This thing went from inevitable to unlikely really fast:
Sam Cassell told our L.A. Correspondent Robby Sikka that he wasn’t likely to receive a buyout of his contract with the L.A. Clippers before the March 1 deadline to get on a playoff roster.
Cassell had expressed interest in being bought out so that he could chase a championship with a team like the Boston Celtics or Dallas Mavericks, but it now appears less likely that Clippers owner Donald Sterling will oblige.
This guy just happened to bumped into Sam Cassell at a cell phone store… and Sam says the buyout is “very unlikely” and that he’s probably ending his season in a Clippers uniform.
Sterling is holding Cassell hostage. Most buyouts involve the team paying at least 90% of what is due the player. Sterling is probably looking to pay much less, and I don’t blame him.
And now it’s back to inevetiable. Marc Spears is reporting that the buyout will happen within the hour(at 4:30.) He says he is expected to sign with the C’s if he clears waivers. He could theoretically play for the Celtics sunday against Atlanta.
Los Angeles Clippers point guard Sam Cassell is expected to sign buyout papers with the franchise soon and will sign with the Boston Celtics once he clears waivers, according to an NBA source.
Cassell and the Clippers have agreed to buyout terms. He is expected to receive some of the money remaining on his $6.1 million salary this season.
Once the 38-year-old’s buyout is official, he has to clear waivers (which takes 48 hours) before he can become eligible to sign with another team. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder is expected to clear waivers by Saturday and would be eligible to play the rest of the season and postseason for the Celtics.
Cassell will not travel with the Clippers to Denver, where they face the Nuggets on Friday night.
The Clippers are expected to sign guard Flip Murray, who was let go by the Detroit Pistons, to replace Cassell.
Hey… fuck the TWolves. I can’t believe on the same day they had their “breaking news” about Cassell… he gets bought out.
Thanks a lot guys.