Rumor: Warriors Looking to Buy Out Adonal Foyle's Contract

by Atma Brother ONE on Nov 11, 2006 10:27 AM PST in Rumors Comment 19 comments

Western Conference drop #6 in ESPN.com's weekend edition of the Daily Dime offers some news that shouldn't come as too much of a shock to Warriors Nation:

The Warriors, according to NBA front-office sources, are trying to buy out the contract of center Adonal Foyle, who played just six minutes in Golden State's first six games under Nelson and clearly has no role in Oakland given Nellie's preference for smaller lineups.

I honestly have to say I feel a little conflicted about a buyout with Adonal Foyle. If the buy out goes down, I'm really going to miss the man. He's the nice guy with no skill you always root for. Plus, Foyle's the longest tenured Warrior- he's the face of the franchise! Do you realize that Adonal was here back when PJ Carlesimo "kindly requested" for Latrell Sprewell to "put some mustard on that pass"? Adonal is a community man and the world needs more people like him.

Basketball-wise buying out Foyle is an absolute no-brainer. The Warriors screwed up big time when they drafted him #8 overall in 1997 one spot ahead of... Tracy McGrady. Then in the ultimate "man, how hard did inflatable Thunder bonk you upside your head?" in the 2004 offseason Chris Mullin and company handed Adonal an absurd 6 year deal worth $42 million (see Worst FA's since 1996). And you know the rest (see Adonal Foyle's 2005-2006 GSoM report card). Foyle has gone on to produce these unforgettable "highlights":

Offensive "Powerhouse"
Throwing it down with AUTHORITY.

(by adonalmao)

A Tim Duncan-like touch off the glass

(by adonalmao)

Defensive "Force"
Defending the paint

(by ezesports)

Swatting shots into the 12th row!

(by BBJ)

A move like this has Coach Don Nelson's finger prints all over it. Nellie has essentially taken Adonal off the roster and without a doubt recently had one of those "are you outta your got damn mind?" conversations with his pupil Chris Mullin about Foyle's contract.

It'll be interesting how much of their salary cap the Warriors will be able to free up, if this buy out does indeed go down. Contract buy outs in the NBA and their salary cap ramifications are pretty complicated, so we'll all be paying close attention to the terms of the buy out.

Do you want the Warriors to buy out the remaining 4 years on Adonal Foyle's contract?

Props to loyal GSoM community member ON THE RUN for posting this in the diary Warriors trying to buy out FOYLE's contract!

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What are the benefits of this buy out?

One thing that really interests me are the benefits of this BUY OUT if any. What do we get if we are able to work this out other than an open roster spot? How would the Salary Cap be effected? Does this free up some money to possibly resign Pietrus? I'm sure a team will pick up Foyle i.e. the Lakers (Mihm done for the season) Sonics (Swift done for the season) or Kings (B. Miller out a few weeks). So i guess that game he started a few days ago was a failed attempt to maybe showcase him to other teams?

by ON THE RUN on Nov 11, 2006 10:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Pietrus?

Ow, if all we gain by eating crow and a whole lot of Foyle's contract is extending Pietrus then it's not even worth it ... that doesn't even qualify as addition by subtraction ... you're right though, once liberated from that contract Foyle will get picked up by a team in need of a backup C, probably quickly

by hardcore on Nov 11, 2006 11:57 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You Can't Be Serious

I seriously doubt a contender will pick up Adonyl.

And even if one did, I guarantee you they will pay he a minimum, short-term contract.

And even if one does, surely no rational Warrior faithful really fears seeing Adonyl on the court against us.

by pineriver on Nov 11, 2006 1:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

serious? it's a lock

you're right, he's gonna get offered a min contract or slightly above, but he's made his coin (thanks Mully) and Foyle can be what he always should have been - a part time back up C (oh ya, he was on the Ws too, behind Dampier - a mediocre C if there ever was one) but this time on a decent team. And you're the one inserting the "contender" here, though I could see him picked up by an upper half team hoping to fortify their depth ... as for fear, nah, no fear here except for another 12 phugging years ...

by hardcore on Nov 11, 2006 4:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Zorgon

ain't gonna be happy about this one.

by mistererickk on Nov 11, 2006 11:03 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Salary Cap

My understanding is that the Warriors would gain a roster spot and a chunk of dead money on the salary cap. The same thing happened here in Milwaukee a few years ago with Jason Caffey.

The problem is that Foyle & his agent are obviously smarter than Mullin. Exhibit A would be the contract they got out of him. And with Foyle's involvement with the Players Union, he is gonna know the rules so well that he's probably not going to lose one guaranteed dime.

