Tony Parker wants to stay with Spurs

[elbamba]

What if Blair or Hill wanted to play for team USA?

I can live with them playing for the NT for the next couple of years if they get asked. However, when you put in the milage of 3 championship runs, you need to take the summer to rest. When you have played 6-7 years in the league, it is time to let the young guys take over.

Plus, neither Hill nor Blair will ever be the focus of team USA. They will be role players at best. Tony and Manu are hands down the best players on their teams. I contend that Manu is better and more important than Scola for Argentina.

The Spurs inked Manu to a huge contract that will tie up a lot of their money. What a crappy way to repay the organization by playing for your NT and then missing the next season.

Spurs took a major hit last year because Tony was out for so long. He never seemed to be able to play that well and it had everything to do with playing for the NT.

[ajh18]

I've said all along that if someone wanted to play for their NT once or twice, it makes sense. But not every summer. And not if they are already injured. The human body needs some time to rest and recuperate. More so as the player gets older.

I know that destroys the image of the arrogant American. It's not about USA above everyone else. It's about not being stupid, and about honoring their commitment to the team that pays the bills.

The problem is, I don't think that playing national team ball can be considered "not honoring their committment to the team that pays the bills." Are they doing something that their contract says they can't? Nope. Does it affect their performance? Sure. It does when at my job when I stay out late drinking on a Thursday night too. But until they explicitly state that I can't do that, I wan't the freedom to make that choice and not be considered to be "betraying my employer."

If my employer has a problem with that choice, they can fire me. I guess an NBA team could always release the player. But if they aren't willing to do that, and have no clause forbidding summer play, I have a problem with people saying that choosing to do that is a "betrayal of the team paying the bills."

[phyzik]

The problem is, I don't think that playing national team ball can be considered "not honoring their committment to the team that pays the bills." Are they doing something that their contract says they can't? Nope. Does it affect their performance? Sure. It does when at my job when I stay out late drinking on a Thursday night too. But until they explicitly state that I can't do that, I wan't the freedom to make that choice and not be considered to be "betraying my employer."

If my employer has a problem with that choice, they can fire me. I guess an NBA team could always release the player. But if they aren't willing to do that, and have no clause forbidding summer play, I have a problem with people saying that choosing to do that is a "betrayal of the team paying the bills."

First of all.... Bad anology about drinking and your company.... A better analogy would be if your company was paying you millions of dollars to make their product better, then you go and help out another company using ideas that would have otherwise benifited your main employer, you bet your ass your employer would be asking questions... in fact in the business world, you could probably be sued for doing something like that. Most companies have stipulations in their employee contracts that state as much.

Just because the NBA allows it doesnt make it right.

And for the record, I had no problem with Tony and Manu playing for their respective NT's.... the problem I have is when it obviously effects their performance for the team thats paying the bills. At that point, they need to take a step back. I would feel the exact same way for any player going to play for the USA....

In fact, if it was up to me, I would rather the Olympic commission stop allowing professionally paid athletes and make it so NT's need to use college players.

[JustinJDW]

I'm telling you guys, once Timmy and Manu are both retired, Splitter will be the perfect #2 Option to Tony Parker. That Pick-N-Roll can be deadly. And we would still have Hill, Blair and Anderson.

Think about it. Our future doesn't actually look that bad. Especially if Parker resigns.

[ajh18]

First of all.... Bad anology about drinking and your company.... A better analogy would be if your company was paying you millions of dollars to make their product better, then you go and help out another company using ideas that would have otherwise benifited your main employer, you bet your ass your employer would be asking questions... in fact in the business world, you could probably be sued for doing something like that. Most companies have stipulations in their employee contracts that state as much.

Just because the NBA allows it doesnt make it right.

And for the record, I had no problem with Tony and Manu playing for their respective NT's.... the problem I have is when it obviously effects their performance for the team thats paying the bills. At that point, they need to take a step back. I would feel the exact same way for any player going to play for the USA....

In fact, if it was up to me, I would rather the Olympic commission stop allowing professionally paid athletes and make it so NT's need to use college players.

