La Nación: article about Manu and his future in NBA

[jalberto]

Translation needed:

http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1242458+

Manu los tiene en un puño

Ahora que recuperó el mejor nivel y llueven elogios, es Ginóbili el que domina las negociaciones y podría decirles no a los Spurs. Manu los tiene en un puño .La ausencia de Parker le devolvió la titularidad y el manejo del equipo a Ginóbili; ahora los Spurs lo necesitan, ¿podrán retenerlo? Depende de Manu

Viernes 12 de marzo de 2010 | Publicado en edición impresa



Por Miguel Romano
De la Redacción de LA NACION

La pelota parece haber cambiado de dueño. Mientras Manu Ginóbili buscaba su mejor estado físico tras la lesión, trataba de recuperar el ritmo de competencia y escuchaba dolorosos juicios sobre su vigencia y excesiva veteranía, los dueños del circo racionaban la comida y jugaban con su ansiedad por definir el futuro, sin darle muchos minutos de acción.



Sin la mira afinada, con la confianza tambaleante y el liderazgo debilitado del jugador, los Spurs no quisieron ponerlo a la altura de Tim Duncan y Tony Parker, a quienes les renovaron el contrato un año antes de que venciera y hoy cobran mucho más que el argentino.

Manu eligió el silencio y duplicó su entrega y dinámica en la cancha hasta alcanzar un rendimiento óptimo que, de todos modos, no alcanzó para cambiar la situación. Sin embargo, aquella fantástica tapa a Kevin Durant, que demostró que aún es capaz de sorprender con jugadas espectaculares y saltar más de un metro, encadenada a la lesión en la mano de Tony Parker, que dejará al francés fuera de toda la serie regular, le sirvieron al bahiense una hermosa oportunidad para recuperar el balón. Como a él le gusta, metiendo la mano justa y rápida para contraatacar.

Los 38 puntos ante Cleveland y los 28 de anteanoche frente a New York, agregado a un gran número de asistencias y rebotes, más la toma definitiva del control remoto del equipo, provocaron que empezaran a encenderse los spots en su entorno. Que aumentaran los minutos en la cancha, que los periodistas de San Antonio que lo criticaron porque se lesionó en la selección ahora cambiaran su enfoque para destacar su preponderancia.

Ahora que Manu volvió a ser el Gran Manu, a los Spurs no les queda otra que tratar de retenerlo. Tienen tiempo hasta el 1° de julio, después será agente libre y podrá escuchar ofertas. ¡Y atención! La franquicia texana tiene sus finanzas por sobre el límite salarial y debería hacer un enorme esfuerzo para darle a Manu lo que él podría pedir. Y algo peor aún: por lo menos 15 equipos hace rato que están reservando dinero para invertirlo en LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh o el propio Ginóbili, que se ubica entre los ocho más cotizados y en ascenso, si mantiene este nivel de juego.

Mientras más rinda en estos dos meses más valdrá y más lejos estará de los Spurs. Porque pronto, en días más, la hasta ahora impasividad de los Spurs pasará a ser casi una afrenta para Manu, a no ser que le ofrezcan 16, 18 o 20 millones de dólares por tres o cuatro años. No hay que olvidar que Tim Duncan cobrará US$ 22.183.220 esta temporada. Manu los tiene ahora en un puño. Ahora el que decide es él.

Tranquilamente puede decidir hoy no entrar en negociaciones con los Spurs ni aceptar 13.000.000 de dólares y quedar libre en julio para escuchar ofertas interesantes de algunos de los tantos equipos con bolsillos llenos y faltos de figuras. En ese caso San Antonio se lamentará de no haberse arriesgado antes, cuando Manu lo necesitaba, cuando estaba de capa caída y esperaba un gesto de su amo.

Con la demostración de su vigencia, que tendrá que sostener, claro, el argentino puede inclusive manejar con otra soltura la posibilidad de jugar el Mundial de Turquía con la selección nacional. Algo por lo que quizá no hubiese podido luchar ni proponer si la oferta de renovación llegaba unos meses antes.

