Blair Signs Contract

[Ice009]

As of last night, the deal the Spurs had on the table for Blair was similar. The sticking points were who had the option on the final year, what clauses would be included (weight clause, offseason workout clause) and if the Spurs would have any protection if something happens to his knees.

Hopefully McDonald can get specifics.

Did they use the MLE to sign him or LLE?

[poeticism707]

Everybody talks about how unlucky Blair was on draft day. But if Blair got more than late 1st Round pick money, he actually got very lucky in the draft.

He makes more in salary than he would have if he was drafted earlier and goes to the perfect team -- where he can play for big stakes in the spotlight right off the bat.

I agree completely.

[DPG21920]

No one knows for sure yet what the specifics are.

[Da Spurs]

Of course not. Why I suggested, is that thinking he's earned the right to sit out of Summer games until his contract is negotiated, is VERY FOCUSED ON SELF: ie selfish. He could have EASILY continued negotiations BEHIND THE SCENE, and NO ONE would have known about it. There would be no "swirling rumors" floating around the web.

He played the first game and showed them what he can do. The guy is a horse with no ACLs. He had to get his insurance in order and finalize his contract. I have absolutely NO PROBLEM with that. He's already guaranteed a spot on the team. Playing a summer league game for him is totally meaningless.

[Kori Ellis]

Of course not. Why I suggested, is that thinking he's earned the right to sit out of Summer games until his contract is negotiated, is VERY FOCUSED ON SELF: ie selfish. He could have EASILY continued negotiations BEHIND THE SCENE, and NO ONE would have known about it. There would be no "swirling rumors" floating around the web.

I'd be the first to say I have NO IDEA if this is true, but IF IT IS, then Blair put himself above the team to do it.

Think about it: do you know how many NBA players have played out this very scenario through summer league? Some worse, some better, some All-Stars, and so on. If he was so determined to prove the other teams were foolish for not drafting him because of his knees, WHY DEMAND A CONTRACT WITHOUT PLAYING ANOTHER GAME BECAUSE OF THOSE VERY SAME KNEES?!?!? AND AFTER ONLY 1 GAME?!?!?

Again, I don't know if it's true, but if it is, then Blair put himself above the team in doing this.

As I earlier, I'm still VERY GLAD to have Blair.

You keep rambling on and on about this same dumb point. Blair didn't want to sit out the game. He was planning on playing. The Spurs and his agent wanted him to sit out.

You really need to post less and read more.

[timvp]

Again, Blair didn't play a role in sitting. He didn't even know he was going to sit until they told him right before the game. His agent and Buford were close a contract before the game and they just changed his rest date so that they could go ahead and finish dotting the i's.

Blaming Blair when he had no idea what was happening makes no sense.

[DPG21920]

Sense. Evidently it is not common.

[Marcus Bryant]

Everybody talks about how unlucky Blair was on draft day. But if Blair got more than late 1st Round pick money, he actually got very lucky in the draft.

He makes more in salary than he would have if he was drafted earlier and goes to the perfect team -- where he can play for big stakes in the spotlight right off the bat.

$700K is less than the 30th pick's 1st year salary scale.

[ElNono]

I'm sorry I have to pull this card again so quickly, but...

This is ridiculous, and an OVERSIMPLIFICATION.

Did anyone suggest that Blair should play for free?!?!?

Of course not. Why I suggested, is that thinking he's earned the right to sit out of Summer games until his contract is negotiated, is VERY FOCUSED ON SELF: ie selfish. He could have EASILY continued negotiations BEHIND THE SCENE, and NO ONE would have known about it. There would be no "swirling rumors" floating around the web.

I'd be the first to say I have NO IDEA if this is true, but IF IT IS, then Blair put himself above the team to do it.

Think about it: do you know how many NBA players have played out this very scenario through summer league? Some worse, some better, some All-Stars, and so on. If he was so determined to prove the other teams were foolish for not drafting him because of his knees, WHY DEMAND A CONTRACT WITHOUT PLAYING ANOTHER GAME BECAUSE OF THOSE VERY SAME KNEES?!?!? AND AFTER ONLY 1 GAME?!?!?

