tlongII
10-07-2008, 01:51 PM
http://www.columbian.com/article/20081006/BLOGS05/810069983/-1/blazerbanter
There is turning out to be some sad irony when it comes to Raef LaFrentz's injury.
For LaFrentz, the torn labrum in his right shoulder is a sad development for a guy who has been reduced to a benchwarmer after starting for most of his career, largely due to injuries. Two years ago, a nagging calf injury reduced LaFrentz's season to a mere 27 games. And in the midst of setting career lows for playing time (7.5 minutes), scoring average (1.7 ppg) and rebounds (1.7 rpg) last season, LaFrentz suffered the labrum tear that will sideline him for most of this season, if not all of it.
But for the Blazers, that injury has also turned LaFrentz into one of the most attractive trade assets on the market this season. When he was healthy, LaFrentz was already an attractive prize to teams looking to shed salary because of his expiring $12.7 million contract. But the injury adds another element: LaFrentz is insured against injury, and if he misses the first 41 games (which is almost certain) the Blazers, or whatever team he is traded to by that point, will start recouping 80 percent of his per-game salary for each additional game he misses.
So starting with game 42, LaFrentz's team would receive $124,122 back from his $155,152 per-game salary. That means a team that acquires LaFrentz before the 41st game (Jan. 19 vs. Milwaukee) could recoup as much as $5.1 million of whatever portion of LaFrentz's salary they take on in addition to gaining the benefits of his expiring contract. That's a combination that few other trade assets can match, so you can expect to hear a lot about LaFrentz as trade rumors begin to circulate.
Below is a game-by-game breakdown of how much the insurance could save teams.
Game Salary Owed if healthy Salary owed if injured Potential savings
Through
41 $6,361,250.04 $6,361,250.04 $0
42 $6,516,402.48 $6,392,280.53 $124,121.95
43 $6,671,554.92 $6,423,311.02 $248,243.90
44 $6,826,707.36 $6,454,341.51 $372,365.85
45 $6,981,859.80 $6,485,372 $496,487.80
46 $7,137,012.24 $6,516,402.49 $620,609.75
47 $7,292,164.68 $6,547,432.98 $744,731.70
48 $7,447,317.12 $6,578,463.47 $868,853.65
49 $7,602,469.56 $6,609,493.96 $992,975.60
50 $7,757,622 $6,640,524.45 $1,117,097.55
51 $7,912,774.44 $6,671,554.94 $1,241,219.50
52 $8,067,926.88 $6,702,585.43 $1,365,341.45
53 $8,223,079.32 $6,733,615.92 $1,489,463.40
54 $8,378,231.76 $6,764,646.41 $1,613,585.35
55 $8,533,384.20 $6,795,676.90 $1,737,707.30
56 $8,688,536.64 $6,826,707.39 $1,861,829.25
57 $8,843,689.08 $6,857,737.88 $1,985,951.20
58 $8,998,841.52 $6,888,768.37 $2,110,073.15
59 $9,153,993.96 $6,919,798.86 $2,234,195.10
60 $9,309,146.40 $6,950,829.35 $2,358,317.05
61 $9,464,298.84 $6,981,859.84 $2,482,4390
62 $9,619,451.28 $7,012,890.33 $2,606,560.95
63 $9,774,603.72 $7,043,920.82 $2,730,682.90
64 $9,929,756.16 $7,074,951.31 $2,854,804.85
65 $10,084,908.60 $7,105,981.80 $2,978,926.80
66 $10,240,061.04 $7,137,012.29 $3,103,048.75
67 $10,395,213.48 $7,168,042.78 $3,227,170.70
68 $10,550,365.92 $7,199,073.27 $3,351,292.65
69 $10,705,518.36 $7,230,103.76 $3,475,414.60
70 $10,860,670.80 $7,261,134.25 $3,599,536.55
71 $11,015,823.24 $7,292,164.74 $3,723,658.50
72 $11,170,975.68 $7,323,195.23 $3,847,780.45
73 $11,326,128.12 $7,354,225.72 $3,971,902.40
74 $11,481,280.56 $7,385,256.21 $4,096,024.35
75 $11,636,433 $7,416,286.70 $4,220,146.30
76 $11,791,585.44 $7,447,317.19 $4,344,268.25
77 $11,946,737.88 $7,478,347.68 $4,468,390.20
78 $12,101,890.32 $7,509,378.17 $4,592,512.15
79 $12,257,042.76 $7,540,408.66 $4,716,634.10
80 $13,963,719.60 $7,571,439.15 $6,392,280.45
81 $12,567,347.64 $7,602,469.64 $4,964,878
82 $12,722,500.08 $7,633,500.13 $5,088,999.95
There is turning out to be some sad irony when it comes to Raef LaFrentz's injury.
