Cassell wants a buyout

[Raji]

Sam Cassell acknowledged Monday that he is seeking a buyout of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, opening the possibility he could land with the Boston Celtics or another NBA team priming for a playoff run.

Cassell
"They've been discussing it, so what more can I say?" Cassell said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Both parties are getting to a number and saying, 'OK, this is what we'll do it for.' I just want to be treated fairly."

The Boston Globe reported that according to a Clippers source, the team will announce the buyout on Tuesday. The Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets are preparing to make Cassell an offer once he clears waivers in 48 hours, NBA sources indicated, according to the report.

If Cassell wants to join a playoff-bound team, a buyout and subsequent release by the Clippers needs to happen by Saturday. Under league rules, a player waived after March 1 and signed for the rest of the season is not eligible to play in the playoffs.

Cassell has talked about the situation with Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, the newspaper reported.

"My level of respect for [Dunleavy] has grown," Cassell said, according to the Times. "He understands the situation and he's been great about it. There's no love lost, but it ain't like I've got five more years of basketball. I've got two at the most, but one definitely.

"I can't knock him at all. If it was his whole decision, it might have happened. But it ain't his decision."

Earlier this month, the Globe reported that Cassell was seeking a buyout from the Clippers, with the intent of joining the Celtics. Cassell later said that he had been misquoted in that report.

According to the Times, the Clippers attempted to deal Cassell as part of a multi-player trade with the Memphis Grizzlies that would sent have Mike Miller to Los Angeles -- and when that trade fizzled just before the deadline, there wasn't time to revisit other trade possibilities.

"I've been dealing with this for a month and it's going to come to an end soon. Hopefully something positive will come of it. I'll let it rest and hopefully everything will work its way out," Cassell said before Monday's game against the Celtics, according to the Globe. Cassell did not play in Boston's 104-76 rout of the Clippers.

"My agent has been talking to them about it, but until he calls me and tells me to pack my bag, I'm still here," Cassell said, according to the Globe.



Raji