First Beno gone, now this. And I've already got that "Well at least there's a game tomorrow" reassurance.
Fan-freaking-tastic.
I was hoping this would happen. Shame on me for wishing that Duncan would sacrifice some $$ at the end of his career for the betterment of the franchise. Deep down, I didn't think he would actually do it. But ho-lee-cow... he done did it. Unbelievable.
When all is said and done, Tim Duncan will have meant more to his franchise than any player in League history not named Bill Russell.
Not only that, but he's the one, the ONLY person in the league who could take the max and nobody would begrudge him a penny.I'm stunned, really. Leaving $11M on the table because he wants to win is beyond awesome. The guy has four championships and just proved beyond any reasonable doubt that he's all about winning. He could easily be satisfied with his four championships and cashed in. The Spurs would be good with or without the extra roster flexibility.
But to be at the top of your profession and continue to do everything you can to ensure continued success is extremely commendable. And that's an understatement.
These are the times when a Spurs fan should be proud of being a Spurs fan. The team you root for is all about winning ... and that's all we can really ask.
X 10
I still think he's getting a part ownership out of the deal, though.
I do not think NBA players can be owner/part owner when they are still playing..
God am I dreaming? So much good news in such a short span of time!
Nice to see a player who really is about winning. Big props to Duncan and to the FO.
IIRC, that'd be against the CBA rules. The Spurs would be punished severely for promising part ownership down the line. Plus Holt wasn't at the meeting, which to me would be mandatory if such talks occurred.
I don't think there is anything else to the story other than Duncan just decided to take less money. I need to see how this will affect the books down the line to figure out what the Spurs told Duncan, but I assume they pointed to a summer in which they'll have the caproom to open up enough room to bring in a max free agent.
His character shows in everything he does.I'm stunned, really. Leaving $11M on the table because he wants to win is beyond awesome. The guy has four championships and just proved beyond any reasonable doubt that he's all about winning. He could easily be satisfied with his four championships and cashed in. The Spurs would be good with or without the extra roster flexibility.
But to be at the top of your profession and continue to do everything you can to ensure continued success is extremely commendable. And that's an understatement.
These are the times when a Spurs fan should be proud of being a Spurs fan. The team you root for is all about winning ... and that's all we can really ask.
Again, like he does on the court, he has shown us the kind of man he his. The kind of team player he is.
I'm proud to be a Spurs fan.
I'm prouder to be a Duncan fan.
He wants 8 les. Why not?
Leave it to the Spurs and Duncan to do something like this and no one hears a peep till it's done.
I don't like it and let me tell you why....
Duncan has used his opting out and signing elsewhere leverage to force the Spurs into being commited to winning...he never let them get comfortable and think they could stop being compe ive in FA and in pursuing every advantage...
Now...that leverage is gone and Duncan will no longer be able to apply it.
And that makes me a little nervous...Duncan's pressure on the FO is the reason we've won the last 3 les....
I applaud Duncan for doing this of course, and I'm happy to see Duncan get rewarded with guranteed money up till 2012...
But I liked him being able to put pressure on the FO to surround him with talent...it's a big reason we've won these les.
People are always asking about the difference between Drob and Duncan...that's it right there...Drob wouldn't put a gun to their head to field a winning team, he'd do it to make them a community focused organization, but not a championship contender...Duncan did put that pressure on the Spurs...every couple of years he's been able to apply it...and now he won't be able to apply it anymore. Makes me just a little bit nervous...the inmates now control the asylum.
I understand that an open or even implied verbal or written agreement would be Glen Taylor-stupid. But we've all been assuming that there has been some kind of an understanding between the Spurs and Bruce Bowen while they were renegotiating his contract downward and signing him at below-market rates. They could have been using the same sort of tactics.
Also, DRob got a small part ownership in the Spurs when he retired. I suspect that he didn't pay full price for that.
Are there any precedents for this? Has any other marquee player agreed to less money from the same team?