For LaFrentz, the torn labrum in his right shoulder is a sad development for a guy who has been reduced to a benchwarmer after starting for most of his career, largely due to injuries. Two years ago, a nagging calf injury reduced LaFrentz's season to a mere 27 games. And in the midst of setting career lows for playing time (7.5 minutes), scoring average (1.7 ppg) and rebounds (1.7 rpg) last season, LaFrentz suffered the labrum tear that will sideline him for most of this season, if not all of it.
But for the Blazers, that injury has also turned LaFrentz into one of the most attractive trade assets on the market this season. When he was healthy, LaFrentz was already an attractive prize to teams looking to shed salary because of his expiring $12.7 million contract. But the injury adds another element: LaFrentz is insured against injury, and if he misses the first 41 games (which is almost certain) the Blazers, or whatever team he is traded to by that point, will start recouping 80 percent of his per-game salary for each additional game he misses.
So starting with game 42, LaFrentz's team would receive $124,122 back from his $155,152 per-game salary. That means a team that acquires LaFrentz before the 41st game (Jan. 19 vs. Milwaukee) could recoup as much as $5.1 million of whatever portion of LaFrentz's salary they take on in addition to gaining the benefits of his expiring contract. That's a combination that few other trade assets can match, so you can expect to hear a lot about LaFrentz as trade rumors begin to circulate.
Below is a game-by-game breakdown of how much the insurance could save teams.
Game Salary Owed if healthy Salary owed if injured Potential savings
Through
41 $6,361,250.04 $6,361,250.04 $0
42 $6,516,402.48 $6,392,280.53 $124,121.95
43 $6,671,554.92 $6,423,311.02 $248,243.90
44 $6,826,707.36 $6,454,341.51 $372,365.85
45 $6,981,859.80 $6,485,372 $496,487.80
46 $7,137,012.24 $6,516,402.49 $620,609.75
47 $7,292,164.68 $6,547,432.98 $744,731.70
48 $7,447,317.12 $6,578,463.47 $868,853.65
49 $7,602,469.56 $6,609,493.96 $992,975.60
50 $7,757,622 $6,640,524.45 $1,117,097.55
51 $7,912,774.44 $6,671,554.94 $1,241,219.50
52 $8,067,926.88 $6,702,585.43 $1,365,341.45
53 $8,223,079.32 $6,733,615.92 $1,489,463.40
54 $8,378,231.76 $6,764,646.41 $1,613,585.35
55 $8,533,384.20 $6,795,676.90 $1,737,707.30
56 $8,688,536.64 $6,826,707.39 $1,861,829.25
57 $8,843,689.08 $6,857,737.88 $1,985,951.20
58 $8,998,841.52 $6,888,768.37 $2,110,073.15
59 $9,153,993.96 $6,919,798.86 $2,234,195.10
60 $9,309,146.40 $6,950,829.35 $2,358,317.05
61 $9,464,298.84 $6,981,859.84 $2,482,4390
62 $9,619,451.28 $7,012,890.33 $2,606,560.95
63 $9,774,603.72 $7,043,920.82 $2,730,682.90
64 $9,929,756.16 $7,074,951.31 $2,854,804.85
65 $10,084,908.60 $7,105,981.80 $2,978,926.80
66 $10,240,061.04 $7,137,012.29 $3,103,048.75
67 $10,395,213.48 $7,168,042.78 $3,227,170.70
68 $10,550,365.92 $7,199,073.27 $3,351,292.65
69 $10,705,518.36 $7,230,103.76 $3,475,414.60
70 $10,860,670.80 $7,261,134.25 $3,599,536.55
71 $11,015,823.24 $7,292,164.74 $3,723,658.50
72 $11,170,975.68 $7,323,195.23 $3,847,780.45
73 $11,326,128.12 $7,354,225.72 $3,971,902.40
74 $11,481,280.56 $7,385,256.21 $4,096,024.35
75 $11,636,433 $7,416,286.70 $4,220,146.30
76 $11,791,585.44 $7,447,317.19 $4,344,268.25
77 $11,946,737.88 $7,478,347.68 $4,468,390.20
78 $12,101,890.32 $7,509,378.17 $4,592,512.15
79 $12,257,042.76 $7,540,408.66 $4,716,634.10
80 $13,963,719.60 $7,571,439.15 $6,392,280.45
81 $12,567,347.64 $7,602,469.64 $4,964,878
82 $12,722,500.08 $7,633,500.13 $5,088,999.95