You better believe I'm going to have a problem with a company telling me I'm not free to do whatever I choose thats not in violation of my contract with them. Sorry, if they have a problem with it, they can do one of two things: explicitly state that I can't in my formal agreement with them, or release me if they feel that my work is suffering too extensively.

The Spurs cant structure such a contract with their players (which I believe should be allowed), but if they arent willing to release the player... well, the player is free to do as they wish. In my mind, there's nothing "wrong" about exercising that freedom.

[ElNono]

First of all.... Bad anology about drinking and your company.... A better analogy would be if your company was paying you millions of dollars to make their product better, then you go and help out another company using ideas that would have otherwise benifited your main employer, you bet your ass your employer would be asking questions... in fact in the business world, you could probably be sued for doing something like that. Most companies have stipulations in their employee contracts that state as much.

This is silly. Your argument that because the company pays you millions, they basically own you. And that's simply incorrect on many levels. I'm sure the company would also like not to pay taxes on those millions, or not have to pay for benefits, or don't have to comply with whatever union agreements might be involved. Sometimes there are rules that go beyond what a company or individual wants, and they need to be complied with. It's part of doing business.

This whole NT thing is really not that complicated. The NBA actually benefits from players playing these tournaments, otherwise they would have not signed an agreement with FIBA. The CBA is also clear what are the rules concerning NT play. If an owner is not happy, they can bring it up with the league with regards to the FIBA agreement or in the context of CBA negotiations, and if they're still unsatisfied, they can either trade the players involved in such activity or simply sell the team and move to another business with a different set of rules.

[diego]

curiously enough, it works the other way around: the ones who play for their NT are among the above average set of players. has any player EVER been released because their NT performances made them a worse player?

[timtonymanurich]

First of all.... Bad anology about drinking and your company.... A better analogy would be if your company was paying you millions of dollars to make their product better, then you go and help out another company using ideas that would have otherwise benifited your main employer, you bet your ass your employer would be asking questions... in fact in the business world, you could probably be sued for doing something like that. Most companies have stipulations in their employee contracts that state as much.

Just because the NBA allows it doesnt make it right.

And for the record, I had no problem with Tony and Manu playing for their respective NT's.... the problem I have is when it obviously effects their performance for the team thats paying the bills. At that point, they need to take a step back. I would feel the exact same way for any player going to play for the USA....

In fact, if it was up to me, I would rather the Olympic commission stop allowing professionally paid athletes and make it so NT's need to use college players.

I believe the term you're looking for is
"CONFLICT OF INTEREST".

[ezau]

Did Duncan really look bad these days? I mean, Parker really thinks that TD is going to fall off the cliff this season? I dunno, but I think Parker is making TD an excuse to not sign with the team next season.

Considering that he was the one injured all season long last year, I wouldn't want to talk about TD's health issues if I were him.

[venitian navigator]

I wonder how many years and money per year would be considered fair from both parties (Spurs and Tony).
At the moment, imho, there are several reasons for lower his value, and give him a contract for a decent amount, but no way for a maximum contract.

We have to consider that :

1) Tony played one of his worst seasons last season and, let's be clear, he lost his spot not only 'cause of his injuries, but also 'cause the team was playing better without him...in that phisical condotion. One thing is clear : if he's not in good phisical shape, if he's too tired, he better limit his playing time;

2) he showed clearly enough that there are a lot of doubts he can be "the man" around who you can structure a franchise : not enough weapons in his arsenal. At the moment, he can be considered a "second weapon", at best, considering his playing in recent years; not even that, if we have to consider the numbers of last season...;

3) he already stated that he absolutely wants to play for his NT in the future years...and considering he's aging (and fastly, if he don't shedule any rest in summer) he's going to get back soon, in future years, in the some condition of last year;

4) the new CBA is coming next year, so probably he's not going to get nearly the some amount with the some rules of this year...better for him to have a new contract as soon as possible;

5) there aren't a lot of teams starving for him at the moment...and his market value, actually, given also his publiìc declarations (will to play for NT) is an all time low. Maybe only N.Y. but we have to consider NY has nothing to give to Spurs in sign and trade, they already have a point guard that can be more than comparable with the TP of last year (Felton), a young one that could have a very good season (T. Douglas) and, talking abount future ones, one that is better than Tony in a future perspective (Paul).

