Nik a Ca once again

Submitted by Streetchemist on February 11th, 2019 at 11:11 AM

Yes Nik was already a Cav for a short period of time, but after being traded to the rockets, and then the Pacers, and then waived, he signed with Cavs for the rest of this season.

Interesting that this doesn't violate the Big Z rule.  For those unaware, once you trade a player and that player is then waived or bought out by his new team, he's not eligible to go back to his original team.  Since the Cavs are were twice removed from being the original team, he was eligible to sign with them.

This is probably Nik's best bet at staying in the league.  He'd get almost no playing time for any playoff team like the Pacers or Rockets.  He may get starter level minutes on a severly tanking team like Cleveland.  

Kilgore Trout

February 11th, 2019 at 11:18 AM ^

Good for him. Wonder if he actually went to any of those places last week or just hung out and waited until it all stopped. Assume his agent was aware of what was coming.

Also missing a "z" in the title that would be really helpful.

ypsituckyboy

February 11th, 2019 at 11:23 AM ^

Does he get to double dip on salary? I assume when he was waived he had to be paid out, so I wonder if the Cavs have to pay him the league minimum (pro-rated) for the remainder of the year.

CalifExile

February 11th, 2019 at 1:39 PM ^

I think that a team that negotiated a contract with a player is responsible for meeting the requirements of the contract. The specific terms of a trade might then shift part of the obligation to the new team (although the original team would still have to guarantee the obligation is met). I don't think any of the teams a player is traded to have any obligation until they negotiate a contract with the player.

That's how it should work under general rules of contract law. The contract between the NBA and the players' association could create different obligations.

UMAmaizinBlue

February 11th, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^

This has been both the craziest trek I've seen a professional athlete take in a week, and the best continuity in titles from the board regarding said trek. Well done everyone!

Stay.Classy.An…

February 11th, 2019 at 11:42 AM ^

I seriously thought the Warriors or another title contending team would sign him just to have sit in the corner and shoot 3s. He shoots at a 35% clip, I'm sure that would go up if all he had to do was catch and shoot. I hope he finds a great niche somewhere, because he is just an average NBA player. Which is unfortunate because I thought his game would transition well to the NBA. I really think if he could settle in somewhere as a 6th or 7th man and keep the jumper wet, he could be a poor mans Jamal Crawford.

AC1997

February 11th, 2019 at 12:45 PM ^

This is the most baffling part of Nik's career in the NBA to me.  If anything you thought he'd be a good shooter from all of the records he set, all of those videos of him shooting all over the gym, challenging Curry to a shooting contest, etc.  Instead he's been a very average 3pt shooter (34-35%) in a league where that skill is so critical.  Nik was never known for his defense and doesn't have elite athleticism to get his own shot as easily in the NBA - so you have to be able to nail open 3s.  

Maybe someone has access to some advanced stats that indicate whether he's awesome at catch-and-shoot or open 3s and just bad at anything contested.  

Stay.Classy.An…

February 11th, 2019 at 1:03 PM ^

@DY,

Touche and thanks for the information. My hope for Nik is that he will settle into the role of catch and shoot maestro. I think his lack of athleticism and inability to play defense definitely limits what he can do around the league. IMO, if he concentrated more on just being a shooter, he probably has better luck sticking around the league. Thus, his 3% should increase, because his game would more focused on making open shots, instead of creating them, which I think is where a lot of his problems on offense stem from. 

Streetchemist

February 11th, 2019 at 2:54 PM ^

The problem with what you're saying is, the Cavs are absolute dogshit and don't have any players who will be able to consistently create open shots for him.  He's going to have to assume somewhat of a playmaking role in order to get his shots.  The good news is he should get a ton of playing time to work on those abilities.

footballguy

February 11th, 2019 at 3:13 PM ^

Nik is not an average NBA player. That's not a slight against Nik, because he is in the top .0002 percent of basketball players on earth, but he is a below average NBA player. He will be in the G league this season or next.

I just think it's important to understand just how insane the talent and skill levels are in the NBA. It's the hardest league to make it in

Cruzcontrol75

February 11th, 2019 at 12:06 PM ^

Karsch & Anderson (97.1) were just talking about this journey of Nik’s last week.  I think Karsch had mentioned that Nik should get a Jersey from each team, Having played or not.   

mGrowOld

February 11th, 2019 at 12:24 PM ^

Gonna be quite a game tonight at the Q as the Cavs, losers of 4 in a row and currently sitting at the bottom (or top depending on your perspective) of the standings host the Knicks.  They having lost 14 in a row and only 1/2 games behind (ahead?) of the Cavs in the race to the bottom.

ATC

February 11th, 2019 at 2:06 PM ^

Thumbs up for promoting electrolytes.....Potassium and Calcium play a necessary and vital role in performance ....  unfortunately, 10% of the population is allergic to nickel.