Bargnani Out For Remainder of the Season

[JimiCliff]

Ha, might be great spin for an opposing team but as a Raptor fan I have fully prepared for being pissed off and disappointed with his impending awesome play.

I know. It's so true. It's those visions of what he might be that bought him so much time here.

But who could get it out of him consistently? I'd say Pops, Thibs, Doc Rivers. Maybe George Karl. Houston might be a good fit (but I think Morey would stay away). The Lakers are probably a good fit. If he goes to any of those teams, I'm bracing myself. Any other team and I think we'd see pretty much what we saw here.

[KeonClark]

I know. It's so true. It's those visions of what he might be that bought him so much time here.

But who could get it out of him consistently? I'd say Pops, Thibs, Doc Rivers. Maybe George Karl. Houston might be a good fit (but I think Morey would stay away). The Lakers are probably a good fit. If he goes to any of those teams, I'm bracing myself. Any other team and I think we'd see pretty much what we saw here.

Bargnani in San Antonio would probably be the best fit. We know Pop's is known to play a guy 30 minutes one night, and a DNP the next. Based on what? Defensive and offensive efficiency. When Bargnani is efficient, and I stress WHEN, he's an amazingly valuable player. The trouble is 98% of this season he's just chucking bricks from outside 15 feet.

[Letter N]

The best thing to do with junk is to throw it away, don't swap it for different junk. The money you wasted on the piece of junk is gone, time to move on.

Amnesty is the only smart move.

[isaacthompson]

The best thing to do with junk is to throw it away, don't swap it for different junk. The money you wasted on the piece of junk is gone, time to move on.

Amnesty is the only smart move.

Shouldn't we use the amnesty on Kleiza? At least Bargs has a tiny sliver a trade value...who out there wants Kleiza?

[blackjitsu]

Yeah, I think Kleiza is a more rational amnesty candidate. If the Raps still have to pay a player (even if it is off the cap), Kleiza's contract is a lot more palatable. You COULD trade Kleiza, but you would likely just get equal value. Some sucker (ahem) brave GM will bite on Andrea's talent. At this point, any vet player who improves the locker room, has an expiring contract, and is serviceable in his role would be a positive.

[isaacthompson]

Yeah, I think Kleiza is a more rational amnesty candidate. If the Raps still have to pay a player (even if it is off the cap), Kleiza's contract is a lot more palatable. You COULD trade Kleiza, but you would likely just get equal value. Some sucker (ahem) brave GM will bite on Andrea's talent. At this point, any vet player who improves the locker room, has an expiring contract, and is serviceable in his role would be a positive.

Kleiza's untradeable IMO...can't think of any possible team that would want him, and can't think of any reason why they would want him. Inconsistent shooting is big factor.

[Matt52]

The best thing to do with junk is to throw it away, don't swap it for different junk. The money you wasted on the piece of junk is gone, time to move on.

Amnesty is the only smart move.

Ummmm, no.

The Raptors are in a position moving forward (assuming Gay and Lowry are extended) where the only way to add talent is via exceptions, minimum contracts, first round draft picks and TRADES.

If you can swap a different piece of junk that is better suited to Toronto, you take it. Then when that different piece of junk is expiring you have a method of adding talent to a team that may not be making a trade based purely on basketball reasons.

Amnestying Bargnani is ridiculous and I am not sure why people continue to propose it. Anyone can be traded which Arenas proved and Lewis/Hedo twice.

One man's junk is another man's treasure.

[Eric Akshinthala]

Bargnani isn't worth the 1st overall pick, and never will he be a player you rely on in pressure/big-time situations. BUT, he is not a bust, he is a talented big who plays a non-typical game (perimeter), and has had a respectable NBA career. Unfortunately, this is a franchise that thought too highly of him, and put him in a position where quite frankly he's not best suited.

I totally agree. If he was drafted 10th overall and been extended to the same contract(5 yr, 50 mil.), we wouldn't be having this conversation. The mistake Raptors made was see star potential in him and try to make him a star. The guy is tense due to all the pressure. I've never seen Bargnani this 'stiff' before. The only thing that can help him loosen up is a change in scenery.

I do get the feeling however that Bargnani has played his last game as a Raptor. If not traded, I think he'll be amnestied.

[Eric Akshinthala]

The best thing to do with junk is to throw it away, don't swap it for different junk. The money you wasted on the piece of junk is gone, time to move on.

Amnesty is the only smart move.

Even though he has made some bad moves, one thing BC can be given credit for is his ability to turn something bad into something OK. Turning Aroujo into Humphries, O neal into Marions expiring contract, Turkoglu into Barbosa are some examples.

[Nilanka]

Kleiza's untradeable IMO...can't think of any possible team that would want him, and can't think of any reason why they would want him. Inconsistent shooting is big factor.

Our only sliver of hope is if Kleiza doesn't pick up his player option for next year (leaving $4.6 million of guaranteed income on the table), to go play in Europe.

Hey, I never said it was likely

[drunkmunky]

There is no way Kleiza would not pick up his player option. He is in a state of delusion to think that he can still survive and play in the nba. BC is feeding that delusion by letting him travel with the team. It's bull.

[Vykis]

Kleiza's untradeable IMO...can't think of any possible team that would want him, and can't think of any reason why they would want him. Inconsistent shooting is big factor.

His contract is expiring, so he isnt untradable, but if he got traded it wouldnt be for basketball reasons

[TRex]

So Bargnani's last field goal with the Raptors was a turnaround shot over a guard. How fitting.

[psrs1]

This kills his trade value. Dude can't stay healthy, plus he's Andrea Bargnani. who in their right minds would trade for him

Just amnesty him and move on already.

