Why Nate Robinson Can Veto Trades

Nate Robinson will remain a Knick, reports Alan Hahn of Newsday, and this is hardly a surprise. Robinson's agent Aaron Goodwin told FanHouse last week that the guard would certainly be in Knickerbocker blue next season. Hahn reports Nate will sign a one-year deal at some amount above the $3 million qualifying offer which has been on the table since July 1. Fellow restricted free agent David Lee is expected to follow with a similar deal.

One item that might get some attention in the coming days is that Robinson can veto any trade involving him this season. No-trade clauses in the NBA are extremely rare -- only Kobe Bryant has a full-blown no-trade negotiated into his contract. But Nate isn't unique, and this clause hasn't been specially negotiated into his contract. All restricted free agents who sign a one-year contract with their incumbent teams (qualifying offer or otherwise) receive the same veto power.

Raymond Felton won this veto power when he signed (or when he signs) Charlotte's $5.5 million qualifying offer. Devean George had this right when he vetoed a trade to New Jersey -- a trade, I might add, in which he was a completely ancillary part of the equation, what with Jason Kidd and Devin Harris changing teams. When Lee signs his deal with the Knicks, he will also have veto power.

If one of these players does consent to a trade, however, he will lose his Bird rights, which means his new team will not be able to exceed the salary cap to sign him to a long-term deal next summer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. If Robinson were to veto a trade and finish the season as a Knick, he would still become an unrestricted free agent next summer ... but the Knicks would retain Bird rights, and could go over the cap to sign him, if need be. It also leaves open the possibility of a sign-and-trade, which would not be possible if Robinson were traded and his Bird rights were to consequently disappear.

Interestingly, while the trade veto power seems like a hindrance, it actually provides for more flexibility than in years past. Before the 2005-06 season, when the current collective bargaining agreement went into effect, players on deals similar to those to be signed by Robinson and Lee could not be traded that season under any circumstances.