So then he'll be free to move to LA and play for Phil Jackson (at league minimum), who would know how to hide his weaknesses and play to his strengths.

by clem on Nov 11, 2006 11:19 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

what strengths

no offense but he does some things okay or pretty good at best but i still wouldn't call them his strengths

by travisl212 on Nov 11, 2006 7:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

those videos were cold. but the last one did make me think: foyle is the only warrior on the roster that would have a chance of slowing down amare or anyone similar. the warriors are gonna get dominated vs the suns, spurs, etc. that being said, i think we should do this to free up a roster spot for someone who may actually be able to contribute

by AJC3317 on Nov 11, 2006 12:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Adios, Amigo

Great move. Do it, Now.

Adonyl play for Phil Jackson? Surely you jest.

How many times are Warrior faithful going to act sentimental over Adonyl and remind us what a great guy he is? There's lots of great guys out there that come a lot cheaper.

If our organization's goal is to build a championship contender, then there is no room for Adonyl on the roster. Plain and simple.

He's already a multimillionaire, thanks to the GSW. Let him enjoy his riches and move on. Thanks for the memories. Peace.

by pineriver on Nov 11, 2006 1:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Would we keep him...

... if he weren't paid so much? Don't we need a big body for certain teams like the Heat, Houston, etc. If we were paying him the minimum, or a mil, there'd definitely be games where his size would be useful.

by krawdaddee on Nov 11, 2006 1:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Don't we need a big body?

Yes, It would make things a lot easier! But if they won't play TheDonal now while paying him bigtime then they probably wouldn't play him if they were payin him smalltime? If he'd played against LA we might have won, I can't picture the lakers gettting inside as much against foyle as they did against the team that played. If he'd dressed for the home opener the team spirit woulda been a lot better than it was.
LA has the kid bynum so they probaly don't need another center for now, maybe seattle with Swift out would be a good place for foyle?

by Skeptic con Urquell on Nov 11, 2006 2:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Poetry:

My life is now an empty shell.

by Zorgon on Nov 11, 2006 4:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I feel you man

If Foyle does get bought out, I'm really going to miss the guy. Someday he's gonna be runnning the NBA Cares/ Read to Achieve program!

by Atma Brother ONE on Nov 11, 2006 4:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Even more so for me

Foyle has always been on this team for as long as I've been a fan. This changes thw whole face of the team for me. I'm used to big defensive black centers. Now we got some skinny Latvian. (No offense to Andris, a cool dude.)

That, to me, has just been the defining point of the Warriors. MY Warriors. Now I'm just going to have to bear with it and face this regime change. (Keep in mind I've only been a fan since '98.) For a while, the Warriors will probobly seem like a team a I used to liek but now just pure evil. Hopefully, in time, that will change. But right now I'm hating the Warriors. The new Warriors I don't know. I need to find a new player to love.

by Zorgon on Nov 11, 2006 5:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

it ain't over yet...

have no fear, the salary cap may just keep adonal here for a few more years...

All-time Oakland Warriors starting five: Hardaway, Richardson, Mullin, Larry Smith, Robert Parish

by OaktownWarrior on Nov 11, 2006 7:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rumors?

Interesting comments on Hoops Hype about Adonyl and Mike Dunleavy.

http://www.hoopshype.com/rumors.htm

(Sorry if somebody already alerted GSOM to the Mike Dunleavy rumor.)

by pineriver on Nov 11, 2006 7:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

hmm

I don't see the benefits on buying him out..but i don't see the benefit wiht him on the team either. I don't hate Foyle as a person hes a great guy but, he should be doing work off the court, hes better at that..ouch*

In short, I think hes garbage and the a huge waste oe money, and draft pick..7th overall right?

by djchuckdeez on Nov 12, 2006 3:39 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Update from Janny Hu

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/12/WARRIORS.TMP&feed=rss.warriors

Seldom-used center Adonal Foyle did not deny that the Warriors have approached him about buying out the remainder of his three-year, $27 million contract, but said he was deferring all discussions and decisions to his agent, Lon Babby. "I'm going to get in shape and do what I can to help this team ... I don't want to be a distraction," Foyle said. "My agent is empowered to ... figure out what's the best place for me." Babby did not return calls for comment.

by Atma Brother ONE on Nov 12, 2006 8:27 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Foyle Sucks

I dont care how nice he is, if he was so nice and smart he would realize that he is getting way overpaid, and would pay tha warriors back. But since he wont do that he need to go. Cause AB is a stud, and Foyle is a slow, 2 inch vertical, cant dunk or hit tha rim dud. And whoever started tha "we want foyle!" chant should might as well chanted "Bring back Montgomery" because Nellie dont play that.

I love 2 tell tha truth, but I'm such a Good Liar

by JRichIsStillAGodButBiedrinsIsABeast on Nov 12, 2006 2:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs