the raptors just fucked up bad by not re-signing him...he's almost as fun to watch as half man/half amazing...why do they always give up their best players? mcgrady, mark jackson, now clark?
Raptors give up Keon Clark
Jul. 23, 2002. 08:50 AM
We can't afford to keep popular centre, GM admits
Doug Smith
Sports Reporter
The new economics of the NBA have cost the Toronto Raptors the services of one of their most promising young players.
The Raptors have rescinded their qualifying offer to centre Keon Clark, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent and reducing the chances of him returning to Toronto to next to nil.
The simple reason for Clark's sudden departure: money. With the NBA facing dwindling revenues that have dramatically reduced the level at which a dollar-for-dollar payroll tax will be implemented, the Raptors just wouldn't pay Clark a salary he wanted, or match any offer he'd get on the market, because they don't want to pay the penalty.
"We just don't have the money that Keon would accept," general manager Glen Grunwald said in a conference call last night. "Like a lot of other teams, we just don't have the money we thought we could spend."
But by allowing Clark to become an unrestricted free agent, the Raptors have robbed themselves of one of the bright young talents on the team. And while Grunwald is confident the roster as it's constructed now will be enough to contend in the Eastern Conference, he admitted he'll be looking at ways to still make improvements. But because of the financial constraints, it means he'll either have to move some of his players to take on additional contract or hope to eventually sign one of the myriad free agents out there who sees his value drastically reduced by the league-wide tax chill.
One deal rumoured last week to add Donyell Marshall of the Utah Jazz for Jerome Williams and Michael Bradley in a sign-and-trade deal has been put on the back burner for now and Grunwald said he'll wait to see how the free agent market shapes up before making a move.
"We have some work to do," said the general manager. "We have some people who can play that position and we're always looking for ways to improve our team and hopefully it'll be good enough without one of our best players and we can overcome this loss."
What buoys Grunwald somewhat is that not many teams are going to be throwing money around given the impending tax.
The chance to sign a free agent to an undervalued contract in the coming weeks, or to make some sort of sign-and-trade deal is one way to improve the roster.
"We do have some more money to spend," said Grunwald, without giving an amount. "We're still able to make some trades if we want. We'll just spend whatever money we have wisely."
It just won't be the kind of money Clark would demand. The 6-11 forward-centre, who had a breakthrough year last season when he averaged more than 11 points and seven rebounds a game, can expect a salary of at least the so-called mid-level cap exception of about $4.456 million. However, that much would have put the Raptors far over the tax level, which would have cost them not only the dollar-for-dollar levy but a cut of the payout teams will get from the tax collected.
"We feel Keon deserves a fair contract but a fair contract for Keon would be an unfair contract for us," said Grunwald.
The decision to pull the qualifying offer off the table now ?it was slightly less than $3 million and was made just to keep the right to match any offer Clark would get ?was made so both sides could move on, Grunwald said.
Clark's agent said he was a bit surprised Grunwald pulled the offer when he did, given that the general manager had until Aug.7 to rescind the deal.
"At least they admitted they weren't going to be able to do anything now ... it'll make finding Keon a deal a bit easier," said Jim Mourer. "I've got a list of teams that have called or expressed an interest in Keon and I'll present it to him and let him set the priorities."
Raptors give up Keon Clark
Jul. 23, 2002. 08:50 AM
We can't afford to keep popular centre, GM admits
Doug Smith
Sports Reporter
The new economics of the NBA have cost the Toronto Raptors the services of one of their most promising young players.
The Raptors have rescinded their qualifying offer to centre Keon Clark, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent and reducing the chances of him returning to Toronto to next to nil.
The simple reason for Clark's sudden departure: money. With the NBA facing dwindling revenues that have dramatically reduced the level at which a dollar-for-dollar payroll tax will be implemented, the Raptors just wouldn't pay Clark a salary he wanted, or match any offer he'd get on the market, because they don't want to pay the penalty.
"We just don't have the money that Keon would accept," general manager Glen Grunwald said in a conference call last night. "Like a lot of other teams, we just don't have the money we thought we could spend."
But by allowing Clark to become an unrestricted free agent, the Raptors have robbed themselves of one of the bright young talents on the team. And while Grunwald is confident the roster as it's constructed now will be enough to contend in the Eastern Conference, he admitted he'll be looking at ways to still make improvements. But because of the financial constraints, it means he'll either have to move some of his players to take on additional contract or hope to eventually sign one of the myriad free agents out there who sees his value drastically reduced by the league-wide tax chill.
One deal rumoured last week to add Donyell Marshall of the Utah Jazz for Jerome Williams and Michael Bradley in a sign-and-trade deal has been put on the back burner for now and Grunwald said he'll wait to see how the free agent market shapes up before making a move.
"We have some work to do," said the general manager. "We have some people who can play that position and we're always looking for ways to improve our team and hopefully it'll be good enough without one of our best players and we can overcome this loss."
What buoys Grunwald somewhat is that not many teams are going to be throwing money around given the impending tax.
The chance to sign a free agent to an undervalued contract in the coming weeks, or to make some sort of sign-and-trade deal is one way to improve the roster.
"We do have some more money to spend," said Grunwald, without giving an amount. "We're still able to make some trades if we want. We'll just spend whatever money we have wisely."
It just won't be the kind of money Clark would demand. The 6-11 forward-centre, who had a breakthrough year last season when he averaged more than 11 points and seven rebounds a game, can expect a salary of at least the so-called mid-level cap exception of about $4.456 million. However, that much would have put the Raptors far over the tax level, which would have cost them not only the dollar-for-dollar levy but a cut of the payout teams will get from the tax collected.
"We feel Keon deserves a fair contract but a fair contract for Keon would be an unfair contract for us," said Grunwald.
The decision to pull the qualifying offer off the table now ?it was slightly less than $3 million and was made just to keep the right to match any offer Clark would get ?was made so both sides could move on, Grunwald said.
Clark's agent said he was a bit surprised Grunwald pulled the offer when he did, given that the general manager had until Aug.7 to rescind the deal.
"At least they admitted they weren't going to be able to do anything now ... it'll make finding Keon a deal a bit easier," said Jim Mourer. "I've got a list of teams that have called or expressed an interest in Keon and I'll present it to him and let him set the priorities."