Again, I don't know if it's true, but if it is, then Blair put himself above the team in doing this.

As I earlier, I'm still VERY GLAD to have Blair.

[DPG21920]

I think he was thinking theoretically MB...

[angelbelow]

This is ridiculous, and an OVERSIMPLIFICATION.

Did anyone suggest that Blair should play for free?!?!?

Of course not. Why I suggested, is that thinking he's earned the right to sit out of Summer games until his contract is negotiated, is VERY FOCUSED ON SELF: ie selfish. He could have EASILY continued negotiations BEHIND THE SCENE, and NO ONE would have known about it. There would be no "swirling rumors" floating around the web.

I'd be the first to say I have NO IDEA if this is true, but IF IT IS, then Blair put himself above the team to do it.

Think about it: do you know how many NBA players have played out this very scenario through summer league? Some worse, some better, some All-Stars, and so on. If he was so determined to prove the other teams were foolish for not drafting him because of his knees, WHY DEMAND A CONTRACT WITHOUT PLAYING ANOTHER GAME BECAUSE OF THOSE VERY SAME KNEES?!?!? AND AFTER ONLY 1 GAME?!?!?

Again, I don't know if it's true, but if it is, then Blair put himself above the team in doing this.

As I earlier, I'm still VERY GLAD to have Blair.

What a funny outburst. Tell me, what would you do if you were in his position?

[scottspurs]

I hope the Spurs got a team option for a 3rd year in the deal.

[Agloco]

This is ridiculous, and an OVERSIMPLIFICATION.

Did anyone suggest that Blair should play for free?!?!?

Of course not. Why I suggested, is that thinking he's earned the right to sit out of Summer games until his contract is negotiated, is VERY FOCUSED ON SELF: ie selfish. He could have EASILY continued negotiations BEHIND THE SCENE, and NO ONE would have known about it. There would be no "swirling rumors" floating around the web.

I'd be the first to say I have NO IDEA if this is true, but IF IT IS, then Blair put himself above the team to do it.

Think about it: do you know how many NBA players have played out this very scenario through summer league? Some worse, some better, some All-Stars, and so on. If he was so determined to prove the other teams were foolish for not drafting him because of his knees, WHY DEMAND A CONTRACT WITHOUT PLAYING ANOTHER GAME BECAUSE OF THOSE VERY SAME KNEES?!?!? AND AFTER ONLY 1 GAME?!?!?

Again, I don't know if it's true, but if it is, then Blair put himself above the team in doing this.

As I earlier, I'm still VERY GLAD to have Blair.

Tell me youd do any different if you were in his position. His family's future is in the balance. I seriously doubt he cares what public perception is.

[celldweller]

I'm sorry I have to pull this card again so quickly, but...

Man, that is so funny!

[poeticism707]

What a funny outburst. Tell me, what would you do if you were in his position?

Firstly, that wasn't an outburst.

Secondly, as I said, it would have been RIGHT if he'd just continued to negotiate behind the scenes. That's class.

But again, he's only 20 years old, so I understand perfectly well.

Also, as I STATED EMPHATICALLY, I have no idea if this rumor is true: if he really sat out in order to force the Spurs hand after only 1 SL GAME.

But if he did, then it was selfish, and he put himself above the team.

For the record: didn't you clearly state in an earlier post that he'd put himself above the team?!?

At any rate, as I also emphatically stated, I am very glad to officially have Blair on board.

[poeticism707]

Tell me youd do any different if you were in his position. His family's future is in the balance. I seriously doubt he cares what public perception is.

Friend: just because someone is famous, or an athlete, doesn't mean you should justify their wrong behavior.

[superbigtime]

I hope he feels like he was treated fairly by the FO because a good experience will make a lasting impression on him and help form a loyalty to the organization in future contract negotiations. I'm glad it was done expeditiously.

[4RINGS]

Firstly, that wasn't an outburst.

