Clarín: Manu´s interview.He is quite sure he will be a free agent

lol Manu isn't going anywhere guys, I am 110% sure of this

For Ginobili:
He obviously became a business man once he got a cold shoulder from the Spurs about his extension. I highly doubt that this man will take any low ball offer the Spurs try to give him. I really don't see him in a Spurs uniform next season by him mentioning that he removed the personal side of signing his next contract.

For the front office:
These guys are probably going to take a pounding in PR if Ginobili signs somewhere else, but it's really not their fault that Manu was stubborn to play injured. They won't be able to low ball Manu this time, they burned their bridge with him personally.

It's all business now folks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by urunobili

Manu already has a gold medal.. the only big competition he hasn't won is the World Cup...

I think he wants to retire from the NT after Turkey 2010.... that's his last shot at winning that tournament...

---

Yes, I know.

Fact remains that the Spurs will be very reluctant to negotiate with Manu while the possibility exists that he plays in Turkey. The risks that they accepted in 2004 are not ones that they can accept in 2010.

one point people shouldn't ignore when evaluating Manu the situation:

Manu is a winner in the first place. this also means he is a winner, because he wants to win badly.
so, what if the Spurs go down again this PO? (neither the Jefferson, nor the Dice addition have been as successful as we all thought. a 2nd round exit against Lakers, Mavs or Nuggets isn't totally impossible)
what if Manu wants to leave, because he no longer thinks the Spurs can contend for a title? we know that Manu never thought about the money in the 1st place. he left money on the table in 2002 (when he signed for the LLE) and did again in 2004, when he could have got more.
if Manu hits the open market, I'm pretty sure he will get MLE offers from top teams. (especially the Lakers, maybe also the Celtics or Cavs).
THIS is the scenario I'm much more afraid of, than that the Spurs are outbid by a team with cap space.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fizzzar

I think this is worse than you guys think... let me translate one of his answers.

When asked if the team have given him signs about his contract he said:

"No, there were no signals. The last one was before I got injured last year and after that there was no more talking on the subject. At this point of the season I don't know if I would accept an extension, it depends on the offer. But I have my mind set on sitting with my agent and my wife on July 1st and see what options I have."

---

That is what the newspaper typed. But what Manu actually said (by listening to the audio interview)is: here's the exact translation to avoid madness and histeria:


"Im pretty sure I'll be a FA(...)and I don't expect to be resingned"

Are they giving you any sings?

"No there hasn't been any sings. The last one was before I got injured last year and after that there was no more talking on the subject. I don't know if it has much sense at this point".(sounds very casual about it, like doubtful). (He's saying this because of the 2010 offseason madness. Saying that the Spurs will probably wait to see what happens. Not because he didn't want to)
"It depends on what they'd offer me (giggle). But Im mentalized that on July 1st I'll sit down with my agent and wife and see where I continue my carreer"


To me it's more of the same, still he's very casual. He didn't sound upset at all. Very centered and he's never stated about leaving SA. He's still wishing that SA extends him after this seasons. Nothing new. The only thing he said is that Spurs won't extend him now. Which is obvious and Manu says the same, it wouldn't benefit the Spurs that's why they wont do it now. But he still sounds very wishful that Spurs will. And I think he still knows that depends on what he does this season.
Manm spanish can lead to very interpretations, don't buy what you read inmediatly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mountainballer

one point people shouldn't ignore when evaluating Manu the situation:

Manu is a winner in the first place. this also means he is a winner, because he wants to win badly.
so, what if the Spurs go down again this PO? (neither the Jefferson, nor the Dice addition have been as successful as we all thought. a 2nd round exit against Lakers, Mavs or Nuggets isn't totally impossible)
what if Manu wants to leave, because he no longer thinks the Spurs can contend for a title? we know that Manu never thought about the money in the 1st place. he left money on the table in 2002 (when he signed for the LLE) and did again in 2004, when he could have got more.
if Manu hits the open market, I'm pretty sure he will get MLE offers from top teams. (especially the Lakers, maybe also the Celtics or Cavs).
THIS is the scenario I'm much more afraid of, than that the Spurs are outbid by a team with cap space.

---

He left more money on the table because he thought he had a personal connection with the front office. That will NOT be the case this time, Manu will be thinking with his bank account in mind this time. The Spurs will need to put up the money or he'll probably leave.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DAF86

I really don't know, reading the Spanish version left me with the same doubts, he definitely doesn't expect to get an extension but the article makes me think that his chances of remaining a Spur are slim too.