6) another factor that could be decisive in oower the TP price, is the assurance that he'll start the season like the starting point guard.

All thesed things considered, anybody has an idea about a far amount of years and money on what both parties could agree ?

[MaNuMaNiAc]

"I feel like I'm a Spur," Parker said.

"I hope Spurs fans know I want to stay here," he added. "I said that plenty of times. Nobody's listening to me. They (the media) don't care. They just want to create stories."

the fact Tony has to even clarify those two things shows you how ed up today's Spurs fan base is. Unbe- ing-lievable!

Imagine having to clarify "you feel like a Spur" after having been one of the most important parts of a 3 championship team... just ridiculous.

[fyatuk]

It's their choice, and they have the right to play for their NT. No problem with that.

But like others have said, Parker and Manu have played so much time, that they are often injured or just plain too tired to play at the level they should be. This is a personal failing on their part, and it should affect the value of their contracts. A person just can't play indefinitely with no rest like that. The right choice for their careers would be to take a summer off every few years (play 2 take 1 off).

You certainly can't fault them playing the next 2 summers since it's Olympic qualifiers, than Olympics. If you have any semblance of National Pride, you should want to play in those.

No way Parker should get a max contract while insisting on playing for his National Team every year, though. A tired Parker is not worth a max contract.

[DrSteffo]

the fact Tony has to even clarify those two things shows you how ed up today's Spurs fan base is. Unbe- ing-lievable!

Imagine having to clarify "you feel like a Spur" after having been one of the most important parts of a 3 championship team... just ridiculous.

This.

[lefty]

the fact Tony has to even clarify those two things shows you how ed up today's Spurs fan base is. Unbe- ing-lievable!

Imagine having to clarify "you feel like a Spur" after having been one of the most important parts of a 3 championship team... just ridiculous.

Or he is in denial

How many TP is not leaving statements have we had this summer










Its too suspect

[Brazil]

I wonder how many years and money per year would be considered fair from both parties (Spurs and Tony).
At the moment, imho, there are several reasons for lower his value, and give him a contract for a decent amount, but no way for a maximum contract.

We have to consider that :

1) Tony played one of his worst seasons last season and, let's be clear, he lost his spot not only 'cause of his injuries, but also 'cause the team was playing better without him...in that phisical condotion. One thing is clear : if he's not in good phisical shape, if he's too tired, he better limit his playing time;

lol at was playing better without him before his hand injury the team was playing very well with him.
In last year PO run TP was still the most consistent player of the team even with a broken hand.

2) he showed clearly enough that there are a lot of doubts he can be "the man" around who you can structure a franchise : not enough weapons in his arsenal. At the moment, he can be considered a "second weapon", at best, considering his playing in recent years; not even that, if we have to consider the numbers of last season...;

so ? whats your point ?

3) he already stated that he absolutely wants to play for his NT in the future years...and considering he's aging (and fastly, if he don't shedule any rest in summer) he's going to get back soon, in future years, in the some condition of last year;

this kind of doubts are the same for all the players reaching their prime. but yeah i agree health could be a concern

4) the new CBA is coming next year, so probably he's not going to get nearly the some amount with the some rules of this year...better for him to have a new contract as soon as possible;

I can see a similar scenario than for Manu

5) there aren't a lot of teams starving for him at the moment...and his market value, actually, given also his publiìc declarations (will to play for NT) is an all time low. Maybe only N.Y. but we have to consider NY has nothing to give to Spurs in sign and trade, they already have a point guard that can be more than comparable with the TP of last year (Felton), a young one that could have a very good season (T. Douglas) and, talking abount future ones, one that is better than Tony in a future perspective (Paul).

lol seeing franchise throwing huge money for so so players, I'm pretty sure TP will find a team capable to give him a juicy contract

6) another factor that could be decisive in oower the TP price, is the assurance that he'll start the season like the starting point guard.

lol at having doubts on the fact that TP is going to be the starting point guard

All thesed things considered, anybody has an idea about a far amount of years and money on what both parties could agree ?