También tiene en su puño esa situación. La pelota celeste y blanca está en sus manos. Igual, aunque él habla en su columna de autoestima alta y dice estar muy contento, la presión por mantener un alto nivel en esto meses es fácil de comprender... puede valer millones.

66 puntos metió Ginóbili en los dos últimos partidos, casi un punto por minuto (jugó 70m)

22,4 puntos por partidos promedia en marzo; es el máximo goleador de San Antonio en el mes

54/57 son los tiros libres anotados e intentados de Manu Ginóbili en los últimos diez partidos

[Manu-of-steel]

Translation please? Thanks

[Marhq]

Nothing really newsworthy. It's an opinion piece about Manu's (possible) free agency.

Saludos.

[weebo]

Pretty much the same thing that's been said regarding Manu and his pending free agency.
With his increased production since Tony went down, Manu has a chance to further increase his chances for a big payout thus putting the Spur's collective nut sac in a vice.

[smeagol]

Agreed. lot's of opinion but I don't think much of it is factual. Die hard SA fans will not like it.



Manu has the Upper Hand

Now that he has regained his best shape and props are being heard left and right, it is Ginóbili who has the upper hand in the contract negotiations and could eventually say no to the Spurs. Parker’s absence has made Manu a starter again and now he controls the reigns of the team; the Spurs need him, will they be able to retain him? This depends on Manu alone.

Friday March 12, 2010


By Miguel Romano

LA NACION

It looks like the tables are turning. While Manu Ginóbili was looking for his game and his rhythm back after the injury, he was also hearing painful judgment calls regarding his health and his age, the owners of the circus were rationing his food and playing with his anxiety to decide his future, without giving him too many minutes of action.


Without his killer instinct, with a shaky confidence and his leadership weakened, the Spurs refused to put Manu at the same level as Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, players who saw their contracts renewed one year before maturity and now get pay paid much more than the Argentine.

Manu chose silence and doubled his effort on the floor, reaching an optimum playing level, but it was still not enough to change the contract situation. Nevertheless, that fantastic block against Kevin Durant, which showed hi is still capable of surprising everyone with spectacular plays and jump more a meter high, together with Tony Parker’s hand injury which will leave the Frenchman out of what’s left of the regular season, offered the man from Bahia Blanca a great opportunity to become once again the “owner” of the ball.

The 38 pts against Cleveland and the 28 pts against the NY Knicks, together with the high number of rebounds and assists, and the control he has taken of the team, have turned the spot lights on him again. His minutes on the court will go up; the sports writers that criticized him for getting injured with his NT will change their focus and start highlighting his importance to the team.

Now that Manu has become Super Manu once again, the Spurs have no other choice but to retain him. They have until July 1st, after that he will become a FA and will be able to listen to what other teams may offer. And beware! The Texas franchise has its finances over the salary cap and will have to make a great effort to be able to offer Manu what he might be in a position to ask for. And what is even worst: at least 15 teams have been clearing cap space for the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and eve the Ginóbili sweepstakes. Manu is nowadays one of the eight most sought after potential FAs, as long as he maintains this level of play.

The better he plays these next two months, the further away he will be from the Spurs. Because soon, in the next couple of days, what has been a state of passiveness by the FO will become almost an offense, unless the Spurs offer Manu $16, 18 or 20 million for three or four years. Let’s not forget Tim Duncan will get this year US$ 22.183.220. Manu now has them wrapped around his finger. He is the one who decides.

He can easily decide not to enter in negotiations with the Spurs and reject US$13.000.000 to become and FA in July in order to listen to other teams’ offers, which could be interesting given that some of them have their pockets full of money and they lack AS caliber players. In that case, SA will be sorry for not taking their chances earlier, when Manu really needed them, when Manu was going through rough times and need a gesture from the boss.

Now that he has regained his confidence and his playing level (he will have to further sustain it, of course), the Argentine could even manage differently the possibility of playing in the WC in Turkey for his NT, something he wouldn’t have been able to negotiate if he had renewed his contract earlier this year.

He also has that situation under his control. The white and light blue ball is in his hands. And even though he speaks in his column about a high level of confidence and the fact he is very happy with his playing level, the pressure of maintaining this for the next months is huge... it could be worth millions.