---

the specific quote "no espero que me extiendan" is clear, he doesnt expect a contract extension. as fizzzar said, he even goes on to say that he's not sure he would accept any extension offer either, which is manu's way of saying tit for tat. and while he definitely sounds disappointed by all this, he never says anything to suggest that he doesnt want to be a spur or that he doesnt expect any offer from the team.

manu is basically accepting that the spurs will probably wait till FA to decide his worth, and saying that he will have to weigh that offer against any others he receives.

Something to keep in mind with Ginobili and the FA is the "over 36" rule. Because of that rule, the contract max length other teams can offer him is 3 years.

Teams over the cap can at best offer him a $19M/3 years contract. Teams under the cap are mainly in rebuilding mode. I really doubt they will be interested in a 33 years old Ginobili.

Spurs likely won't have to face teams throwing a lot of money to Ginobili next summer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mountainballer

one point people shouldn't ignore when evaluating Manu the situation:

Manu is a winner in the first place. this also means he is a winner, because he wants to win badly.
so, what if the Spurs go down again this PO? (neither the Jefferson, nor the Dice addition have been as successful as we all thought. a 2nd round exit against Lakers, Mavs or Nuggets isn't totally impossible)
what if Manu wants to leave, because he no longer thinks the Spurs can contend for a title? we know that Manu never thought about the money in the 1st place. he left money on the table in 2002 (when he signed for the LLE) and did again in 2004, when he could have got more.
if Manu hits the open market, I'm pretty sure he will get MLE offers from top teams. (especially the Lakers, maybe also the Celtics or Cavs).
THIS is the scenario I'm much more afraid of, than that the Spurs are outbid by a team with cap space.

---

True.

If the Spurs don't extend Manu during the season, then the chance that he leaves is much greater than the chance that the stays. He'll be able to choose between lucrative offers from teams with cap space and MLE offers from teams with better championship prospects.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bruno

Something to keep in mind with Ginobili and the FA is the "over 36" rule. Because of that rule, the contract max length other teams can offer him is 3 years.

Teams over the cap can at best offer him a $19M/3 years contract. Teams under the cap are mainly in rebuilding mode. I really doubt they will be interested in a 33 years old Ginobili.

Spurs likely won't have to face teams throwing a lot of money to Ginobili next summer.

---

hope you're right about it bruno

but... how on earth does a french man get to know so well the NBA trading rules. Are you some kind of an agent or what?

manu`s, as opposed to manu's ... do they not use the same apostrophes there?

i think they do, it just sometimes some keyboards don't have the apostrophe, so you use a combination of keys, resulting in that strange sign

Ginobli will be back sure of it, and well if we dont resign him the team im sure will sign another player younger and talented to take his spot there are plenty of players in this league who currently want to and have wanted to play in SA.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bruno

Something to keep in mind with Ginobili and the FA is the "over 36" rule. Because of that rule, the contract max length other teams can offer him is 3 years.

Teams over the cap can at best offer him a $19M/3 years contract. Teams under the cap are mainly in rebuilding mode. I really doubt they will be interested in a 33 years old Ginobili.

Spurs likely won't have to face teams throwing a lot of money to Ginobili next summer.

---

as I tried to explain, it won't be about the money in the 1st place.
I'm pretty sure either the Celtics and the Lakers will offer Manu this 3years/20 million, especially the Lakers will love to steal him and that way hurt the Spurs twice.
(they won't extend Fisher and the FA market for pure PG is poor. Ridnor or Watson? nahh. a player like Manu would be great for Jacksons system, could easily take Fishers role)
will the Spurs be willing to offer him that much more?

After reading the spanish article I feel a little bit concerned now. Let me explain.

1. Manu has always been very diplomatic with his responses. This time not so. He basically said "he thought the relationship was other" and that "he would re-sign depending on the offer".

2. His main business leverage now that he isn't consistently healthy anymore is himself as a trademark for the city, the team and other intangibles. He can still win championships but not playing a lot of minutes anymore.

3. Teams like Lakers and Boston will definitely attempt making an offer even for less money as they are still clear contenders to a title. Manu wants to win, regardless of what it takes. Also Kobe has many times praised Manu as "the other player in the league".

4. Spurs' FO will need to carefully study this situation. It isn't normal for a player to openly talk about these things in an interview. To me this is a huge read alert as Manu isn't the typical player opening his mouth to speak nonsense. He could be sending a signal to the FO or he could be telling them flat-out to not bother. Or he could be sending a signal to other teams to pay attention he will be free and start making plans accordingly.

