SFX’ ROB PELINKA resigned as the agent for restricted free agent CARLOS BOOZER “under pressure from his” firm, according to Brian Windhorst of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. Pelinka “had been under enormous scrutiny in recent days after he negotiated” a six-year, $68M offer sheet with the Jazz for Boozer. The Cavs, with whom Boozer played last year, “felt Pelinka and Boozer had gone back on a trust to re-sign in Cleveland” after the team let Boozer out of his contract a year early in order to re-work his deal. Cavs GM JIM PAXSON “privately called on Pelinka to resign.” Several agents and NBA GMs claimed that Boozer’s move “could destroy a necessary trust needed in negotiating future deals. Some threatened to hold the deal against Pelinka and SFX.” A source said that Boozer still intends to sign the Jazz’ offer sheet tomorrow (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 7/13). ESPN.com’s Chad Ford cited sources as saying that SFX and Pelinka “grew increasingly concerned in the aftermath of the agreement that Boozer’s betrayal would sully the reputation of the agency and prevent them from conducting good faith negotiations with league owners in the future” (ESPN.com, 7/12). Another source said SFX gave Pelinka “an ultimatum: Leave (Boozer) or be fired” (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/13).
NOT HIS FAULT: Boozer said of Pelinka’s resignation, “It was overwhelming for him. He was getting death threats. Rob Pelinka didn’t do anything wrong and I didn’t do anything wrong. He’s taken a lot of heat for something he doesn’t need to take heat for. This is the Cavs’ mistake. The Cavs created this” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/13).
