Splitter Waiting for Satisfactory Offer from Spurs

[DesignatedT]

Splitter only has until July 15 to buy out of his contract in Europe.

Thats exactly what im trying to say... There was no rush after talks started on July 1 because the Spurs knew he has until the 15th... It's not like he has other options or offers rolling in from the NBA. There has been no rush at all from the Spurs.

[AFBlue]

I'm not completely surprised by this. They haven't even decided on the salary cap or TEs yet, have they? Kind of hard to negotiate if you don't know what money you are working with.

I don't think you land Splitter for less than the MLE either, but maybe this is a good sign that the Spurs didn't just promise to offer as much money as they could throw at him.

Then again, maybe that's the right thing to do if we really want to get him over the pond.

This.

If the Salary Cap isn't set, then the MLE cannot be set as it is a percentage of the Salary Cap. Spurs can have all the discussions they want, but it's prudent for them to wait prior to negotiating specific figures.

Once the salary cap figure and associated exceptions (MLE, LLE, etc.) are released, I expect an offer will be made shortly thereafter.

[Blackjack]

Maybe not an offer but definitely negotiations will begin.

[objective]

I'm shocked that there wasn't already an agreement in place and it wasn't public knowledge because of CIA tactics meant to, uh, not tip their hand to the rest of the league that the Spurs were signing a guy only they could sign.

[Blackjack]

The blue suits ya well.

[bigzak25]

Lots of good comments in here. Thanks to ElNono for the translation.

Just to add my 2 cents.

There is plenty to negotiate beyond what percentage of the MLE this contract will be based upon.

1. Contract length. I'd think that the Spurs would prefer to lock him up for the full five years while Splitter would probably prefer 3yrs (after which he has full Bird Rights and can get a max contract) plus a player option for the 4th year.

2. Trade kicker. CBA allows for a trade kicker of up to 15%.

3. Signing bonus. Players can receive up to 20% of the total value of the contract as a signing bonus. It doesn't affect the total value of the contract and the amount of the bonus is allocated against the team's salary cap over the term of the contract.

4. Pay schedule. I can't find the reference, but I'm fairly certain that players can receive up to 80% of their annual salary in their first paycheck of the season. I believe Kobe gets paid this way.

So, lots for the two parties to discuss. It would absurd for the Spurs to tell Splitter's agent "You can have the full MLE AND you can structure the deal any way you like".

Good Stuff Mel, thanks for the insight.

All I know is the Spurs better not drop the ball on this one. Get it done, anyhow, anyway. Now's not the time to be worried about the luxury tax. They just got a gift from RJ and Tony has one foot out the door. Get Splitter's name on the dotted line asap.

[The Truth #6]

Losing RJ doesn't matter to me, but if Splitter isn't coming, then start the rebuilding..

If they don't get Splitter, then I agree...but that certainly is the nuclear option. In that scenario Parker could traded, RJ would wander off, Wes Mathews might be courted...cats and dogs would sleep together.

[Blackjack]

If they don't get Splitter, then I agree...but that certainly is the nuclear option. In that scenario Parker could traded, RJ would wander off, Wes Mathews might be courted...cats and dogs would sleep together.

UH-



OH-



Spaghetti-



O's . . .

[bigbendbruisebrother]

...cats and dogs would sleep together.

And not necessarily in the way that you may be thinking...

[TD 21]

Nah, he's right. The Spurs are probably the most shrewd franchise going and maybe the most creative in terms of structuring contracts and creating some room and flexibility when otherwise there'd be none.

It's similar to how they structured the McDyess deal so that they could pay Blair and invest a little money elsewhere at the bottom of their roster with the remainder of the MLE.

When the numbers are released today -- and Coon will have everything updated shortly after -- the Spurs will be ready to negotiate with Splitter and put the cards on the table to show him why it is that it'd help him and the Spurs to leave some of that MLE on the table.

Whether he does or not is another story, but it's just the smart and prudent due-diligence the Spurs have always been a prac ioner of.

