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What the is this mess after the Spurs start getting their act together... stfu Jefferson go play.
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/04/11/s...t-of-contract/
Spurs' Jefferson Pondering Possibility of Opting Out of Contract
4/11/2010 11:20 AM ET By Chris Tomasson
Chris Tomasson is a Senior NBA Writer for FanHouse
DENVER -- A small forward averaging 12.4 points leaving $15 million on the table?
It initially sounds ridiculous.
Nevertheless, San Antonio's Richard Jefferson (right) said he hasn't ruled out opting out of his contract this summer. He explained why in an interview with FanHouse while in Denver on Saturday for the Spurs' 104-95 win.
"That's a situation I think every player will look at at the end of the season,'' said Jefferson, making $14.2 million this season and due to earn $15 million in next season's final year of his deal if he doesn't opt out. "I probably wouldn't make 15 (million dollars) some place, but you could somehow recoup some of that over a multi-year deal and get some guaranteed money for the next few years.
"So you figure it out. If you're able to get four years and 40 (million dollars by opting out) from someone, it's like, 'OK, I did lose out on 15 (million dollars). But I'm going to get basically a $25 million extension.' Those are things that you think of at the end of the season.''
Jefferson said he will look at several factors before the opt-out deadline of June 30. Those include what the NBA's economic climate looks like due to the possibility of a 2011 lockout, how the free-agent market sizes up, how the Spurs' future looks and how they do in the playoffs.
"If you win a championship, you might opt out,'' he said. "If you lose in the first round, you might stay. You can't say it's going to be one way or the other. That would be foolish (to not take many factors into account). Guys like LeBron (James), it doesn't matter.''
Jefferson, who never really has fit in with the Spurs and whose scoring average is the lowest since his rookie season of 2001-02, said his value is not as high with a slower-tempo team such as San Antonio as it would be with more up-and-down unit. Jefferson played with faster-paced New Jersey from 2001-08, and twice averaged more than 22 points in a season.
"I'm not going to get $15 million in this system (San Antonio's),'' said Jefferson, acquired last summer by the Spurs after averaging 19.6 points for Milwaukee. "I'm not a $15 million player. In a Phoenix situation, in a place that's more up and down and more fast-paced, my value and my stock probably rises. In a little bit slower-down offense, with the type of play that we have here, my value changes.''
That doesn't necessarily mean Jefferson isn't long for the Spurs since he won't hone in on what he'll do until after the season. Still, Jefferson, who turns 30 in June, realizes his days of being able to command a good-sized long-term contract are starting to run out.
"At the age of 29, you hopefully can sign a multi-year extension (if the unlikely event Spurs were to offer one by June 30) or kind of regroup that money lost in the first year (if there's an opt-out),'' Jefferson said.
Chris Tomasson can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter@christomasson
What the is this mess after the Spurs start getting their act together... stfu Jefferson go play.
it's all about the money with this guy.
Man, I really hope he opts out..I could care less if the spurs get nothing in return.
it's all about the benjamins baby
He ain't leaving.
i will personally pack his locker room and kick his ass outta SA. hope this happens.
Come on..this isn't about San Antonio..this is about a guy who knows this is a business...we can't get pissed at him for this...it's not like he's been here for a decade. Give the guy a damn break...basketball players careers don't always last as long as Jordan's/Robinson's/Duncan's. He's trying to provide for his family for the rest of his life.
It's his job, not a sporty pastime.
seriously? SERIOUSLY?
Give me a fraction of what he earns and i'll provide for my family easily.
RJ opting out could be a godsend to the Spurs. Probably is, overall, now that we have a fair bit of the salary cap obligated to Manu going forward.
Can you imagine the celebration in the Spurs FO if RJ opts out?
Just shut up and play basketball. There will be plenty of time to consider your contract options after the season is over.
RJ opting out will hurt Spurs. As disappointing as he has been, Spurs won't be able to find a player with his level with a half MLE.
well he is used to playing all offense and no defense.......NJ and Milwaukee werent exactly thinking man's gigs. Now he comes to the Spurs and he has to play defense, use his brain, and be happy with a lot less touches. It is hard to get used to.
If he opts out, does that mean the Spurs are no longer on the books for that money? If so, he can't opt out fast enough for me.
If you need $40 more million dollars instead of $15 more million dollars (Note, he's already made $70 MILLION dollars throughout his career) in order to "provide for [your] family," then literally by definition 99.9999999999999999999% of us are downright screwed and we should just kill ourselves now
I hope he doesn't opt out. I would like to see what he could do after a year under Pop.
It is a business, but he doesn't need to be spouting off on that at this time. We finally got Manu to stop spouting off about his contract and now Jeff starts up.
Personally if he leaves that frees up money for the Spurs on a player that was worth about 1/3 of that money. That's good business to not have to pay that.
It would be bad for the team depth wise though.
I think with Manu, Bogans, Temple, Hairston, Parker, and Hill, we will be ok. If we can add one FA and a wing in the draft, we will be ok. I also understand Gee will be on the team next season.
I think we will be just fine without Jefferson and Mason. I like Mason, but he is too inconsistent. Personally, I feel Mason would be better if he would shoot 20ft twos instead of bricking all those 3s. He seems to be money just inside the arc, but fails to set up there. I have never cared for Jefferson.
I am actually more upset that we might be losing Ian.
True. He needs to save up some money to buy financial security for his future with Luke.
RJ opting out hurts both parties, but probably RJ more. He would be lucky to see that $15M for 3 years and not the one he has in hand.
40 million buys a lot more KY than 15 million.
How does that hurt the Spurs? And exactly what level are you referring to? For the money he is getting paid to play basketball, he's been a flat out bust this year. If by some godsend he shows up in the playoffs, I will gladly eat my words.
There's no way 'someone' offer that money to him. He'd be luck if he gets a MLE offer for 3 or 4 seasons"So you figure it out. If you're able to get four years and 40 (million dollars by opting out) from someone, it's like, 'OK, I did lose out on 15 (million dollars). But I'm going to get basically a $25 million extension.' Those are things that you think of at the end of the season.''
No way he opts out
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