i've told him the same things the last few months that you just posted, and it doesn't matter to him. he's biased against bird, and for Zeke... no matter how many facts you present to him.

also... Reggie Miller's contract was up that summer as well. So he had to pay JO, Reggie, and Brad in the same summer... after paying Croshere and Bender all that money. Like you said, the Simons (owners of the team) didn't want to pay the luxury tax (and still don't)... so Larry and Donnie had to make a decision. Let one of the three go... well, you can't let JO go, he was the future. You can't let Reggie go, he's the franchise. So, they decided to sign and trade Brad for Pollard & Ferry. It's about all he could get considering the luxury tax threshold and the Simons' insistence on not paying it.