IMO it could be something around 5 years 75-80 M

[Chomag]

the fact Tony has to even clarify those two things shows you how ed up today's Spurs fan base is. Unbe- ing-lievable!

Imagine having to clarify "you feel like a Spur" after having been one of the most important parts of a 3 championship team... just ridiculous.

Tony makes millions for playing basketball, and gets to EVa. No, I don't feel that very sorry for him.

[lefty]

Tony makes millions for playing basketball, and gets to EVa. No, I don't feel that very sorry for him.

Eva is ugly

So I do feel sorry for him

[NRHector]

I'm telling you guys, once Timmy and Manu are both retired, Splitter will be the perfect #2 Option to Tony Parker. That Pick-N-Roll can be deadly. And we would still have Hill, Blair and Anderson.

Think about it. Our future doesn't actually look that bad. Especially if Parker resigns.

Splitter hasn't done anything in the NBA is very premature to glorify him

[duncan228]

Parker gearing up to make big impression on Spurs
Fran Blinebury
NBA.com

Manu Ginobili turned to walk away just as Tony Parker approached the throng of microphones and notepads gathered at Media Day, but offered some advice before leaving.

"Just tell them," Ginobili said, "that you never want to leave Manu and that will be the end of it."

If only.

As the Spurs bounce the first few basketballs of training camp, Parker takes the first dribbles down the road toward potential free agency and the end of his time with the only NBA franchise that he has known.

Or does he?

"Of course, of course, I've said plenty of times I want to stay here," Parker said. "But nobody's listening to me. They don't care. They just want to create stories. It sells better."

Of course, of course, the Spurs and Parker have seen this scenario before. Just a year ago at this time, it was Ginobili who was entering the final year of his contract with the blogosphere roiling in discontent between Texas and Argentina.

How would the beloved Manu be able to concentrate on the task at hand and do his job while knowing that the organization for which he had spilled blood and collected bruises and championship trophies was holding the door open by being so coldly calculating?

Or just plain smart.

"At the beginning it was [difficult] -- October, November, December," Ginobili recalled. "When I started getting healthy, feeling good about myself, then I was able to forget about everything else and just play. But when I was rusty and did not play for six months and I wasn't confident, it really played in my head."

By the end of the season, when Ginobili had gotten his surgically repaired body and his game back in full working order, when he averaged 22 points a game after the All-Star break and led the Spurs to 17 wins in their final 24 games, everything worked out.

Ginobili signed a three-year, $39 million contract to remain in San Antonio in April, before the start of the playoffs, and both sides were quite content. Ginobili knew that the Spurs still regarded him as one of the family, but the Spurs also knew they were not simply caving into sentiment for a favorite uncle and had a player who could still be quite productive.

So here comes Round 2 with the Frenchman Parker with all the potential for more international intrigue and incident.

While Parker spent much of the summer in the gym working on his game and also in the kitchen with a chef and a dietician to shed weight and tone up his body -- "no more French pastry" -- there was also time for thorny comments and remarks to pop up on both sides of the Atlantic.

In June, he told the French newspaper L'Equipe: "It would be ... maybe a good challenge for me to go elsewhere. If I leave, I can make another career -- eight, nine years in a different club."

Then there was Amar'e Stoudemire telling the New York media that Parker was "ready to join me" with the Knicks, not to mention the report that had wife Eva Longoria claiming Parker would like to play in New York.

"I can't control you or anybody else in the media," Parker said. "I can't control what they say and it's gonna go crazy inventing stuff that my wife said that she didn't say."

What he can control is his return from the most difficult season of his nine-year NBA career, when he missed 56 games with two ankle sprains, a hip flexor, food poisoning and a broken hand. That it came just a year after his best season -- 22 points and 6.9 assists per game and 50.8 percent shooting -- made it more crippling to the Spurs and gives him something to prove now.