[psrs1]

The best thing to do with junk is to throw it away, don't swap it for different junk. The money you wasted on the piece of junk is gone, time to move on.

Amnesty is the only smart move.

Agreed.

[Rapstor4Life]

We Amnesty Klieza not Bargnani, Bargnani we can trade him he has value believe it or not you arent just going to let him walk get something for him. BC isnt going to amnesty him he would rather go down with the ship than do that, problem is just like the Boozer deal BC will probably overvalue moving his golden boy.

[special1]

Ummmm, no.

The Raptors are in a position moving forward (assuming Gay and Lowry are extended) where the only way to add talent is via exceptions, minimum contracts, first round draft picks and TRADES.

If you can swap a different piece of junk that is better suited to Toronto, you take it. Then when that different piece of junk is expiring you have a method of adding talent to a team that may not be making a trade based purely on basketball reasons.

Amnestying Bargnani is ridiculous and I am not sure why people continue to propose it. Anyone can be traded which Arenas proved and Lewis/Hedo twice.

One man's junk is another man's treasure.

I must admit that I haven't spent much time reading the CBA (I usually spend my time watching Basketball and reading the blogs from time to time)....

To be honest, I just dont understand why it would be soooo ridiculous to amnesty Bargnani......

The Amnesty Clause - from wikipedia

"Teams can claim an amnestied player at a reduced rate, with the waiving team responsible for paying the balance of the contract. The team with the highest bid acquires the player. If unclaimed, the player becomes a free agent.[5] Teams over the salary cap can only acquire an amnestied player if he becomes a free agent, and the offer would be limited to the veteran's minimum contract."

So basically, if we amnesty him there "may be" a bidding war for him...?? Let's say someone decides he's worth $5 million per year or more. Thereby leaving us on the hook for the remainder of his salary AND it does NOT count against our cap. Why would would this be sooo ridiculous? What if we cannot trade him (because nobody is willing to pay $11 and 12 million for his services)?? Am i missing something here? Luis Scola, Elton Brand, etc were all amnestied.... why not Bargnani??

Also, isn't Kleiza an expiring contract next year?? Why would we amnesty him when he could be included for salary purposes (maybe a team is looking to cut salary with an expiring and just let him walk at the end of the year??).

Basically, I just wanted to hear your reasons why it wouldn't make sense (especially if NO ONE wants this enigma at his current salary or want to trade anything of value for him).

[Rapstor4Life]

And thats how we'll remember you Goodbye Big Fart

[Matt52]

I must admit that I haven't spent much time reading the CBA (I usually spend my time watching Basketball and reading the blogs from time to time)....

To be honest, I just dont understand why it would be soooo ridiculous to amnesty Bargnani......

The Amnesty Clause - from wikipedia

"Teams can claim an amnestied player at a reduced rate, with the waiving team responsible for paying the balance of the contract. The team with the highest bid acquires the player. If unclaimed, the player becomes a free agent.[5] Teams over the salary cap can only acquire an amnestied player if he becomes a free agent, and the offer would be limited to the veteran's minimum contract."

So basically, if we amnesty him there "may be" a bidding war for him...?? Let's say someone decides he's worth $5 million per year or more. Thereby leaving us on the hook for the remainder of his salary AND it does NOT count against our cap. Why would would this be sooo ridiculous? What if we cannot trade him (because nobody is willing to pay $11 and 12 million for his services)?? Am i missing something here? Luis Scola, Elton Brand, etc were all amnestied.... why not Bargnani??

Also, isn't Kleiza an expiring contract next year?? Why would we amnesty him when he could be included for salary purposes (maybe a team is looking to cut salary with an expiring and just let him walk at the end of the year??).

Basically, I just wanted to hear your reasons why it wouldn't make sense (especially if NO ONE wants this enigma at his current salary or want to trade anything of value for him).

Yes, you are missing something here - and I am not saying that ridiculing or sarcastically.

The problem is the bold.

The Raptors are currently on the books for $72.9M next year assuming all options picked up (Kleiza, Gray, JL3).

Amnestying Bargnani takes the Raptors to about $62M.

That is $4M above the salary cap.

The only real benefit is being able to use the FULL MLE of 4yrs/$20M vs. 3yr/$9M.

Once a team is over the cap the only way to add salary is through exceptions, 1st rd draft picks, minimum contracts, and trades.

The only real chance for the Raptors to add anything significant is through trade.

Amnestying Bargnani takes away the biggest trade chip in terms of salary which in terms of the NBA CBA is extremely important.

People might say, "Well, no other team will take him." but I don't think that is true especially given the implications for the new luxury tax and repeater tax. Also, at some point, he is going to be an expiring contract. People (myself included) were talking about trading Calderon but it was not until he was an expiring did his over valued contract become useful.

The examples you gave all provided teams flexibility under the salary cap (Houston) and luxury tax (Philly).

Houston/Scola gave the Rockets enough space to sign Lin and Asik. The Raps are not free agent players by amnestying Bargnani.

Philly/Brand gave the 76ers enough space under the luxury tax to take on Bynum and Richardson. In doing that trade they also had other trade chips (AI) whereas the Raptors do not have any other trade chips (unless you count Kleiza/Fields or one of the 'core' JV,TR,DD,KL,RG).

[special1]

Thanks for the quick reply. I definitely understand what your saying now. It looks like he will be here next year regardless if Bryan's here or not. Can we get better than Carlos Boozer??? Does Chicago even do this trade anymore? I don't see the lakers taking him on but i guess you never know.

This AB situation is just a mess!

I like Rudy Gay BUT this is what many of us were afraid of.....sigh.

I hope the raising of the ticket prices signal the willingness to enter the luxury tax.... If not, we're screwed. This team as is is just not good enough to make much noise UNLESS JV and TRoss make huge jumps in their developement.