Spurs and Parker getting close ...

[timvp]

Parker negotiations continue: Tony Parker's agent, Marc Fleisher, said Sunday he hopes to receive another contract extension proposal from the Spurs within the next few days. "I wouldn't say we're close," Fleisher said, "until after I get a chance to see (the proposal)."

Parker said last week he is "very confident" a deal will be reached by Sunday's deadline. Parker and the Spurs are about $5 million apart on the total value of the six-year extension, though a number of other stumbling blocks still remain in the way of an agreement.

[Kori Ellis]

$5M seems so small that they must get it done.

But what are the "number of other stumbling blocks still remain in the way of an agreement"?

[TheWriter]

I wonder if there will be a "no playing for France" clause in the contract.

[timvp]

This is damn good news. I highly doubt either side will let $5M stand in the way of getting this done.

:elephant

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Other stumbling blocks = Spurs Silver Dancers in French maid outfits.

[timvp]

I wonder if there will be a "no playing for France" clause in the contract.

Hopefully ... but I doubt it.

[boutons]

I wonder if they're trying to backload Parker's contract to leave some $room for a year or 2 (with no change in total $$ to TP) to bring Scola in, and then risk the happy $problem of how to pay Scola if he works out?

[genghisrex]

Maybe the Spurs want TP to defer some of the money in exchange for a higher $ contract?

[spurster]

Backloading or frontloading does not affect cap space.

And yeah, $5M is chump change.

[xcoriate]

If they're only 5M apart it should get done, a compromise should be found.


Right...

[Spurbanana]

I believe Tony said he would sign his contract in 4-5 days on his last radio show in France. That was Thursday.

[timvp]

I think they'll come to an agreement in the next day or two. It would be stupid for both sides to come this close and then put it off until next summer.

[FromWayDowntown]

When this process started it would have been foolish for either side to not get this done. I have to believe that if they're as close as is being reported, that something will get done -- they've already blown off that first artificial deadline, which suggests to me that they intend to get this done soon.

[Kona]

i hope this happens, quickly.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Split the difference. 2.5M.

[Kori Ellis]

It doesn't seem that the money is the main issue.


though a number of other stumbling blocks still remain in the way of an agreement