Any contact prior to July 1st could be considered tampering. An interesting situation. Can't wait to see how Stern favors the big market team this time.
To be fair, the article never said that Kidd was in New York on vacation and ran into Walsh, it said that he was going to New York to meet with him.
Honestly I agree with you on this, but what I don't understand is if this is an ok practice why wouldn't all agents line up their marque players for immediate meetings with teams top execs at midnight? Why are we only hearing Kidds name? It just doesn't make much sense to me.
true, i was just responding to the "any contact is tampering" with that response. i just don't see why arranging a meeting to discuss things at the appropriate time would be tampering, though i'm also not sure why it isn't done more often. if i had to guess i'd probably say it was because meeting at the first second possible really isn't all that relevant to who the player ultimately signs with.
Yup, that was my thought, too. Walsh has decided to make a gesture...but it's probably a gesture that generally doesn't matter much. Premium free agents generally allow for a long courtship over the summer from teams.
I'm sure Donnie Walsh's people contacted Jason Kidd's people to set up the meeting. As long as they weren't negotiating, making an offer, or talking dollars or contract length before tonight at midnight, it's not tampering. I make an appointment with my dentist 6 months ahead of time, but he doesn't start drilling until he has taken x-rays and has my butt in his chair. There is a difference between scheduling an appointment and what actually takes place at that appointment. No tampering at all. Who knows, the Blazers may already have muliple phone calls arranged for the players they are targeting. I'd be surprised if they don't. Again, as long as they haven't talked terms, there is nothing wrong with pre-arranging a phone meeting. BNM
