RJ watch is over. He'll re-sign tomorrow

[MaNu4Tres]

C'mon now...this is seriously reaching. Yes, this will save the Spurs money. Yes, the Spurs don't have many other options. But this is done out of need...nothing more and nothing less. There is very little upside to keeping Jefferson.

I never said it will be highway robbery.

I said there's a chance, given his stock is at an all-time low. *Especially if he is given a deal worth 6-7 mil per year.*

[ploto]

At 24/3years, it's only 4.5mil per year (after the 15mil that he's owed) so that doesn't sound so bad considering he's the only SF on the team.

I am guessing you are one of those people who thinks he actually saved money by buying something on sale.

[ElNono]

A bit of sanity in this thread. Thank you. For all of the RJ haters out there I'd like to know what they expected out of him last year? What would have made you happy? Afterall he DID do the following:

1. Had the highest scoring average of any 4th option in the Duncan era.
2. Had the highest rebounding average of any SF in the Duncan era except for Hedo Turkolu.
3. Shot his career percentage average.
4. Improved his defense noticeably the last quarter of the season.

So once again, what would have made you happy? The only thing that I can see is that he shot 3% below his career average from the 3 point line.

If his upside is so good, why we don't see teams interested in throwing money at him? Mike Miller, who had a fairly similar production on a lousy team last season had no problem fetching a 5 year deal from a cash strapped Miami Heat. Miller is also 30 years old.

I understand other FA's not wanting to come to SA. I just don't see why other teams would have no interest in RJ if he was so good.

The Spurs have been historically weak in that position, at least offensively. Obviously Bowen made up for it on the other end and with his corner 3's, a coveted skill in our system.

Again, if the Spurs had a prearranged deal it should show in his new contract. Let's see what the terms are.

[tuncaboylu]

If his upside is so good, why we don't see teams interested in throwing money at him? Mike Miller, who had a fairly similar production on a lousy team last season had no problem fetching a 5 year deal from a cash strapped Miami Heat. Miller is also 30 years old.

I understand other FA's not wanting to come to SA. I just don't see why other teams would have no interest in RJ if he was so good.

The Spurs have been historically weak in that position, at least offensively. Obviously Bowen made up for it on the other end and with his corner 3's, a coveted skill in our system.

Again, if the Spurs had a prearranged deal it should show in his new contract. Let's see what the terms are.

Mike Miller issue is totally irrelevant. He's offered MLE by many teams, because he was going to accept it. (And his team would not outbid it)

But RJ opted out from an 15M contract and seeking for 4 years 40M contract. That2s why there were no suitors who want to pay this contract to him. If he was eligible for playing MLE, tones of team could offer a contract to RJ. He was just looking much more.

[buttsR4rebounding]

If his upside is so good, why we don't see teams interested in throwing money at him? Mike Miller, who had a fairly similar production on a lousy team last season had no problem fetching a 5 year deal from a cash strapped Miami Heat. Miller is also 30 years old.

I understand other FA's not wanting to come to SA. I just don't see why other teams would have no interest in RJ if he was so good.

The Spurs have been historically weak in that position, at least offensively. Obviously Bowen made up for it on the other end and with his corner 3's, a coveted skill in our system.

Again, if the Spurs had a prearranged deal it should show in his new contract. Let's see what the terms are.

And once again, I ask, what production would have made you happy with him?

[tuncaboylu]

I already have a computer and the internet is cheap. I can watch my TV programmes on my laptop.

So do you mean that we shouldn't resign with RJ and carry on Gee and Hairston?

[coyotes_geek]

If his upside is so good, why we don't see teams interested in throwing money at him? Mike Miller, who had a fairly similar production on a lousy team last season had no problem fetching a 5 year deal from a cash strapped Miami Heat. Miller is also 30 years old.

I understand other FA's not wanting to come to SA. I just don't see why other teams would have no interest in RJ if he was so good.

With the Spurs willing to offer RJ a contract worth more than the MLE, the only teams in the running were the Spurs and the teams with cap room. It's hard to say whether or not anyone else was interested in RJ when the Spurs essentially priced out all but a handful of teams from the very beginning.

[ElNono]

And once again, I ask, what production would have made you happy with him?

At the very least an offensive/defensive production that would put him over Hill when closing out games. That would be an average production at best, something he was unable to pull out obviously, otherwise he would have been out there.

[ElNono]

Mike Miller issue is totally irrelevant. He's offered MLE by many teams, because he was going to accept it. (And his team would not outbid it)

But RJ opted out from an 15M contract and seeking for 4 years 40M contract. That2s why there were no suitors who want to pay this contract to him. If he was eligible for playing MLE, tones of team could offer a contract to RJ. He was just looking much more.