5. In any case, I believe this could be the time when he's gone. Unbelievably so.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ShoogarBear

So, suppose at the end of the year, Manu is exactly the player he is now, no better, no worse. Shooting about 40% but passing well and making the intangible plays. Do the Spurs try to sign him (probably an easy question)? For how much and how long (much harder questions).

Because I think Manu's next contract with whomever is going to be for two-three years tops and a lot less money.

---

2 years, 16M

For those who talk about lakers, don't forget Kobe will lobby in order to get him if the right time comes. He's always praised as no other player.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by romain.star

but... how on earth does a french man get to know so well the NBA trading rules. Are you some kind of an agent or what?

---

:lol
I'm just curious and I find that quite interesting.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mountainballer

as I tried to explain, it won't be about the money in the 1st place.
I'm pretty sure either the Celtics and the Lakers will offer Manu this 3years/20 million, especially the Lakers will love to steal him and that way hurt the Spurs twice

---

My post wasn't an answer to yours. I was just saying that the biggest offer Manu would get on the FA market would likely be the full MLE on 3 years. It isn't at all crazy money.

I can see some contenders offering him a $19M/3 years contract but I don't see at all Lakers being interested to have him as starting PG mainly because it would be a disaster on the defensive end.

We have a bad habit in society of expecting the employee (on this case Manu) to be loyal and hard working yet allow the employer to be ruthless and cold. This is a minor example, a bigger one is all of the corporations that shit on their tenured employees to save a buck. It's just flat out wrong.

Sounds like any other pending FA...he's trying to get the maximum amount of money he can on his next & probably last contract....if the translation is correct, I am kinda dissapointed in Manu for going that route, I thought he was a little bit better than that, thats definitly one way to get the FO pissed off at you, talk about the contract you hope for next year while still being paid an assload of money to play bball THIS season..in the end it is a business & you cannot fault the team & Manu looking out for their best interests

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bruno

I can see some contenders offering him a $19M/3 years contract but I don't see at all Lakers being interested to have him as starting PG mainly because it would be a disaster on the defensive end.

---

whatever we call it, let's just call it guard, because Jackson doesn't make much difference between point and off guard anyhow.
I don't think Manu is much of a downgrade from Fisher on defense, in fact from Methusalem Fisher it is an upgrade. and if they face a bad match up they will bring in Brown (or even Farmer) to cover that player. not much difference to what they do right now. again, I'm pretty sure the Lakers will want Manu and I'm pretty scared about what Jackson can do with Manu in his system. (starting or not, this isn't the question anyhow)

Keep in mind Manu will have a family of 3 to feed this summer. He needs to think about his family's future. Oh, and there will be TONS of good teams interested in Manu. I really don't see Spurs retaining Manu unless they give him a FAT contract.

good thing out of all of this is: Manu will be playing at his max for this whole season. Probably his last season as a Spur regardless if they win the championship or not.

i dont think he be resigned by the spurs if we do shit in the playoffs, and with holt and the owners going all in this season...they dont wanna get rick rolled on the river with nothin

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ShoogarBear

So, suppose at the end of the year, Manu is exactly the player he is now, no better, no worse. Shooting about 40% but passing well and making the intangible plays. Do the Spurs try to sign him (probably an easy question)? For how much and how long (much harder questions).

Because I think Manu's next contract with whomever is going to be for two-three years tops and a lot less money.

---

He won't be, but if he does, I think the spurs still sign him. Pop has continually said how important Manu is to the system, and to bring in a new SG when Duncan's on his last years doesn't seem like a very good idea. I think manu gets a two year contract with a team option for the 3rd maybe, at a value a bit above the MLE, 6-7 a year I'd think

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Big P

Sounds like any other pending FA...he's trying to get the maximum amount of money he can on his next & probably last contract....if the translation is correct, I am kinda dissapointed in Manu for going that route, I thought he was a little bit better than that, thats definitly one way to get the FO pissed off at you, talk about the contract you hope for next year while still being paid an assload of money to play bball THIS season..in the end it is a business & you cannot fault the team & Manu looking out for their best interests

---

It doesn't sound anything like that to me, reading the interview (specially the "I thought the relationship was different" part) makes me think that something happened off court that broke Manu's relationships with the Spurs management, he sounds pissed/disapointed to me (and I'm sure that a member of the Spurs FO would sound the same talking about the subject).