Thursday May 17, 2012
Last summer's lockout compressed the season to just 66 games, delayed opening night by six weeks and generated no end of animosity between players, management and fans. But the endless negotiations failed to settle a couple of minor issues - one of which could really benefit both Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks.
At issue is the question of whether or not a player's "Larry Bird" rights remain intact when he is claimed off waivers.
Under current rules, a player's service time under his contract is transmitted to his new team when he's traded. For example: Player X is traded during the second-year of a two-year contract. When his contract expires, Player X is eligible to be re-signed using the "early Bird" cap exception, which teams can use to re-sign players that have been under contract for two seasons.
Now... if Player X is waived and claimed before waivers expire, he is still bound to the terms of his original contract. But when that contract expires, the new team cannot use the Bird Exception to re-sign. Or, at least that's the current interpretation of the rules... they're a bit fuzzy on the point, which is why this will go to an arbitrator.
Why does this matter to the Knicks?
As is so often the case, it all comes back to Jeremy Lin.
Lin will be a restricted free agent this summer. Teams will be able to offer him contracts topping out at approximately $5 million per year, which the Knicks will have the option of matching using their mid level exception. If they had the option of using the Bird exception to re-sign Lin, general manager Glen Grunwald might be able to use the mid-level exception on another free agent or two... maybe a badly-needed backup point guard or shooter that can play the two.
As an added bonus for Grunwald - Steve Novak's status is the same as Lin's. So if the NBPA wins this arbitration case, the Knicks may have an easier time retaining both of this season's big waiver-claim finds.
This issue has never really come up before; most of the time, players claimed off waivers are marginal performers at best. (Otherwise, they wouldn't have been on waivers.) I think we can safely say that Lin is the first NBA player to be claimed off waivers twice and appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated - also twice - in the same season.
Monday May 14, 2012
The Lakers and Clippers finally closed out their first-round series with wins over the Nuggets and Grizzlies, respectively.
The Laker win sets up a highly intriguing "revenge" subplot for the conference semifinals against Oklahoma City. The last time the Lakers played the Thunder, Metta World Peace elbowed James Harden in the head, leaving the sixth man of the year with a concussion and earning a six-game suspension. The enforcer with the ironic name returned to the court for the Lakers' game seven win over Denver, and will be available for the next round.
Of course, the whole Kobe Bryant/Kevin Durant thing is pretty compelling too.
The Clippers mounted a late charge to finish off the Memphis Grizzlies, but got very little from Blake Griffin, who is clearly still bothered by a knee injury. They'll face San Antonio in the second round. San Antonio is well-rested and healthy; the Clippers are a M*A*S*H unit, with Griffin (knee), Chris Paul (hip), Mo Williams (hand) and Caron Butler (hand) all nursing injuries.
Miami opened their Eastern Conference Semifinal series with a win over the Pacers, but lost Chris Bosh to an abdominal strain in the first half. It's not clear if Bosh will be available for game two on Tuesday - or the rest of the series.
Bosh is probably the member of the "Big Three" that Miami can least-afford to lose, as the Heat are very thin in the frontcourt. Look for Erik Spoelstra to use smaller lineups featuring Shane Battier or Mike Miller in Bosh's place whenever possible... but that'll create a major size advantage for Indiana's David West and Roy Hibbert.
The Celtics got a triple-double from Rajon Rondo and a season-high in scoring from Kevin Garnett, taking a 1-0 series lead over the Sixers.
Today's games:
The 76ers will try to even their series with the Celtics in Boston at 7:00 ET. The Lakers tip-off their series in Oklahoma City at 9:30 ET.
Friday May 11, 2012
Denver Nuggets reserve Chris "Birdman" Andersen is under investigation - reportedly for child pornography. Anderson's attorney has a very different explanation.
Colin Breese tells the Denver Post that Andersen's legal troubles stem from a female fan that sent a number of photographs - some in various stages of undress - and claimed to be 21.
When Anderson spurned her advances, she allegedly threatened blackmail.
Anderson has not appeared in a game for the Nuggets during the postseason, and is on indefinite leave from the team while the investigation continues. Denver will play the Lakers on Saturday night, with the winner advancing to face Oklahoma City in the Western Conference semifinals.
Friday May 11, 2012
LeBron James will be named the 2012 NBA MVP, a source tells the Associated Press. It will be James' third trophy, which adds him to an illustrious list of three-time winners that includes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell and Moses Malone.