66 pts Ginóbili scored in his last two games, almost a pt per minute (he played 70 minutes)

22,4 pts per game is his average in March; hi is SA’s top scorer orf the month

54/57 are the FTs he has connected in his last 10 games

[urunobili]

nothing new... just an Argie writer trying to put pressure on the Spurs...

[oski1000]

nothing new... just an Argie writer trying to put pressure on the Spurs...

Spurs deserve the pressure.....

[fmedrano1977]

Basically saying the Spurs Organizations balls are in Manu's hands, due to his ressurection and he will be calling the shots come contract negotiation time.

[Seventyniner]

Ginobili definitely won't get $13M next season. $8-9M per for three years sounds more reasonable. Perhaps a partially guaranteed 4th season as a golden parachute for retirement (like McDyess's current deal).

[jalberto]

Ginobili definitely won't get $13M next season. $8-9M per for three years sounds more reasonable. Perhaps a partially guaranteed 4th season as a golden parachute for retirement (like McDyess's current deal).
It depends on how much other teams are ready to pay.
...........................
The important thing about this article is that it comes from someone who knows very well Ginobili's thoughts

[Cherry]

"The better he plays these next two months, the further away he will be from the Spurs"

[mountainballer]

what's that nonsense about rejecting 13 million?
and what do they talk about 16,18,20 for 3 or 4 years?
the first one is to much, the latter to little.

Manu will at least get the MLE for 3 years, offered from any of the contenders.
(especially Lakers) that's 19 million. he probably get's a 4th year. (not sure if this is even allowed, there is this 36 years rule). that would be 26 million.
I would say this is the bar, also for the Spurs.
Manu might get higher offers from cap space teams, that didn't succeed in the Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Johnson sweepstake. but those are not contenders. can't see Manu join such a team. (maybe except NY, when D'Antoni calls?)
and those teams also won't offer 10M per.
bottom line: the offer from the Spurs will need to be 3 years / 25 million. (starting at 7.5 million). this is significantly better than what he will get on the market from other contenders, but still not that much that it would destroy the Spurs chance to stay under the tax threshold next season. and it's reasonable considering what Manu can deliver over the next 3 years.

[Ryvin1]

what's that nonsense about rejecting 13 million?
and what do they talk about 16,18,20 for 3 or 4 years?
the first one is to much, the latter to little.

Manu will at least get the MLE for 3 years, offered from any of the contenders.
(especially Lakers) that's 19 million. he probably get's a 4th year. (not sure if this is even allowed, there is this 36 years rule). that would be 26 million.
I would say this is the bar, also for the Spurs.
Manu might get higher offers from cap space teams, that didn't succeed in the Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Johnson sweepstake. but those are not contenders. can't see Manu join such a team. (maybe except NY, when D'Antoni calls?)
and those teams also won't offer 10M per.
bottom line: the offer from the Spurs will need to be 3 years / 25 million. (starting at 7.5 million). this is significantly better than what he will get on the market from other contenders, but still not that much that it would destroy the Spurs chance to stay under the tax threshold next season. and it's reasonable considering what Manu can deliver over the next 3 years.

Yeah when I read the article and it said 16,18,20 for 3 or 4 years I was thinking if manu agrees to 16-20 million for 3 years, thats about 5.3 - 6.6 a year, even less if spread over 4 yrs, I think the spurs would do that deal for sure.

[alchemist]

I hope this moron doesn't think that Manu is getting a 16-20 million dollar a year check. (which sounds like it considering he included Duncan's salary next season)

[jalberto]

I think the article means 16, 18, 20 per year during 3 years

[baseline bum]

I think the article means 16, 18, 20 per year during 3 years

Just under $16 million is the absolute maximum he'd be allowed to sign for under the current CBA (in the off-chance that it holds up this summer). This writer is just ignorant as hell to think he could make Duncan money.... and LMAO @ anyone other than LeBron, Wade, Bosh, or Nowitzki getting $16 million.

[baseline bum]

Man, the thought that Manu would ever turn down a $13 million extension is ridiculously laughable too. I don't know what fucking planet Miguel Romano is living on.

