Analysts think Pistons have slipped from great to good

Link:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...TS03/607250381

Acker may be off to Greece

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...DATE/607260446


The Pistons made a qualifying offer to Acker that would pay him $664,000 for the 2006-2007 season, which Acker most likely would spend mostly in the development league.

Looks like he will make more money and get more playing time in Athens.

"The Pistons would still retain rights to Acker should he sign with Olympiakos and could bring him back for the 2007-2008 season".

Now that's interesting... it goes against most opinions about players that have already servered for their NBA club.

Interesting indeed. That might be the perfect scenario. Acker gets PT, we retain his rights and he doesn't take up a roster or D league spot.

The D league spot is the key for me, since we have so many players that are eligible and that, IMO, would benefit from going down.

I'm not sure that Chris is accurate with that statement.

Acker is a Free Agent. He's restricted because the Pistons made him a Qualifying Offer, but that restriction is only good in the NBA.

That's news to me if his rights can be retained overseas. In fact, I'm really, really sure it is false. The only time I know that can happen is with UNsigned drafted players.

__________________
To all of my friends, comrades and companions at PF.com

Thank you for another great season!

Well thanks a lot for pissing in my cornflakes buddy!

I think Roscoe's quite wrong in his certainty.

The player either signs the qualifying offer, signs a different contract with his own NBA team, signs with another NBA team and his old NBA team has the chance to match, or signs in another league. The NBA team has no opportunity to match the foreign offer (or from whatever league other than the NBA), but the player is still bound by NBA rules. He can play for 10 years in a foreign league (or wherever except the NBA), but if he ever wants to come back to the NBA he has to sign the qualifying offer, sign a different contract with his old NBA team, etc.

This is all provided the NBA team throws the qualifying offer out there every year.

Otherwise, restricted status is meaningless. Every restricted guy would just sign overseas, pay a buyout and immediately be unrestricted in the NBA.

Hobbs, I hope you realize I laid that out like a snare for you.

I'm absolutely loving that there are more folks here who care about the finer points of NBA business.

Thanks for setting it right.

I have a question about this. You mentioned that there would have to be a QO each year. I'm wondering how you interpret that after July 23rd, the player has to agree to the QO being rescinded. I can't remember a case where a team repeatedly made QOs to players overseas in subsequent years.

More reading material would be a bonus.

__________________
To all of my friends, comrades and companions at PF.com

Thank you for another great season!

In terms of offering the qualifying offer every year, I'm not sure it would get publicized. Whenever a rookie stays overseas teams have to offer him a contract every year to keep his rights, but you don't really hear about it. I can't remember a situation where this has happened though, so you've definitely got me on that one. This may be new ground.

I think this scenario is going to become more common because of the D-League rules. Teams almost always keep their second rounders now because they can just stash them in Fayetteville or wherever. I can definitely see where a player would not quite be ready for the NBA, but really like the team he's had a relationship with, so he goes overseas for a bigger payday but keeps the NBA team relationship open. It probably beats signing a minimum unguaranteed contract with some other NBA team only to be left with nothing if he doesn't make the team.

It's a good question to pose to Larry Coon. He's got the contacts to research it further.

__________________
To all of my friends, comrades and companions at PF.com

Thank you for another great season!