Question About Swift

[George O'Brien]

It has been widely reported that Memphis will match any offer on Swift. My question is whether there is a limit. I took the following from Sports Illustrated: SI: 2004 NBA free-agency scoreboard

Stromile Swift
Suitors: Hawks, Grizzlies, Nets, Cavaliers
Leader in the clubhouse: Grizzlies

Maybe the best available power forward on the market, he likely will stay in Memphis because the Grizzlies have the right to match any offer up to the mid-level exception. The under-the-cap Hawks could offer him a more lucrative deal if they don't acquire Dampier. The Cavs are probably out since they just got Drew Gooden in a trade with the Magic, but the Nets could still make a sign-and-trade pitch.

Is this true that they can only match up to the MLE? I had not heard that before.

 

[elindholm]

Is this true that they can only match up to the MLE? I had not heard that before.

Hmm, that's interesting. I'm trying to figure out how they signed Cardinal for more than the MLE (according to hoopshype, his deal starts at $5 million even, whereas the MLE is only $4.9 million). It seems to me that they're way over the cap no matter what, which means (a) that Cardinal's contract must be for only the MLE, i.e. slightly misreported by hoopshype, and (b) there would have been no reason for them to renounce Swift, meaning that they could match any offer.

I would guess that the article is just wrong. That said, I would be somewhat surprised if Memphis did match an offer for Swift that was above the MLE. Their roster is already way overfull, and Swift doesn't seem to fit into their system very well.

The other question is what kind of offer Swift would take. He might think it's a better strategy to stick with his one-year qualifying offer, try to elevate his game, and hit the market early next summer as a UFA before all the money dries up.

 

[NJYAJ09]

Swift or Dampier....?

 

[elindholm]

Swift or Dampier....?

I personally would rather have Dampier, because while both have motivation problems, Dampier at 70% would help the Suns more than Swift at 70%.

 

[NJYAJ09]

I don't know... I think Swift has a higher ceiling, he's younger, but dampier is more of a center, and a better rebounder.

 

[elindholm]

By the way, what's up with Mike Miller? Did the Grizzlies already extend him? Hoopshype doesn't list a salary for him (i.e. he appears to be a free agent), but I don't think that's right.

 

[NJYAJ09]

I think Mike Miller's contract had a team option, and they extended it. Not 100% sure though.

 

[F-Dog]

My guess is that hoopshype and CNNSI are both wrong.

Swift was originally a draft pick of the Grizzlies, so they should have his full Bird Rights. Memphis is over the cap with or without Swift, so the Cardinal deal has to start at the MLE (or less).

 

[Griffin]

The other question is what kind of offer Swift would take. He might think it's a better strategy to stick with his one-year qualifying offer, try to elevate his game, and hit the market early next summer as a UFA before all the money dries up.

If he accepts the qualifying offer, then Memphis can give him another qualifying offer the following season, making him an RFA again. They can do this as long as he doesn't sign an offer sheet or a new contract.

 

[elindholm]

If he accepts the qualifying offer, then Memphis can give him another qualifying offer the following season, making him an RFA again.

I'm not sure how to say this nicely, but that is completely incorrect.

 

[fordronken]

I remember Miller getting an extension a year or two ago.

 

[Griffin]

If he accepts the qualifying offer, then Memphis can give him another qualifying offer the following season, making him an RFA again.

I'm not sure how to say this nicely, but that is completely incorrect.

Wait, i might have read the rules wrong.

If a Restricted Free Agent does not sign an Offer Sheet with any Team by March 1 of the NBA Season for which the Qualifying Offer is made, and does not sign a Player Contract with the ROFR Team before that Season ends, then his ROFR Team may reassert its Right of First Refusal for the following NBA Season by extending another Qualifying Offer (on the same terms as the prior Qualifying Offer) by the next July 1. A ROFR Team may continue to reassert its Right of First Refusal by following the foregoing procedure in each subsequent year in which that Restricted Free Agent does not sign an Offer Sheet with any Team by March 1 of the NBA Season for which the Qualifying Offer is made, and does not sign a Player Contract with the ROFR Team before that Season ends.