[Kori Ellis]

Man, the thought that Manu would ever turn down a $13 million extension is ridiculously laughable too. I don't know what fucking planet Miguel Romano is living on.

Agreed. I think the max the Spurs are going to offer Manu is $10M a year -- and that would probably be no guarantee on the third year.

[DAF86]

I think the article means 16, 18, 20 per year during 3 years

No, he meant: 16, 18, 20 for three or four years so around 5+ millions per year, not crazy at all if you ask me, maybe even a little bit low IMO.

[DAF86]

Man, the thought that Manu would ever turn down a $13 million extension is ridiculously laughable too. I don't know what fucking planet Miguel Romano is living on.

I really doubt he's talking about a 13 mil per year contract.

[ElNono]

Just under $16 million is the absolute maximum he'd be allowed to sign for under the current CBA (in the off-chance that it holds up this summer). This writer is just ignorant as hell to think he could make Duncan money....

He is. He's also fully unaware of the CBA and all that stuff.

[jalberto]

.

http://argentina.manuginobili.com/

.

[Bruno]

Manu will at least get the MLE for 3 years, offered from any of the contenders.
(especially Lakers) that's 19 million. he probably get's a 4th year. (not sure if this is even allowed, there is this 36 years rule). that would be 26 million.
I would say this is the bar, also for the Spurs.

It isn't.

http://www.nbpa.org/sites/default/files/ARTICLE%20VII.pdf


Over 36 Rule: The following provisions shall apply to any Player Contract entered into, extended, or renegotiated that, beginning with the date such Contract, Extension or Renegotiation is signed, covers four (4) or more Seasons, including one (1) or more Seasons commencing after such player will reach or has reached age thirty-six (36) (an “Over 36 Contract”)

(i)
Except as provided in Section 3(a)(2)(ii)-(iv) below, the aggregate Salaries in an Over 36 Contract for Salary Cap Years commencing with the fourth Salary Cap Year of such Over 36 Contract or the first Salary Cap Year that covers a Season that follows the player’s 36th birthday, whichever is later, shall be attributed to the prior Salary Cap Years pro rata on the basis of the Salaries for such prior Salary Cap Years.

Manu's 4th year of his contract would be 2013-2014. Manu is born on July 28th, 1977. The 4th year would be an "over 36" one.

Manu's leverage is quite limited. Teams under the cap will focus on more long term options and teams over the cap will only be able to offer him $19M. Manu doesn't really have the upper hand. It's even more true that teams will be careful with a new CBA coming. IMO, he will re-sign with Spurs for $18M/2 years.

[smeagol]

You're welcome, you uni-lingual bastards . . . !

:lol

[rjv]

no mention of bird's rights belonging to the spurs. if anyone deserves to be overpaid it is manu and not RJ.

[blkroadrunners]

Manu's leverage is quite limited. Teams under the cap will focus on more long term options and teams over the cap will only be able to offer him $19M. Manu doesn't really have the upper hand. It's even more true that teams will be careful with a new CBA coming. IMO, he will re-sign with Spurs for $18M/2 years.


:tu This is exactly the amount and term the Spurs should offer.

[blkroadrunners]

You're welcome, you uni-lingual bastards . . . !

:lol

Grassy ass.

[Rogue]

Agreed. I think the max the Spurs are going to offer Manu is $10M a year -- and that would probably be no guarantee on the third year.
the same amount he's currently paid? I think a considerable deduction should be ineluctably involved given how much he's slumped over these years since 07. A full MLE should be the best deal for both Manù and his team IMHO, then the team have the lowest payroll possible while Manù gets guaranteed the same amount sewed to a possible 2yr/20M deal, provided that's a multi-year extension extending to 2014 at nearest.

[Rogue]

no mention of bird's rights belonging to the spurs. if anyone deserves to be overpaid it is manu and not RJ.
I would rather pay the same overpayment to expel him the shit out than keep him in.

[Kamnik]

You're welcome, you uni-lingual bastards . . . !

:lol

:lol:toast

[BillMc]

Sadly, the upcoming off-season may be as interesting at the upcoming postseason