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Sounds like Najera is using the Spurs' interest simply to get a better deal out of the Nets.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/new...uggets-najera/
Najera meets with Nets, talks up Spurs
By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News
Originally published 09:26 p.m., July 10, 2008
Updated 10:13 p.m., July 10, 2008
Indications are the Nuggets want to bring back the great majority of their players from last season. They might want to act soon if Eduardo Najera is to be one.
Najera, a free-agent forward, was in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday, where New Jersey is playing in a summer league, to meet with Nets officials about a possible contract. Najera has a good relationship with Nets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe, who had the same le in Denver during Najera's first 11/2 Nuggets seasons.
Then there's San Antonio, where Najera attended high school. Najera said Thursday that "San Antonio has moved up" in the quest to land him.
Najera, whose preference has been to return to Denver, said in the late-afternoon interview he had yet to receive any offers.
Najera, who Wednesday showed strong interest in New Jersey, declined to elaborate on his dealings with the Nets.
But he spoke more freely about the Spurs.
"San Antonio, they're trying to work some things out in terms of years and all that," Najera said. "I'm open."
The Nets and Spurs present different challenges from a contract standpoint. The Nets can offer more out of the midlevel exception of $5,585,000, but they are reluctant to hand out much money past summer 2010 because of an expected run at likely free agent LeBron James.
The Spurs have less money available for next season. After agreeing to a two-year, $7.5 million deal with free agent Roger Mason Jr., they have about $2 million left in the midlevel exception as well as the $1.91 million biannual exception.
The Nuggets are deep into the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax. So they would pay double the money for a contract signed by Najera.
The Nuggets are continuing to look to bring back players from last season. Free-agent point guard Anthony Carter already has said he will return on a one- year, $1.26 million deal.
Free-agent guard Yakhouba Diawara said he spoke Tuesday with Nuggets coach George Karl. Diawara said Karl echoed what Carter said Karl had told him the same day.
"Yeah, he said they pretty much want the same team back," Diawara said.
That includes Diawara.
"(Karl) said he wants me back on the team," Diawara said. "He likes my at ude and what I bring to the team."
Diawara and his agent, Bouna Ndiaye, received calls Tuesday from the Nuggets after neither had heard a word from them during the first week of free agency.
"It's a little surprising, but they said it took awhile," Diawara said. "There were some things on their mind, like the salary cap."
Diawara, who said he hasn't gotten any offers, said he has interest in returning but also wants to continue to look at other teams in the mix, which include Dallas, Memphis, Miami and San Antonio. Any Nuggets offer likely would be for the minimum of $797,581.
Meanwhile, there have been reports out of New Jersey the Nets might remain interested in trading for Nuggets center Marcus Camby, another Vandeweghe favorite. While the Nuggets earlier this offseason were known to have been willing to move Camby, that now would go against Karl's reported comments about wanting to bring back a similar team.[/quote]
Sounds like Najera is using the Spurs' interest simply to get a better deal out of the Nets.
Well - doesn't sound like there's much of a market for Eddie so far. I'd like the Spurs to pick him up but I don't see how they do it with how little they have less. If they do manage to get him that would be great and they'd get another good defender and a very good rebounder for his size.
God is there a decent free agent that doesn't name drop the spurs as a bargaining chip for more money? Seriously go pick on the lakers or the Celtics fans. I'm sick of all of you Bull ters.
Seems like many free agents out there like to trump up the Spurs name in order to increase their market value.
I'm not sure how many years the Spurs put on a contract for Najera would matter that much. Using what's left of the MLE, they could offer him a 4 year, $9 mil contract with a player option after the 3rd season, at which time they'd have his full Bird Rights. Of course, he'd be 35 years old then. They could also offer a 3 year, $6.5 mil deal with a player option after the 2nd year. That would allow him to be a free agent in the summer of 2010 and also give the Spurs Early Bird Rights for him. It would seem that the best they could do is offer a wink and nod that they'd take care of him then.
