Sources close to the situation confirm that Greek center Sofoklis Schortsanitis will be visiting with the Clippers in Los Angeles in what can best be characterized as a meet-and-greet. The trip is primarily an opportunity to introduce Schortsanitis, whose NBA rights belong to the Clippers, to Los Angeles and the organization’s principals.
Several contractual and financial issues to consider:
- Schortsanitis is under contract with Olympiacos through the end of the month.
- The Clippers will not extend Schortsanitis a contract before they negotiate with the bigger names in free agency beginning July 1. Any monetary commitment the Clippers make to Schortsanitis would count against the team’s cap space. The Clippers worked diligently last spring to create that space. They won’t compromise it by signing Schortsanitis before making offers to other marquee free agents.
- If the Clippers don’t land a max player and/or opt to use their cap space to sign Schortsanitis, things become a bit more complicated. There’s no exception for second round draft picks (The Clippers drafted Schortsanitis with the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2003 draft.). If the Clips have cap space, then they won’t have a mid-level exception or a bi-annual exception. That would leave only a minimum salary contract, and Schortsanitis is believed to want more than that.
The likelihood that Schortsanitis be in a Clippers’ uniform for Summer League depends on a number of variables ranging from how much Schortsanitis likes the idea to where the Clippers stand as players in free agency on the eve of Summer League.
18 Responses
If the clippers don’t have the midlevel or bi-annual exception, why would that leave a minimum contract? If they lose their exceptions, it means they renounced the rights to all or some of the free agents causing them to drop below the cap. The Clips would lose the exceptions but create millions in cap space which can then be used to sign Sofo.
The problem would be if the Clippers DO land a max free agent. They would lose the exceptions and use all their capspace, then there would only be minimum contracts left.
madglove Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 4:51 pm
I think the implication was that if they use their cap space on a free agent or free agents, then all they will have left is the minimum for Sofo.
And I’m guessing that it’s unlikely that the team using a portion of its precious cap space on a completely unproven rookie who they have the rights to for later.
MannyA Reply:
June 22nd, 2010 at 7:30 pm
No, it’s right there in the first sentence of that paragraph. “If the Clippers don’t land a max player”
Posted on June 20th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Is this guy really that good? i have not seen that much about him that impresses me at all.
jgroove Reply:
June 20th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
EXACTLY. Spending time contemplating this when we should be considering other potential free agents to fill out the roster is ridiculous. This guy is an NBA 10th man playing 5 min a game at best.
Posted on June 20th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
What kind of numbers is this guy putting up overseas?
Posted on June 21st, 2010 at 9:03 am
So it will just be a wait and see if they sign anyone. Sounds like the Clippers are in no rush to sign a contract until the start of the season. Is there any danger of the Olympiacos signing him before the Clippers training camp starts?
Bongstradamus Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 11:04 am
I read two weeks ago that Olympiacos was trying to resign Sofo. He’d definitely make more in Greece than he would here. We’d only be able to offer him a minimum deal because we want to keep our cap space, and if/when we made an offer it would be in the middle or end of July. If he gets offered more money by Olympiacos or any other Euro club to sign before the middle of July, I dont know how serious Sofo would be about moving out here.
Posted on June 21st, 2010 at 10:05 am
I don’t know much about this guy, but I just watched the youtube video “USA vs Greece 2006″ and he looked very dominant in the paint, even punking and pushing around dwight howard!!! If the Clippers can get this guy for a good price, it may be the most underrated pickup of the summer.
Can you imagine how tough their paint D would be with him and DeAndre in at the same time!? As long as the clippers can secure great SF/SG free agent/rookie (can you imagine having Eric Gordan coming off the bench) pick ups, this guy would be an excellent pick up.
Posted on June 21st, 2010 at 3:33 pm
I wish there was a draft breakdown on Paul George, Luke babbit soon
D.J. Foster Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Coming soon my man. Henry, George, and Babbit the last three on the list.
madglove Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 4:50 pm
I’ll definitely be interested to see what you have to say about Henry (who I like) and George (who I’m wary of).
Given that PG was just invited to the Green Room today, I’m wondering if the Clips are leaning his way.
chris. Reply:
June 22nd, 2010 at 8:41 am
Gordon Hawyard was also invited to the green room. Could get interesting.
Posted on June 21st, 2010 at 4:03 pm
What about Sofo’s teammate, Josh Childress? When he was in the NBA he improved his shooting every year and probably continued improving his shot in Europe. He’s got good D and can play the 2 and 3. I think he would be a good plan B if we don’t land Lebron over JJ.
Side note: If the Kings pick Cousins, I say we trade Kaman for Cousins and Garcia, headcase for headcase. Kings will get the proven headcase and we’ll get the younger headcase, and a good SF.
Posted on June 21st, 2010 at 5:53 pm
I would prefer if the Clippers passed on the draft this year. None of these players are game changers.
Posted on June 21st, 2010 at 7:58 pm
JaySee I like your thinking. Those two moves would improve us on the floor and in terms of cap space. Cousins will be as good or better than Kaman in a year or two and will come at a much lower cost. Don’t know much about Garcia but I don’t care. Even if he’s terrible I don’t think he earns much and can fill bench at a reasonable cost.
Josh Childress should be the Clips #1 choice. We may need to overpay a little to get him back to the US, but he’d still be a bargain since he’s so undervalued by everyone else. All great teams have guys like him that can do all the important stuff the “stars” can’t be bothered with.
Still love the idea of giving up the 8 for Ty Lawson as well.
JaySee Reply:
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:54 am
Ty Lawson? It’s better to trade down for money and Eric Bledsoe.
Posted on June 21st, 2010 at 11:40 pm
most euro players take a while to adapt to the nba and its bs… if we want anything from this guy we should get the ball rolling before he’s too old. Would be cool to have a big body at center and run kaman at PF every once in a while since his defense and rebounding are declining.
Posted on June 22nd, 2010 at 3:32 am
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