San Antonio Spurs fans: Charlie Ward is ours!

[lazarus]

According to reports out of San Antonio, he's signing the paperwork today, and could be in uniform tonight in New Orleans. That's a great veteran point guard to add to an already amazingly deep team.

Can't believe 2 weeks ago we were looking at trades for the guy, and he gets traded to Phoenix, then waived, and we pick him up from waivers for a song.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Wow!!!!

Why did the Suns waive him? That confused me.

He's a bit of an ultra-religious type, but he doesn't cause problems. AND, he can still play a little...

[lazarus]

3. Seven Million Reasons, GOPisEvil

Seven million reasons they waived him. That trade for Phoenix was nothing but cap clearing. All they have to do now is clear a couple million more, and they move to the front of the Kobe Sweepstakes this summer. Their coach is apparently on great terms with Kobe, and the only cap problem they have is the multiple first round picks they'll be forced to sign (oh, what a nightmare, eh?).

BTW, Suns coach is Mike D'Antoni, who was cut by the Spurs way back in '76. He was a big time name in Italy, where Kobe grew up. Kobe apparently picked his jersey number to emulate D'Antoni. Suppose there's a reason ol' Mike got hired by Phoenix just as they started clearing cap room just before Kobe goes free agent?

But Ward cleared waivers about 20 minutes ago, and Pop said this morning it's a 2 year deal for the vet minimum. I think he's a Jedi Master. That's the only reason he can pull these deals off. I mean, he traded Danny Ferry for Hedo Turkoglu and Ron Mercer, Ferry retired, and then he hired Ferry for the front office. How much cooler could that be?

On edit: My favourite Danny Ferry picture!

[GOPisEvil]

4. Very interesting information.

I had heard the D'Antoni/Kobe/#8 stuff before. Interesting.

So, did Charlie Ward's contract expire at the end of the season? IF so, just keep him and let him go. But if not, then I guess it makes sense to waive him now.

2 years for the vet minimum? Pop's going to get arrested for stealing one of these days. :D

[lazarus]

5. Okay, not quite 7 million, I guess

What I found is that he was under contract for the next two seasons with an option for a third as part of a six-year, $22 million deal. Rumour has it that the cash New York sent to Phoenix in the trade was basically to buy out Ward's contract.

So they had to buy him out.

Isaiah Thomas got played hard on this one, as I predicted. He should never be allowed within 23 statutory miles of any basketball organisation ever again.

[Wickerman]

2. Wow!

Years ago they tried to work a trade for him when he was just rookie fresh from winning the Heisman. I don't care, still seems weird to type Heisman when discussing a bball player...

Very nice, he can add a lot to the team. Nice move.

[underpants]

6. Highly overrated

and mostly useless. But Hey if they got him for cheap why not?

[Gman]

7. I'll take your word for it, Laz

that this was a good move. Ward has been playing in the Eastern Conference, which I don't keep up with too much, so I haven't payed much attention to Ward. The Knicks had some good teams in the last 10 years and he wouldn't have played for them as long as he did if he wasn't solid.

If this works out, he'll round out what's looking to be another great team.