Duncan should get something named after him for this. maybe Duncantown, Texas? any takers?
-------------------------
magnusdrakenkrauss
The fact that Duncan is signed long term will likely attract more talent than any threat by him (real or implied) to leave.
Seriously, it has been damn good to be a Spurs fan in the Duncan era. I don't think there is one other team, front office and roster, in the whole league, that gives their following such a feeling of easiness. Now, I understand us Spurs fans like to overreact to every little move by our front office, but really think about it...
Yeah you can about some stupid trade (ex. Scola) and you can criticize Holt for being cheap, but is there another front office that has managed to build a franchise like this, where respect and professionalism are the norm? No scandal, no controversy, just continued, harmonious success... and behind it all, two great selfless sportsmen Tim and Pop!
Its good to be a Spurs fan! Here's to the good times, past, present and by the looks of it, a great and prosperous future!
Weren't we redently discussing the "different" Duncan of these last couple of post seasons?
The Duncan that's more vocal? A little mean, if you will?
He'll still apply pressure on the FO to win.
He's their golden ticket. They know it.
They'll keep him happy, keep a contending team around him.
This is not the Lakers.
Duncan doesn't need $ or opt out threats to get what he needs from the Spurs.
That was why I made my only half-joke about Holt pocketing the money.
But what Duncan loses in contractual pressure he gains in media pressure.
What do you think woul happen if he went public with a statement like "I left $11 million on the table and now ownership isn't using it to improve the team"? That's pretty good leverage.
Hmm, are they any certain rookie deals ending after 2009-10?
Maybe one Greg Oden, Kevin Durant...
One of my favorite posters (KBP) recently said: The Spurs aren't fools. It's true. They know that Duncan is their ticket to championships. They also know that as long as he is here they are legit contenders every season, and they need to surround him with talent to get the job done. No need to worry about it... Duncan doesn't need leverage. He has the fo's respect.
Well, they had to find the money somewhere to pay pop's salary..
This is phenomenal news, and huge props to Tim Duncan for leaving that much change on the table for the good of the franchise
He's got no leverage to do it anymore...this contract takes Duncan to a reasonably advanced age, to the point where you have to consider he will no longer have that kind of superstar/the franchise leverage at the end of it.
He's their golden ticket. They know it.
And for the first time in his career...they've got him by the balls, instead of vice versa.
They'll keep him happy, keep a contending team around him.
This is not the Lakers.
Duncan doesn't need $ or opt out threats to get what he needs from the Spurs.
The he doesn't...it wasn't but about 3 years ago Tony Parker nearly walked over 2 million dollars...
You never trust the business part of it over the individual...
The Spurs have never been able to completely be certain Duncan was going to spend the rest of his career here...until now. Now it's virtually a done deal...and he's got no more leverage against them. And no...I don't trust them to work as hard at it without that leverage being applied.
Of course I'm happy this makes it a virtual lock Duncan will finish his career as a Spur...and as always...it speaks well of Duncan that he took one for the team...
But you know...he did this the last time as well. Left money on the table and didn't take the max he could have...and he also had that opt out to hold over their heads, at a point when he could still be at his dominant peak.
I don't mean to make it sound like it's a negative...because it really isn't...at the same time, I don't trust the business aspect of the Spurs to always place a priority on winning...
this is GOOD NEWS ! .Spurs extend Tim Duncan for about 40 million for 2 years!!! He took a lower price to allow the Spurs more flexibility too!
Tim Duncan shows how he loves San Antonio and this team.
Dude..STFU already...go find another team to cheer for..its apparent that the Spurs can't do anything right..We only extended him by 2 years for $11 mil than what he could & should have taken, now we have him by the balls and he wont want to win..classic.
Potential Free Agents in 2010:
Wade
LeBron
Carmelo
What a wonderful epoch to be a Spurs fan, Tim + Pop, pure gold.
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