Secondly, as I said, it would have been RIGHT if he'd just continued to negotiate behind the scenes. That's class.

But again, he's only 20 years old, so I understand perfectly well.

Also, as I STATED EMPHATICALLY, I have no idea if this rumor is true: if he really sat out in order to force the Spurs hand after only 1 SL GAME.

But if he did, then it was selfish, and he put himself above the team.

For the record: didn't you clearly state in an earlier post that he'd put himself above the team?!?

At any rate, as I also emphatically stated, I am very glad to officially have Blair on board.

He MAY have put himself above the team, but I do not see a problem with that because all NBA players are independent contractors, which means no contact no money. I am glad we paid the man and now he can play. Good job RC!!

[Mel_13]

Friend: just because someone is famous, or an athlete, doesn't mean you should justify their wrong behavior.

Behavior that you believe to be wrong.

Unsigned second round picks take a risk in playing summer league. See Patty Mills' situation:

4-6 Months of Inaction for Patty Mills

The Aussie PG will have his work cut out for him this season if he’s to have any hopes of making an NBA roster: “Pritchard said doctors inserted a screw to repair the foot and Mills is expected to miss four to six months. That eliminates any chance at a training camp invitation for Mills, but Pritchard refused to address his future with the team. The Blazers selected Mills with their last pick of last month’s draft, No.55 overall. ‘Feel really bad for the kid,’ Pritchard said. ‘He’s a great kid and a high-energy guy who came in looking to really make an impression on us. It was just an unfortunate accident.’”

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba...r-patty-mills/

It is unlikely he will get a pro contract anywhere until he has recovered from his injury.

[FromWayDowntown]

But if he did, then it was selfish, and he put himself above the team.

Aside from being based on an incorrect assumption (as Kori and timvp point out), I think the basis of your complaint is also absurd. He sat out of a summer league game -- one that counts for absolutely nothing. You are aware, aren't you, that absolutely none of what occurs in Las Vegas this week has any real bearing on the San Antonio Spurs' business, either compe ively or economically.

Thus, even if Dejuan Blair was the guy who decided not to play in that meaningless summer league game -- and he wasn't -- such a decision was both inherently practical from his standpoint and in absolutely no regard selfish, given that the game that he missed means nothing to the Spurs.

This notion that players should be entirely altruistic and that players who take practical steps to protect themselves (steps that have no adverse impact on the team) are somehow to be questioned has reached absurd proportions.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I'm confused - didn't Dice get the full MLE for two years, 3rd year 50% guaranteed?

[exstatic]

I hope he feels like he was treated fairly by the FO because a good experience will make a lasting impression on him and help form a loyalty to the organization in future contract negotiations. I'm glad it was done expeditiously.

Most lucky second rounders get one year guaranteed minimum and maybe a partial guarantee on year two. If they are real longshots, they get no guaranteed money at all. For falling out of the first round, Blair did real well.

[timvp]

I'm confused - didn't Dice get the full MLE for two years, 3rd year 50% guaranteed?

According to some sources on the internets, McDyess got less than the full MLE.

[exstatic]

I'm confused - didn't Dice get the full MLE for two years, 3rd year 50% guaranteed?

The latest reports are three full years, starting at a lesser figure. They money works out about the same.

[poeticism707]

Again, Blair didn't play a role in sitting. He didn't even know he was going to sit until they told him right before the game. His agent and Buford were close a contract before the game and they just changed his rest date so that they could go ahead and finish dotting the i's.

Blaming Blair when he had no idea what was happening makes no sense.

As I've said many times, though a few who keep trying to taunt and attack me don't even bother to read it, that I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS PARTICULAR RUMOR ABOUT BLAIR SITTING UNTIL THE CONTRACT IS DONE IS TRUE.

I hope it isn't. But is is very possible. I've already my stance IF HE DID (which again, I don't know for sure, no more than someone can say with assurance that he didn't sit out for those reasons, especially as silently as the Spurs do business).

Anyway, as I've also said, Blair will be a great rebounder for the Spurs