Calling it quits is all in the timing

Hi Doug. When a player retires, and they still have years left on a guaranteed contract, do they still get all of their money? Does it depend on why they retire or the sport that they play? One scenario would be an NBA player on a max contract who, with a year left and still capable of playing, just decides that they don’t want to. — Mike K. The short answer is complicated. There’s “retired” and then there’s “filing the required retirement papers.” Most players who leave before their contracts run out, due to injury or a being waived in a prearranged deal or whatever, don’t file the papers — nor should they — and they’ll get every dime they are owed. In your scenario, I imagine a team would insist on papers being filed and save themselves some money. Two questions: Is Ross Atkins as bad as he appears? Is Kyle Dubas just moving bodies to be seen to be doing something? Would he acknowledge that by (over)paying William Nylander he created the cap crunch? — Stephen F. Since you asked … Ross Atkins has done nothing to make me think he could ever pull off a bold, franchise-changing deal that benefits his team. And after all the interviews I’ve seen and heard him do, I’ve come away thinking a variation of “this dude just doesn’t get it.” Maybe I’m wrong. I doubt it. Dubas has, by all accounts and my own observations, build a very good team that’s awfully close to legitimate contention. Is Steve Ballmer the most irritating man in the NBA? Or is he the most irritating man in the world? — Richard F. That was some display when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were introduced, wasn’t it? I don’t think there’s any debate about Ballmer’s business chops, but his overthe-top, um, enthusiasm for his Clippers is a bit off-putting. It would appear that your freeagent negotiating comments are being looked into by the NBA, and trust me I am 110 per cent with you. If even a fraction of what is being said about Leonard’s demands are true, I think he loses a lot of respect he gained over the last year. I can say, from this end, I will have a different opinion of him as a person. — Bob As I see it, there are two issues, kind of intertwined but not necessarily. The first is preemptive negotiations that have gone on forever through back channels and are probably easier to address. The second, and by far the more serious, is salary-cap contravention and that’s where the league has to put its focus. I trust they will. The Kawhi Saga. From the time he was traded to Toronto to signing with the Clippers, who distinguished themselves in the process, and who ultimately were made to look like fools? I’m talking about journalists, players, player reps, teams, team reps, everyone. — Paul M. I think both the Clippers and Raptors handled themselves perfectly through the process. I think the Lakers’ hubris shone through. I don’t think the reputation of Kawhi’s Uncle Dennis was at all enhanced, but everyone else seemed to do what was required to try to seal this deal. And with that, I think it’s time we put this to rest.