Nets could offer him something like 2 years, $11.6 mil which wouldn't crimp their Summer of LeBron plans.
That is a great problem to have
Anyways, the window is closing on Najera's NBA career. I would be surprised to see him take the Spurs' offer. But signing him and moving Bonner wouldn't be bad, especially now that he can hit the 3.
Yeah, Najera would be a good addition but the Spurs are going to get outbid. They simply don't have the money. On top of that, they likely won't offer him a long-term deal to try to make-up for that lack of money ... so basically Najera would have to sign with the Spurs for less. Don't see it happening.
Diawara is pretty much an unknown player but he's athletic and is a willing defender. Wouldn't mind him as an end of the bench minimum player. The thing I like most about Diawara is his agent. Bouna Ndiaye is a bad azz. He's the guy who got Mahinmi to hide out so the Spurs could draft him. He's also the guy who let the Spurs hide Batum's test results. I wouldn't mind the Spurs signing Diawara as just a tip of the cap to Ndiaye
bleh! try and sign Diawara for the LLE; would be more than what Denver would probably pay him...
do the nets even need him? arent they just tanking to get picks and saving money..
hmm.. thats a good point. if he could get a higher deal out of the nets i dont see why he wouldnt take it.
Spurs seem to be going for the blank slate with respect to 2010, though you would like to see them make an exception under certain cir stances. Najera is a hard nosed pain in the ass who will crash the boards, take hard fouls, and administer them. Having him and Thomas together would make me feel good about the frontcourt outside of Duncan for a change. If the Spurs did somehow manage to sign him, he'd be on a very cap friendly deal.
Has anyone even began to ponder the notion the Spurs might not get Kurt Thomas? We will be in a world of hurt if that happens. I know we have his Birds but how much do you think we are willing to spend?
What it will take to keep him. The Spurs dealt for him, he didn't disappoint, and he's been someone they've liked for a long while. Besides, Holt Cat just got a check for $3 mil+ from the NBA.
Missing out on Kurt Thomas would be an immense failure considering the way the off season has gone. You have to get this guy because you really leave yourself no options on anyone else out there with the money you have. With the Spurs not being in Luxury Tax danger they should do whatever it takes to reup Thomas and if they don't its just a huge failure.
Ya, but he is UFA, so it is his choice, I am getting a little nervous about the situation to be honest. This just seems like something is off...if Kurt really wanted "x" amount of dollars, the Spurs could of said ok and just signed him. Which means one of two things: he is serious about playing elsewhere in search of a ring or he asked for too much money and the Spurs are trying to negotiate. Either way, it makes me uneasy.
Thomas would have to get one of an offer for the Spurs not to step up and match. Even if Thomas gets an outrageous three-year, $15M offer, the Spurs will probably counter with a two-year, $12M ... which should be enough.
The Spurs can't afford to let Thomas get away. Luckily, I haven't heard too many teams making a huge push for him.
That does not help the cap situation in any way and he will not overpay (by a large amount if it comes to that). Plus, it is out of the Spurs hands, that is what makes me nervous.
Day two of free agency just ended. Patience.
Uh, it will help with actually writing the checks to pay him. The cap isn't that much of a concern right now.
What I meant was that 3 million does not officially mean you can offer more money. I know the cap is not a concern (to a certain degree) but it is still food for thought.
You know...Najera might be getting to that age where he is starting to think ring...plus it could be in a town he likes.
I gotta think Najera is tired of playing for also-rans...also, he's a tough hard nosed player that always seems to wind up playing for pussy teams mostly, and he's probably tired of doing that...I don't think it's out of the question he might take less money(if it's not that much less).
He might be seeing what he could get...but if he can't get that much more I think it's entirely possible he might opt for the Spurs if they are interested.
I agree, I was just spit-balling...I was just going over in my head that if the Spurs know they need him, are willing to pay a large amount for him, then why do they not step up and make him an offer he can not refuse?
This is the San Antonio Spurs. Cash matters.
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