FA Predictions

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Reports are Jordan is leaning toward returning to LA. I think that's good for the Wolves in their quest to make the playoffs. Without a decent center, Dallas doesn't look like a playoff team to me.

[bleedspeed]

I think the rule is stupid. They should be able to sign, but teams must be able to fit within the cap rules by a certain date.

[bleedspeed]

I thought Jordan was a good fit for the Lakers. Young enough to build with and a good fit next to Randle and a perfect target for Russell. I am sure they would have loved to have him. Dallas seemed like a bad spot for him.

[TheFuture]

This is crazypants. I mean, I didn't get why DJ would leave the Clippers, but he did make a verbal commitment. Does this also mean teams can back away from a verbal commitment in this window? This could become a serious problem.

Verbal commitments literally mean nothing in the league. Anyone can back out of them. The problem is your reputation will take a serious hit if you ever back out of a deal, but nobody can do anything about it because if they try to prove that you signed anything they get in big trouble also because you can't sign anything until the moratorium is over.

This is also why I have an issue with contacting FAs before they're able to sign. If the talks with Jordan started happening tomorrow, then he likely would have signed with Dallas immediately making it a done deal. Dallas had dropped Tyson Chandler because they believed Deandre was a sure thing, or at least would have pursued other elite players. It's wrong for Dallas to assume anything in regards to Deandre coming before he can actually sign, but then what is the point for actually allowing teams to talk before the contract can be signed. Damn media circus is all it amounts to. Screw this verbal commitment talk, either allow them to sign when they can talk or keep them from talking until FA opens. I'm not a fan of Dallas, but if Deandre backs out that completely handcuffs them beginning a week ago, and that isn't fair, and I would be upset if that happened to the team I root for. They potentially lost an opportunity to pursue multiple free agents who may have signed with them if they hadn't thought their cap space was accounted for.

Also, no team dares to back-out of a verbal agreement, or they commit FA attraction suicide. The rights should be even in this regard, but with a star player driven league a star player knows he will get opportunities elsewhere. Sure, owners/teams make tons of money, but so do players to play a game. There should be mutual respect/integrity.

[bleedspeed]

This opens up LeBron to Dallas.

[mjs34]

I think this should say a lot about a guys character, and I don't mean just DJ. Balmer and Doc are just as guilty in all of this, but it also says something about the league as a whole. Has everyone forgotten what Boozer pulled on Cleveland?

[bleedspeed]

I think this should say a lot about a guys character, and I don't mean just DJ. Balmer and Doc are just as guilty in all of this, but it also says something about the league as a whole. Has everyone forgotten what Boozer pulled on Cleveland?

Don't forget his agent.

[60WinTim]

And who is to say if a player or player(s) might some day (today?) do this on purpose -- commit to a team and then back out. They would never admit to it, but it sure brings up the question. I can't imagine Adam Silver is very happy with the inferences that can be made!

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

Eh I don't think it's too big of deal. I mean it's really not different when you consider the flip side of a team trading a guy or cutting him from his contract. They are both kinda the same thing

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Eh I don't think it's too big of deal. I mean it's really not different when you consider the flip side of a team trading a guy or cutting him from his contract. They are both kinda the same thing

I think it's different. A free agent may be trying to decide between two teams, and finally commits to Team A, causing Team B to find a different player to fill their need. If Team A decides to pull back their offer, the player might be left without any options. Or the reverse might happen, like it did to Dallas, and the Mavericks are left with no viable options at center. As many have said, it's a flawed system. Some Dallas fans are citing contract law and saying Dallas and Jordan had an agreement. But even though I'm not a lawyer, I don't think this can be deemed to be an offer and an acceptance if the league rules prohibit any finalization of contracts before Thursday. What knucklehead set up this system?