Cut Raef LaFrentz - The Boston Celtics were given an early Christmas present when the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) implemented the ?Allen Houston? rule. The rule, also referred to as the ?amnesty clause? is a one-time exception that allows every team in the league to release one player. They have until Aug. 15 to do so, to avoid paying any further luxury tax on the player's contract. With LaFrentz?s mammoth contract, the financially strapped Celtics were unable to target any big-name free agents this off-season. With his bad knees and no ?real? inside presence, LaFrentz should be sent packing, besides he?s way too old for the new look Celtics, turning 30 next May. Once released, LaFrentz becomes an unrestricted free agent and cannot resign with the Celtics again for the duration of his contract. Trade Mark Blount - Was this guy ever that good. To me, this was a classic case of a ?contract year? overproduction. Blount is a mediocre player at best, but can be efficient in the right system, clearly not Boston?s up tempo pace. He had one good year, coincidentally his contract year, and was rewarded with a huge contract and some security. Last season he was back to the Mark Blount we all know and love. He does rebound and is great around the basket, but we have much more young talent in that area that needs to develop. Also, he is officially the Celtics oldest member, turning 30 in late November. If Ainge wants the C?s to get younger and better, it may take moving Blount and others to get what he wants. Source This is coming from Real Gm, but I wouldn't mind seeing Raef go. Getting both of those big contracts off would be great.
All right, let's talk some sense here. This is the kind of garbage you find on RealGM that just infuriates me. Check out the source and look at those proposed deals and lineups after the article, it's just stupid. That isn't to say that our dear friend Wink is stupid for posting, this stuff was bound to make it onto our board, so thanks Wink for contributing. But let's a couple things straight... The luxury tax is in effect at the salary number of $61.7 million. The C's currently have a salary number of $46 million. They do not have to pay the luxury tax. Why would they cut Raef, who's contract they would still have to pay, and would still affect their salary cap number, if they aren't even saving any money on the deal? Can we now see why this article is more than a little asinine. If they cut Raef using the amnesty clause, I'll come out and admit, hey, I'm stupid, I jumped to conclusions. But I don't think they would continue paying LaFrentz's contract just to have him play somewhere else, that wouldn't be very good business sense would it? As for Blount, I'm sure we all know how I feel about trading him. If you have ever read anything I've said on this site, you know I feel the same way. What I don't feel is the need to unload him for no reason. The deals mentioned on the site wouldn't ever work, mostly due to unwillingness from the other team. I don't see the Bulls trading Luol Deng, Eddy Curry, and Frank Williams to us for Blount, Banks, a pick, and Ricky Davis. Why would we make that deal? Why would the Bulls? RealGM is once again at its best, making stuff up, and taking no responsibility when their false reporting makes people believe this stuff.
I guess the one thing we can count on from RealGM is stupidity. Do they not know how the amnesty rule works? Cutting Raef would be just about the dumbest thing we could possibly do. We take away a solid player from the roster, but still have to pay him. And it doesn't even save us anything because we aren't over the luxury tax number.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wink23:</div><div class="quote_post">Hey sorry guys I didnt think the trades were legit but I figured I'd post it anyway.</div>It's alright, man. It was good for a laugh.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wink23:</div><div class="quote_post">Hey sorry guys I didnt think the trades were legit but I figured I'd post it anyway.</div> Nothing to be sorry for, I love it when new people contribute to my favorite forum. Keep it up. I would love to hear what a real Magic fan has to say about Doc's years there. Aside from that, yes it was good for a laugh, but it also puts into perspective Real GM's contributions to this site. That is, a whole lot of bullcrap.