You're probably right. But if the Spurs were waiting for the salary cap numbers to be released, then wouldn't Splitter's camp have known about this and if so, why would they be putting pressure on the Spurs to present them with a satisfactory offer?

The optics of this don't look great, but I've got to believe the Spurs front office knows the importance of signing him and will not botch this. The lack of progress is frustrating, but I'd be very surprised if in the next few days they haven't, if not agreed in principal, at least made significant progress in talks.

[ElNono]

UH-



OH-



Spaghetti-



O's . . .

And not necessarily in the way that you may be thinking...

Just stop. This is disgusting...

[benefactor]

And not necessarily in the way that you may be thinking...

[Cant_Be_Faded]

ROFL
I ing knew it

if didn't take the Tau debacle for people on ST to realize Splitter is seriously Scola V2.0 nothing ever will until he's gone and we get the expiring contract of Jason Williams in return.

[Blackjack]

That's a smoooooth cat.

[Blackjack]

ROFL
I ing knew it

if didn't take the Tau debacle for people on ST to realize Splitter is seriously Scola V2.0 nothing ever will until he's gone and we get the expiring contract of Jason Williams in return.

White Chocolate or White Limo Driver Killer?

[Mel_13]

You're probably right. But if the Spurs were waiting for the salary cap numbers to be released, then wouldn't Splitter's camp have known about this and if so, why would they be putting pressure on the Spurs to present them with a satisfactory offer?

The optics of this don't look great, but I've got to believe the Spurs front office knows the importance of signing him and will not botch this. The lack of progress is frustrating, but I'd be very surprised if in the next few days they haven't, if not agreed in principal, at least made significant progress in talks.

My best guess is that they have been talking numbers for a while. Buford and Rudoy know each other well. Even without the final numbers from the NBA, they could have been talking in terms of dollars under the MLE or percentage of the MLE.

So if the Spurs were offering a starting salary of 1M below the MLE or 80% of the MLE, Splitter's representation could view that as unsatisfactory.

Like you, I also expect a successful resolution to the negotiations.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

What a debacle. Writing is on the wall with this one. I'll put my faith in the cat we drafted this year.

[mingus]

Splitter knows he can pull in quite a bit of money, esp. with teams having money to spend, making a sign and trade a possibility. when you have guys like Verajao making 8 million per and all these other overpaid players, it sucks.

that's exactly why i never had too much faith in the Spurs being able to get him. it's just been the case too many times that for whatever reason nothing works out.

if the Spurs can't get him i would def. look to start the rebuilding process. start by trading Parker. BUT IT WOULD SUCK IF THIS WERE THE CASE. knowing that Duncan would spend his last year on an average non-contending team would suck.

[DPG21920]

What a debacle. Writing is on the wall with this one. I'll put my faith in the cat we drafted this year.

Quit being emo.

[bigbendbruisebrother]

What a debacle. Writing is on the wall with this one. I'll put my faith in the cat we drafted this year.

Is it the same cat that is humping the dachshund above? If so, he's a lesbian. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I'm just not so sure we should put all our faith in a butch orange tabby. We've already got one in Matt Bonner.

[EricB]

[Marcus Bryant]

ROFL
I ing knew it

if didn't take the Tau debacle for people on ST to realize Splitter is seriously Scola V2.0 nothing ever will until he's gone and we get the expiring contract of Jason Williams in return.

hook dem or something.

[angelbelow]

So what do you guys think.. are we not hearing anything because:

-Its only July 7th
-Spurs are offering something less than the MLE
-Splitter wants more and they are facilitating a trade?

[4RINGS]

Our Splitter dreams are about to DIE.... a la Scola. Trade him to Dallas.

[ohmwrecker]

Losing RJ doesn't matter to me, but if Splitter isn't coming, then start the rebuilding..

If, God forbid, the Splitter deal crumbles, I say we sign Shaq and any other oldies we can and send Duncan out, guns blazing, with a team nicknamed The Dirty Dozen.

"You know what to do, feed the French and shoot the Germans!"