos responded, “That’s exactly what I want. I want to get this done as quickly as we can.”

Over time Carlos had told Jim and me repeatedly, “If you show respect for me, I will show respect for you.” So, in the June 30 meeting, I reminded him of that and said, “We are all counting on what you said in earlier meetings and again today.” He responded, “That’s right and you can trust me on that.” I asked if we could all trust each other? Carlos, his wife and agent each responded “Yes.” At that point, believing so strongly in Carlos, I said we would not pick up his option. Our intent, as soon as we could do so, was to re-do his contract. The quotes you saw in the media July 1 about his desire to remain here were entirely consistent with what he told us.

In the final analysis, I decided to trust Carlos and show him the respect he asked for. He did not show that trust and respect in return. That’s what happened. I wanted you to hear it directly from me. The decision was mine and I take full responsibility.

We currently have no intention of matching Utah's offer to Carlos. In order to match it, and within the restrictions of the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement, we would need to make player personnel moves of such a magnitude that it would have significant negative impact on our team moving forward. We are continuing to look at every possible option that will allow us to improve our team and continue to build on the tremendous momentum we have experienced in recent years. More than ever, we are committed to bringing a championship to this city. Thank you for your continued support of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

[ALinChainz]

I'm all for the trust and keeping your word, all that, I live it.

But for an extra $30 million ... damn.

[POJO_Risin]

I'll be honest with you here...

you can't blame a guy for taking 30 million dollars...you just can't...

but look...if you are aware that other teams are going to make you a big offer...and you flat out say you know that but are going to sign a long term deal with the Cavs...

and you don't...

it's horseshit...

complete and utter horseshit...

Boozer makes out...basketball doesn't...this is one of those moves that will effect every player from this point out...

Fuck Boozer...I hope he catches the eternal clap...and his dick falls off and rots in the stomach of his money grubbing whore of a wife...

fuck them...

[ALinChainz]

I agree. If he knew he would have garnered such an offer, or just came out and said, "look, I want to see what my value may be", then his rep might have remained intact.

He's making the bed he has to lie in, and being a pro athlete, who can be surprised by taking the money and running.

I guess it's all based on, "what if the next time I step out on the floor, I rip my knee apart and its all over?"

Many angles to this thing. And I certainly do not blame any Cav fan for being pissed off, not in the least. And 6 yrs @ $41 million is plenty of money also.

AH, the world of pro sports.

[POJO_Risin]

Oh...I know...if I were him...I never would have accepted that deal...the 1 year...5 million deal...

at that point...

What the Cavs should have done...is offered the 6 year...41 million dollar guarantee...and offered him an out after a year or two of that deal...but Cavs get the right to match...the Bird Rule in effect...

of course...my guess here is that once he fucked them up the ass...there is no fucking way in hell they would have offered him that concession...

This will effect his career...I guarantee it...

Boozer has just become a poster boy for everything that's shitty in the NBA...

now alls he has to do is get caught smoking weed in Portland...

Utah will never win a title...never...

the Cavs will be fine...

[POJO_Risin]

You and I both know Al...that this is to be expected from pro athletes...the norm...

I'm just waiting for the ONE guy to step it up...and say fuck it...I'm happy here...and take a HUGE hit in salary to do it...

Of course...then the union will kick his ass out...

many angles indeed...

[ALinChainz]

It's a step back for sure. Their rooks are going to have to step right in. I'm already thinking of that first game at the Gund when the Jazz visit.

Its just going to take a little longer for the Cavs.