July 16, 2008 1:38 AM
Nets couldn't offer 'enough of nothing' to get Camby
By Chris Tomasson
It sounds like a comedy routine.
Imagine an auction going backward.
"Do I hear $10 million?''
"10 million.''
"OK, do I hear $9 million?''
"Nine million.''
"What about $8 million?''
You get the point. And winner of this auction was the Los Angeles Clippers.
"We bid nothing,''
"Sold.''
The New Jersey Nets also were interested in trading for Marcus Camby, who was dealt to the Clippers on Tuesday. But the Nets, without room under the salary cap, were not able to bid low enough to get him in a salary-cap dump.
"Kiki really wanted Marcus,'' said Camby's agent, Rick Kaplan, referring to New Jersey general manager Kiki Vandeweghe, the general manager in Denver when the Nuggets traded for Camby in June 2002. "But he didn't have enough of nothing to give.''
For Camby, whose salary-cap number next season is $10 million, the Nuggets received the right to trade 2010 second-round picks with the Clippers. So, if the Nuggets end up having a better second-round pick that year than the Clippers, Los Angeles gives up nothing for Camby.
Even if the teams do trade second-rounders, that's hardly much of a price for the center on the NBA All-Defensive team the past two seasons.
The Nets could have given the Nuggets a non-guaranteed $3.3 million contract in Keith Van Horn, and then Van Horn would have been waived. But they would have had to package Van Horn with players making actual salaries.
Names thrown around were center Josh Boone and point guard Marcus Williams. There was even talk the Nuggets could have had Nenad Krstic in a sign-and-trade.
But the Nuggets didn't want salaries. The wanted give away Camby thanks to word coming from owner Stan Kroenke that he wants the team to trim salary.
Sure, the Nuggets would have rather dumped Kenyon Martin or Nene, but nobody wants either. And they weren't going to part with Carmelo Anthony.
The Rocky Mountain News had reported shortly after the season that Camby was the team's most likely big-salaried player to be traded.
So Camby, 34, goes to the Clippers. If Camby reaches his $2 million in bonuses for playing 65 or more games next season and gets a $1.25 million statistical bonus, which he got in 2006-07, then the Nuggets will save $22.5 million when one considers the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax.
"They just gave away an All-Star caliber player for nothing,'' Kaplan said.
OK, so the Nuggets did get a $10 million trade exception. When management went into spin control Tuesday night, that's what team officials were touting.
But it doesn't seem very likely the Nuggets are going to pick up a $10 million player after they just gave up one. The would put them right back where they started: Luxury-tax hell.
Before Camby was dealt, the Nuggets had nine players with guaranteed contracts totaling more than $79 million, about $8 million over the luxury tax threshold.
When one considers cap holds for remaining roster spots, the Nuggets are still over the luxury-tax threshold. But they now actually have a slim chance to get under the tax line by the start of next season.
Of course, much of that will depend on what happens with restricted free-agent J.R. Smith. If the Nuggets re-sign him, it might be hard to get under the tax threshold unless they can find another player to give away.
The $10 million trade exception, which expires a year from the Camby trade, could have its best use next July when the Nuggets could be well under the tax threshold after Allen Iverson's $20.84 million contract comes off the books.
There's even a chance the Nuggets could be under the salary cap in the summer of 2009. Then again, it remains to be seen what Smith's contract will be and how much Linas Kleiza, who will be a restricted free agent in 2009 if not re-signed by Oct. 31, will command.
Until then, the Nuggets could be in jeopardy of missing the playoffs next season. Camby was one of the few guys on the team willing to play defense. Well, there was another one. But Eduardo Najera already has bolted to New Jersey as a free agent.
"He wants to go to a team that's really committed to winning,'' Kaplan said of Camby.
There are now serious doubts the Nuggets, who could play small ball next season to make up for the loss of Camby, are such a team.
As for the Clippers, after Elton Brand opted out of his contract and bolted to Philadelphia, they were determined to find a replacement with the money they had under the cap. Word is the Clippers were close to tendering an offer sheet to Atlanta restricted free-agent Josh Smith before the Nuggets agreed to give them Camby for nothing.
So, it's no wonder the Nuggets couldn't even get a first-round pick out of the Clippers. The Clippers could have hung up the phone on the Nuggets and turned their attention to Smith, although there always was the chance Atlanta could match an offer to Smith.
"It's a great acquisition for us,'' Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, who plans to start Camby at power forward alongside Clippers center Chris Kaman, told the Rocky Mountain News. "(Camby) really complements our guys. He's one of the best all-around defenders in the league... Marcus is maybe even a better fit for us than Elton. He's coming off a great year, and Elton played just eight games last year (due to injury).''
Before the Clippers could get Camby, though, they had out outbid New Jersey. Actually, though, it turned out to be more like the limbo.
How low can you go?
July 16, 2008
5:23 AM
Paul Erstein writes:
I understand the salary cap math, but if you step back, this is really dumb. I am a Nets fan, and we would have liked Camby on our team. We would have given you good young players for him. It is sort of stupid, sad, funny, sneezy and grumpy, but I guess this is today's NBA.
July 16, 2008
9:07 AM
Geoff Coe writes:
Great evidence that this incredibly convolute cap system isn't working (not that I understand it...or care to). When does the CBA that gave birth to "salary cap hell" expire?
