<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." In terms of pro basketball, which is in the midst of negotiations between the players and owners on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to prevent pro hoops from joining hockey on the sidelines next season, here's some late-breaking news. It's broke. Never has it been more apparent that the current system needs a complete and immediate overhaul than this past week. That's when one good man - embattled Portland Trail Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks - lost his job, accompanied by the reported cheers of some of his former players, while a number of others handpicked their next place of employment. Nothing against free agency. But surely this is not what they had in mind. Yet that's the way it's played out, as no fewer than five players - Elden Campbell, Alan Henderson, Alonzo Mourning, Dale Davis and Gary Payton - were either waived and/or bought themselves out of their respective contracts from teams going nowhere, hooking themselves up with prospective winning situations. And while there's been blatant allegations of tampering or recognition of those kind of "wink-wink" deals, where both sides agree without saying a word, no one's really going to blow the whistle on any of them. Because, of course, they might be next. But any real fan can smell a rat - and nothing stinks quite like these "arrangements." Here are the Celtics, struggling with the Sixers and Nets for the Atlantic Division, bringing back old favorite Antoine Walker from the lowly Hawks one minute in a trading deadline deal for Payton, then just a week later, fitting "The Glove" right back into the lineup, after he refused to report to Atlanta, bought his way out of the remainder of his contract, was waived, then re-signed with the Celtics. Sure, it's a huge loophole, which the Celtics shrewdly exploited. But it's one which has to be closed from here on, because that's simply not the way the system is supposed to work. </div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But any real fan can smell a rat - and nothing stinks quite like these "arrangements." Here are the Celtics, struggling with the Sixers and Nets for the Atlantic Division, bringing back old favorite Antoine Walker from the lowly Hawks one minute in a trading deadline deal for Payton, then just a week later, fitting "The Glove" right back into the lineup, after he refused to report to Atlanta, bought his way out of the remainder of his contract, was waived, then re-signed with the Celtics. Sure, it's a huge loophole, which the Celtics shrewdly exploited. But it's one which has to be closed from here on, because that's simply not the way the system is supposed to work.</div>Seriously, who lets this guy write about basketball? Gary Payton didn't "refuse" to report anywhere. Sure, Atlanta can't come out and say that they never even wanted him, and that sending him free was part of the deal, but that's what it comes down to. The Hawks only made the deal to gain a first rounder. Just look at each and every contract involved. All of them expire after this season. What the hell do they need Gary Payton for, anyway? He's obviously not in the team's plans, and they'd have no chance of signing him to a deal. Add to that the fact that the Hawks are not looking to win games at this point, to ensure they get as many balls in the lottery as possible. They probably would like a look at their young guys, too. Anybody with a brain knows that having GP on their roster, and actually playing him, has no positive effect on anything they're trying to do. Also, Payton recieved offers from a number of teams when he was a free agent. Phoenix, Minnesota, Miami, and others were all interested in him. Just because he picked Boston doesn't change anything. If he had signed with any other team, you wouldn't be hearing about this. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">And don't let the betrayed teams off the hook. Rather than acceding to their demands and going along with those buyouts/releases, what if they said, in effect, "Forget it! Play for us, or just don't play. Then we don't have to pay you."</div>Again, how much sense would that make? For a team like the Hawks, what are the advantages gained by putting Gary Payton into games to play for you? This team doesn't want to win this season because it would be pointless. They just wanted that pick, that's it. Payton had a contract that matched up with what was needed, so he was dealt. Both sides knew that Gary didn't want to go to Atlanta, and instead of being dicks about it, they gave him a chance to go wherever he wanted.
wrong i'm sorry whatever logic someone says to explain how this isnt wrong i am just not listening to...its plain wrong....