Does this imply the player doesn't play at all during the season? Meaning, he never accepted the qualifying offer?

 

[George O'Brien]

Wait, i might have read the rules wrong.

If a Restricted Free Agent does not sign an Offer Sheet with any Team by March 1 of the NBA Season for which the Qualifying Offer is made, and does not sign a Player Contract with the ROFR Team before that Season ends, then his ROFR Team may reassert its Right of First Refusal for the following NBA Season by extending another Qualifying Offer (on the same terms as the prior Qualifying Offer) by the next July 1. A ROFR Team may continue to reassert its Right of First Refusal by following the foregoing procedure in each subsequent year in which that Restricted Free Agent does not sign an Offer Sheet with any Team by March 1 of the NBA Season for which the Qualifying Offer is made, and does not sign a Player Contract with the ROFR Team before that Season ends.

Does this imply the player doesn't play at all during the season? Meaning, he never accepted the qualifying offer?

My read is that in order to play at all, the player had to have a contract. Refusing the qualifying offer would mean sitting out the season or going to Europe, but that strategy would not change the team's original RFA rights.

 

[elindholm]

I confess that I can't quite make out what that paragraph says, but I think George's interpretation is correct. Larry Coon's FAQ uses something closer to plain language:

So if the player really wants to leave, he can accept his original team's qualifying offer, which constitutes a one-year contract at a scale salary. The player must play with his original team for one more season, but following that season he will be an unrestricted free agent, and can then sign with any other team. For example, Michael Olowokandi accepted the LA Clippers' qualifying offer prior to the 02-03 season. He was then an unrestricted free agent in 2003, and signed with Minnesota

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#36

I withdraw the "completely incorrect" statement. From what you've quoted, it sounds as though the team can renew its ROFR under some circumstances. Sorry about that.

However, Coon's explanation above makes it clear (I think) that once a player actually plays under a one-year qualifying contract, he becomes a UFA at its expiration.

 

[coloradosun]

Its more like a team option, if they do not put together a qualifying offer for the 4th season, the player becomes an unrestricted FA. That is to the teams advantage if they draft a player in the 1st round that is a bust, they get an opportunity to get him off the salary cap.

 

[Gaddabout]

I think the more difficult question is whether Swift wants to be a center. He was forced into that position with Memphis, but he's not a center by nature. He's essentially what McDyess used to be before the knee surgeries -- but with less offensive skill.

 

[Joe Mama]

Each of these guys is likely to be overpaid. I would much rather have Dampier for the money.

Joe Mama

 

[Chaz]

Each of these guys is likely to be overpaid. I would much rather have Dampier for the money.

Joe Mama

Agreed, Dampier has legitimate center size.

Swift is really more of a PF and would be playing out of position at center.

 

[George O'Brien]

Each of these guys is likely to be overpaid. I would much rather have Dampier for the money.

Joe Mama

No doubt. My problem is that I can't really believe the Suns can get Dampier for that price, although I would be delighted if they did.

What I'm doing is looking for other alternatives if the Clips match Q and the Suns cannot get Dampier. There is a real issue as to whether Swift would sign for $45 million, but it is not entirely unreasonable.

Swift is too small to play center, but he is still a much better center than what the Suns have already. In any case, he would be another "best player available" if available.

 

[Griffin]

I withdraw the "completely incorrect" statement. From what you've quoted, it sounds as though the team can renew its ROFR under some circumstances. Sorry about that.

Well technically i was wrong, because i said that the player accepts the qualifying offer. But as I was reading through that again, the fact that it states the player can sign an offer sheet until March indicates that he is not currently under any contract, meaning he never accepted the qualifying offer in the first place. Man, CBA is not an easy read! Larry Coon's site makes it a lot more clear.

 

[George O'Brien]

Well technically i was wrong, because i said that the player accepts the qualifying offer. But as I was reading through that again, the fact that it states the player can sign an offer sheet until March indicates that he is not currently under any contract, meaning he never accepted the qualifying offer in the first place. Man, CBA is not an easy read! Larry Coon's site makes it a lot more clear.

We get another year and then we get to start all over again with a new CBA.