Are contracts always guaranteed?

Not necessarily. There are a few specific types of contracts that must be guaranteed. All other guarantees are a matter of individual negotiation between the player and team when the contract is signed. Only a player’s base salary can be guaranteed — not bonuses or incentives. The percentage of base salary that is guaranteed cannot increase from one year to the next (e.g., if 50% of a player’s salary is guaranteed one season, then no more than 50% of the player’s salary can be guaranteed in any subsequent season of the contract).

There are actually several types of guarantees: lack of skill, death (insured or non-insured), injury/illness (insured or non-insured), mental disability (insured or non-insured), and non-insured basketball-related injury. So, for example, a contract might be fully guaranteed for any injury or illness, but not for lack of skill. Some guarantees are for a partial amount of the player’s salary, and the amount can change on specified dates. For example, $2 million of Vlade Divac’s $5.94 million 2005-06 salary with the Lakers was guaranteed through September 30, 2005. Had he remained on the Lakers’ roster after that date, his entire salary would have become guaranteed. Since he was waived prior to that date, he was only owed $2 million. – NBA Salary Cap FAQ

What this means with regards to Willie Green’s contract I interpret as Green being under contract through 2010-2011. There is no player or team option.  But, if the Sixers were to waive Green a portion of his base salary would not be guaranteed as negotiated when the contract was agreed to.  The question is what guarantees does he have and which ones does he not have?  Is it purely based on a date like the Divac example above or could it lack of skill or injury related?  Gotta be an insider to know that level of detail.  But I am willing to bet it is injury related because if you remember when Green was about to re-sign with the Sixers in 2005 he got hurt right before the deal was done, only played 10 games in 05-06 and didn’t sign until July of 2006.

Hope that helps.

- Boston went to Europe last season and that was perhaps a huge reason why they started off so well, along with having the new pieces and Tom Thibodeau as the assistant coach. 
-Miami this season went to Europe to play the Nets twice, even though they lost those two games.  They look like a team that has bonded and wait until James Jones and Jamal Magliore return. 
-Even New Jersey has looked good thus far this season.  They played the Heat twice in Europe and Vince Carter is so far accepting his role as a leader.  (2-3 record this season, including a win over Pistons)

The Point is that The Sixers need to Understand One Another if they want to be the team people expect them to be.  The players don’t spend all 24 hours a day with the team.  The bonding normally happens for teams when they are on those long road trips.

The style they do play results in a lot of turnovers.  But perhaps with the familiarity and the bonding, those “unforced-trying to do too much-trying to fit in” turnovers will reduce considerably. Those are the turnovers they really have to reduce. 

Anyway, point is that we should be somewhat concerned, but not overly concerned!! 

-The key from here on out is to have:  Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala & Elton Brand going. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mo gets these guys going early in the game this Tuesday.   I think Thad will be fine no matter what position he plays or whether he is coming off the bench. 
- As for Willie Green, Ed will have his thermometer out and measure his temperature to see his efficiency– hot or cold.  Two cold games in a row, but let’s see if the rest can help him and now that he is back home! Home has been great for Willie. The road games have been where Willie has struggled, that is the real problem!!! 
-Play Kareem Rush and Donyell Marshall more.  They are natural shooters that can give this team the shot in the arm they need to make the ultimate rallies and the ultimate runaways in games. 

Also, injuries on other teams are beginning to mount up.  So, what is a season without injuries for other teams?  There is plenty more in a season, so please be patient everyone and I still trust Ed Stefanski!!  He is perhaps the second best GM in the East to Joe Dumars.  I can’t wait for Tuesday and the rest of this season!!

1. He knows when to pull back and run a set
2. Starts showing he is ready and willing to add a facilitator aspect to him game.
3. When the pass is there he can execute it
4. Knowing when and where to get guys the ball

Look I like Lou and his scoring ability is very good.  But I think if you have him running the show a large portion of the game the offense will be stalled from the start.

I’d much rather have Iguodala play more of a point forward role because we know he is willing to be a facilitator already and he in the few moments when he has looked good this season it was when he was penetrating and passing.

I am sure midway through the season if the Sixers are .500 or worse tons of trade proposals will come up.  Here is a quick trade thought.  I would keep Iguodala and trade Willie Green and Louis Williams for Ben Gordon and Sefolosha.  I would start Ben Gordon and have Iguodala coming off the bench providing us with a legit back-up small forward.  I can also see Iguodala running some point forward while Andre Miller sits (something I am writing about in a post now).  That would open up room for Kareem Rush to come off the bench and get quality minutes at shooting guard and get’s rid of Willie Green which would make everyone but JJG happy.  Sefolosha would be a defensive 3rd guard like Ivey.  And Marshall would be a 3rd SF and PF.  Now we have suffciently surround Elton Brand with some good shooters who already understand floor spacing and thrive in catch and shoot situations.

I tried to run this through ESPN’s trade machine but it wouldn’t let me because there are restrictions on both Lou and Gordon.  First off neither player could be traded until December 15th or 3 months from the date of their new deal (whichever is late) because Lou and Gordon are in the first year of a new contract.  Second because Gordon is on a one-year contract and eligible for early bird right he must consent to be traded (which I don’t think he would refuse if he was given a decent extension and told he would be a starter).

Another consideration is the long-term view at the point guard position.  If we signed Gordon to a healthy extension we would almost certainly be stuck having to resign Miller since we can go over the cap to do so.  If we don’t we won’t have any money to sign a good free agent point guard even with Millers $10 off the books. 

Ok that’s enough getting way ahead of myself here.