July 16, 2008
9:44 AM
Jim Sweeney writes:
With 2 potential 1st round picks next year, the $10 million trade exception and the sign and trade possibility with Iverson, the Nuggets have 365 days to roll the dice again. But they will have to do something soon to avoid lost ticket sales revenue. Hopefully this salary dump is part of grander scheme with part 2 happening this week.
July 16, 2008
10:11 AM
Kent Casey writes:
So, let me get this straight: what the Nuggets have done so far this off season is get rid of the only two guys who actually cared about defense, were deeply committed to kids and community, and seemed to care more about "team" than "me"? Well, Mr. Kroenke and staff, you just lost me as a fan and supporter. It was already no fun last year watching Melo, and the "Matadors" on defense, anyway. When will you get it that most fans want to see guys with maturity and character, not immaturity, laziness and DUI's. You guys are gutless! What would have really made me a "fan" would be to trade Melo or KMart or Iverson for a couple more players like the ones you just got rid of. At least you could count on a team oriented effort instead of "me" (read: Me-lo) ball. As a native Coloradan, a high school basketball coach and teacher, and a fan who remembers the Rockets, who became the Nuggets (and made it into the NBA), who made us proud, from Byron Beck to Dan Issel, to Alex English, from Larry Brown to Doug Moe, and living through the Bernie Bickerstaff (read: friggen' idiot) debacle and the decade it took to recover some sense of pride, thanks a lot!
July 16, 2008
10:14 AM
Anonymous writes:
Maybe Paul has to read the stupid CBA they have in place...and he'll understand better. Unfortuntely you can't take back players unless they add up to Camby's salary but I'm suprised alot more team haven't done this....like maybe the Knicks in the past.
July 16, 2008
11:33 AM
Brian writes:
that trade to detroit is sounding pretty good right about now...thats all i can say right now..otherwise i would write forever about how stupid of a trade this was, but im at work, so i cant do that.
July 16, 2008
1:33 PM
aragornzxl writes:
This is a living nightmare. When i realized that Camby was traded for nohing, my eyes popped out. What shocked me wasnt the fact that Camby was traded, his salary tax ws too much for the nuggets, i can understand that. What i failed to comprehend (even right now) is that the Nuggets gave him away for nothing. If there is an award for "stupidest decision of the season" this year, the nuggets will be the frontrunners. Camby is certainly worth more than nothing. No player should be traded away for nothing, especially a guy that actually plays defense. This is stupid, i want to keep on writing and telling how stupid this trade is, and how it doesnt make sense at all. Then i realize the more i do that, the more pissed im going to be.
July 16, 2008
4:17 PM
Bill writes:
Buy Iverson out now. He deserves to be on a winning team not one that won't even make the playoff.
And chain Stan Kroenke to an ant hill while you're at it.
The man is greedy scum.
July 16, 2008
7:40 PM
Brendan Tuytel writes:
You can certainly sense that there is already some tension between Elton and Dunleavy. I don't agree with Elton's decision, but it isn't my say.
I don't think Camby will be the best fit, but Davis will be a good starter, Kaman is improving at a freakish rate and with Gordon and Thorton, the Clippers have a good chance at making the playoffs this year and every other year until Camby retires.
July 17, 2008
10:31 AM
Nadum writes:
It would have been great to get something back, but it was time to get rid of Camby. Taking on additional salary for players that don't crack your top eight would have been an exercise in futility.
On the court, Camby was a liability. His on the ball defense was atrocious, he is unable to play pick-and-roll defense and besides his great passing ability from the top of the key, he was wasting space offensively. He doesn't set great picks, he's no threat on a pick-and-roll and he slows down the fast break when he decides to take the ball up the court.
Overall, Camby was just a name. It's a huge if, but a healthy Nene/Kmart combo trumps Camby everytime.
July 25, 2008
2:28 AM
maw writes:
Is this even legal? I can't believe you can actually dump a contract just like that. And as for the Clippers, it's like landing a free agent without competing with other teams with higher offers.
July 25, 2008
2:28 AM
maw writes:
Is this even legal? I can't believe you can actually dump a contract just like that. And as for the Clippers, it's like landing a free agent without competing with other teams with higher offers.
July 30, 2008
12:16 PM
Paulie L writes:
I am simply LOVING this FireSale going on right now in colorado sports. Camby to the Clippers for some laundry detergent and staples, Dan O'dowd trying to sell any and every player on the rockies, now i just need Champ Bailey traded for Pacman jones and my year can truly be called the WORST YEAR IN COLORADO SPORTS HISTORY...minus hockey cuz who cares....(C'mon Maurice Clarett parole you are my only hope)
August 27, 2008
7:27 PM
Lchang writes:
This is a smart idea for the nuggets but wouldn't trading nene be better I agree that the knicks should have done this a long time ago, starbury could have been gone when he's worth at least a draft pick... Or maybe Randolph, Curry, James, Richardson could have been gone and new better players could have brought them to at least the playoffs once by now over the last few years.... Think about it
February 17, 2012
1:51 AM
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Cela fait un bout de temps que je cherchais des renseignements.
Merci
Julie :)
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3:25 PM
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