Richard Jefferson's balls..

[TJastal]

I think the numbers were agreed on before the free agency ever started. It's not just a coincidence that R.J said he would opt out if he could net a 4 year 40 million contract in April. Then 3 months later he signs a 4 year 39 million dollar contract with the Spurs. ( Meaning this deal was possibly discussed and agreed on as early as April.)

We also don't know what R.J's agent was telling potential suitors during the free agency process. If R.J had agreed under the table with the Spurs before he officially opted- out or before free agency even started (which obviously is the case), then it's obvious why potential suitors weren't going after him ( he wasn't available and had already made a decision; meaning his agent wasn't taking calls or putting forth the effort into promoting R.J to potential suitors).

Therefore, for some people to say "Nobody wanted R.J and Spurs overpaid and could have signed R.J for 4-5 million," is pretty damn foolish. IMO

I seriously doubt that the deal was "prearranged". I'd say its more likely that's just the contract RJ wanted, and when he was blurbing it to the media he was sending out "feelers" for any potential suitors (npi) that might be interested. If he had a prearranged deal in place why would he say anything?

That was simply the type of contract he was looking for, and that's the contract he recieved from the spurs because they were so afraid of paying luxury tax for one year so they buckled to his initial demand.

[TJastal]

The 3 month delay from the time he made his pitch in the media and his signature on the dotted line should also be a clue it wasn't a prearranged deal.

[MaNu4Tres]

The 3 month delay from the time he made his pitch in the media and his signature on the dotted line should also be a clue it wasn't a prearranged deal.

He couldn't sign anything til mid-July.

So I don't get what you're trying to say.

[Buddy Holly]

It's only December

LOL remember when that was said last season when they we're playing bad. It became a running joke of "it's only [insert month]."

I don't miss those days.

[TJastal]

He couldn't sign anything til mid-July.

So I don't get what you're trying to say.

You're right, partially. There was still a significant gap in the time he could sign (July 9th) and the time he actually signed (July 22nd) which suggests to me that contract details were being worked out at that time.

[angelbelow]

Yes his contract is a little excessive, but to me it's not overpaid by much (if it is, we really don't know because he didn't really test his market value during the free agent process).

I think the numbers were agreed on before the free agency ever started. It's not just a coincidence that R.J said he would opt out if he could net a 4 year 40 million contract in April. Then 3 months later he signs a 4 year 39 million dollar contract with the Spurs. ( Meaning this deal was possibly discussed and agreed on as early as April.)

We also don't know what R.J's agent was telling potential suitors during the free agency process. If R.J had agreed under the table with the Spurs before he officially opted- out or before free agency even started (which obviously is the case), then it's obvious why potential suitors weren't going after him ( he wasn't available and had already made a decision; meaning his agent wasn't taking calls or putting forth the effort into promoting R.J to potential suitors).

Therefore, for some people to say "Nobody wanted R.J and Spurs overpaid and could have signed R.J for 4-5 million," is pretty damn foolish. IMO

All in all, Spurs obviously did the smart thing by taking advantage of a sure thing, rather than roll the dice and flirt with the possibility of losing R.J to free agency by not agreeing with him before the period started. Had the Spurs let R.J test the free agency ( by electing to play hard ball), Ime Udoka or Bobby Simmons could very well be the starting small forward right now.

IIRC no one was expecting 4-5 million. I think the most generous number was 7 million, I personally expected at least 8/year. I definitely agree that it was smart to resign RJ - given the lack of quality SFs at the time. But I, along with many, others felt that he was overpaid at the time. Even so, I thought it was the right move, simply because RJ's talent and resume helped me remain optimistic that he can turn things around.

Present day, RJ is worth every penny so far. The change is so dramatic that some have called him a most improved player candidate.

[MaNu4Tres]

Back to back choke jobs not good enough? How about a 3rd disappearing act this spring?
Book it.

Who are you talking about?

[ohmwrecker]

I heard that stat too. 68% FG and 70% 3PT in 4th quarter play. Ridiculous. He has improved so much from a fundamental standpoint that I would be shocked if he slid back to last season's form. He still has to keep it up to play up to that contract, but if he contributes to a 5th LOB, it will be hard to complain.


Oh, yeah . . . I almost forgot . . .











scoreboard!

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

yeah.....

[DMC]

I always think it's funny to see the accolades vs the rants hoisted on players who play the exact same game with different shooting results. A player like Bonner could on the floor and sit there and paint his name in it for half the game, get up and hit a few threes and he's good. Let him play good defense, set good picks and get some boards, but doink his shots (same shots), he's a turd painter.