"Definitely, a little bit," Parker said. "It's the most games I missed...in the NBA. That's the part of our business. It's always like that. You miss five games and they forget. They think you retired. It was the same thing with Manu."

It was the exactly the same with Ginobili as the Spurs wanted to be sure they could still get what they would be paying for by watching him play his way back into the game-changer and clutch performer. It's what the smartest management teams -- and Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford are that -- always do. There is no way of avoiding all mistakes, but you do everything within reason to minimize them.

So if Parker struggles or the team once more struggles through the first half of the season, the options will be on the table. With George Hill entering his third season, getting stronger and more comfortable playing the point, the Spurs could trade the veteran who has been part of three championship runs and get another nice piece to fit into the puzzle.

Parker and Popovich had a private conversation that has left them both satisfied entering camp.

"I understand the business," Parker said. "I own my team in France. So I know how it works. That's why I say with Pop it was a great conversation. I saw what they did with Manu. I have no problem with that and I'll be ready to go. At the end of the day I want to win. It's been a long time since we win -- 2007. Contracts, money, whatever is gonna come. For me, I just want to make sure we have a great season this year."

Parker recently said he thought this was the Spurs' last chance to win a championship with the Big Three of Tim Duncan, Ginobili and him and it was interpreted as another sign that he might want out.

"I know people think I'm saying that because of my contract," he said with a grin. "But I really feel that is because of Timmy. It's tough. The NBA is a long season and Timmy's like 34, going to be 35. That's why I feel like it's our last chance to really win a championship, because when Timmy is gone it's gonna be really a test. Timmy's looking great, looking fresher."

Tony's looking fit, looking challenged and looking to show a future employer in San Antonio or elsewhere what he still can do.

And that means the Spurs are looking like they know exactly what they're doing again.

[lefty]

Manu Ginobili turned to walk away just as Tony Parker approached the throng of microphones and notepads gathered at Media Day, but offered some advice before leaving.

"Just tell them," Ginobili said, "that you never want to leave Manu and that will be the end of it.

Manu

[JR3]

I agree with the party that says "of course he is going to say that". My gut says that the spurs and parker have agreed to keep options open until later in the season. They both don't want to act on anything right now. Parker has the right to "change his mind" if the "spurs don't want to move on him early"....

[TDMVPDPOY]

spurs FO should let the market dictate his worth, is there any team out there with max money available to throw around next season summer?

we could get him back at a bargain

[history2b]

I posted on another Spurs board last season and the year before that if the Spurs wanted to attempt to remain contenders their best interest would be to trade Parker while his stock was high.

It is possibly at an all time low right now. The end of the 2009 season would have been the "fools gold" high with Manu out with injuries all season leaving Tony to dominate the ball and pad stats with the Spurs looking as bad as they've looked in the Duncan era. Could have fooled some team out there to give up real value for the overrated shot happy no defense euro softie.

But that time has passed.

Even so, I think it would still be in the Spurs best interest to trade him away for something of real value before the deadline this February.

[lefty]

I posted on another Spurs board last season and the year before that if the Spurs wanted to attempt to remain contenders their best interest would be to trade Parker while his stock was high.

It is possibly at an all time low right now. The end of the 2009 season would have been the "fools gold" high with Manu out with injuries all season leaving Tony to dominate the ball and pad stats with the Spurs looking as bad as they've looked in the Duncan era. Could have fooled some team out there to give up real value for the overrated shot happy no defense euro softie.

But that time has passed.

Even so, I think it would still be in the Spurs best interest to trade him away for something of real value before the deadline this February.

Stephen Jackson !!!!!!

[Pauleta14]

spurs FO should let the market dictate his worth, is there any team out there with max money available to throw around next season summer?

we could get him back at a bargain

With the history/relation TP has with the Spurs, there can't be a deal if one of the part is being "stolen"!
Tony would feel "disrespected"or undervalued...

I think an agreement can be found between a bargain and a max contract.

But more than the money and before even talking about it, the FO wants to see if Tony is still at the allstar level and TP wants to know if the Spurs can still be contenders for the years to come...