Sam Wants a Buyout: Will He Get One?

February 24, 2008
Section: Sports
CLIPPERS REPORT
Cassell leans toward a buyout request
Jonathan Abrams
Times Staff Writer

The clock is ticking faster on Sam Cassell's time to arrange a buyout of his contract in hopes of signing with a playoff-bound team.

In order to become eligible to play elsewhere, Cassell would have to arrange a buyout by March 1.

"It's getting close ain't it?" he said.

Cassell, who went untraded by Thursday's deadline, appears to be leaning toward requesting a buyout, essentially a divorce between him and the team, which will cause him to forfeit some of his remaining $6.1 million.

When asked if that was the path he is seeking, Cassell responded on Saturday:

"The question is, will they give me a buyout?"

But Cassell, 38, has also said that he is willing to finish out the remainder of the season's 29 games and his contract with the Clippers.

He added he would rather focus on playing basketball and allow agent David Falk to handle the business aspects of it.

"That's what I hired David for," he said.