I don't disagree that he overvalued himself. The question is why the Spurs should pay anything substantially more than MLE money if there was nothing pre-arranged.

[ElNono]

With the Spurs willing to offer RJ a contract worth more than the MLE, the only teams in the running were the Spurs and the teams with cap room. It's hard to say whether or not anyone else was interested in RJ when the Spurs essentially priced out all but a handful of teams from the very beginning.

Therein hinges the question. Did they have something pre-arranged? And if so, for how much and how long? Because we heard daily here who was interested in who and I don't recall one single time hearing about any team being interested in RJ's services, even after the LeBron sweepstakes were over and there were a handful of teams with cap space.

[will_spurs]

I don't disagree that he overvalued himself. The question is why the Spurs should pay anything substantially more than MLE money if there was nothing pre-arranged.

If there was nothing pre-arranged then the Spurs should not sign him rather than try to lowball him.

[MaNu4Tres]

Therein hinges the question. Did they have something pre-arranged? And if so, for how much and how long? Because we heard daily here who was interested in who and I don't recall one single time hearing about any team being interested in RJ's services, even after the LeBron sweepstakes were over and there were a handful of teams with cap space.

There weren't many teams that could offer R.J more than the Mid-level or meet; exceed what the Spurs could offer.

The teams with significant cap-space that could offer R.J just as much as the Spurs were :New York (Gallinari, Chandler), New Jersey(Terrance Williams, Travis Outlaw), Miami (Lebron), Sacramento (Casspi, Dante Green), Chicago (Deng), Oklahoma City (Durant). These teams already had valuable options at the small forward position.

The only teams that could offer as much as the Spurs were the Cavaliers and the Clippers. The fact that Clippers just drafted a small forward takes them essentially out of the picture, which leaves just Cleveland as the only team with a significant hole at the small forward position.

So no there weren't a handful of teams with significant cap space that all were realistic scenarios for R.J's services.

[RiverwalkParade]

Chances are San Antonio sat down with RJ and his agent the day after he surprisingly opted out and said "this is our offer and you have until July 21st to think it over"

RJ and his agent then shopped for better option, ther were none and so that brings us to signing day.

You can call it pre-arranged if you want, but chances are RJ just didn't have anyone that would take on 4/40M. Hopefully the SA deal is front loaded and has a team option in the fourth year if it is a four year deal.

[tuncaboylu]

I don't disagree that he overvalued himself. The question is why the Spurs should pay anything substantially more than MLE money if there was nothing pre-arranged.

Honestly I can't say anything about pre-arrangement. I'm su ious, but I'm not sure of course.

But let's assume that there's no pre-arranged deal between 2 sides. I think that Jefferson's value is more than MLE at the moment, it's obvious. 4 years/32M is very logical and fair deal for both sides. It may be a little more then MLE, but we should offer more then MLE to outbid the potential suitors.

[Chieflion]

So do you mean that we shouldn't resign with RJ and carry on Gee and Hairston?

What do you think?

[coyotes_geek]

Therein hinges the question. Did they have something pre-arranged? And if so, for how much and how long? Because we heard daily here who was interested in who and I don't recall one single time hearing about any team being interested in RJ's services, even after the LeBron sweepstakes were over and there were a handful of teams with cap space.

My guess, well hope, is that instead of a pre-arrangement with specific numbers being discussed the Spurs simply committed to RJ that they would beat the MLE and then let RJ go shop himself to see what kind of offers he might be able to get from any of the teams with cap room.

Even among the teams with cap room RJ's market was going to be small. You had teams like the Bulls and OKC who already had a high priced SF on the roster. And you also had the crappy teams like Sacramento and Cleveland who would only appeal to RJ if they were going to significantly overpay. The knicks and nets are really the only two teams I would consider to have spurned RJ. JMO.......

[wildbill2u]

The Spurs are pretty good at letting players find their level in the FA market. They aren't afraid to let a player go and look for better deals than they think is warranted. Jax is one example. He turned down a better deal than he ultimately signed for to go into FA. I suspect the reason he didn't come back and sign with SA that year was ego.

Pretty obvious that RJ isn't getting any bites close to what he wanted in terms of salary and length of contract. Will ego get in the way of coming back for less money?

[tuncaboylu]

Chances are San Antonio sat down with RJ and his agent the day after he surprisingly opted out and said "this is our offer and you have until July 21st to think it over"

RJ and his agent then shopped for better option, ther were none and so that brings us to signing day.

You can call it pre-arranged if you want, but chances are RJ just didn't have anyone that would take on 4/40M. Hopefully the SA deal is front loaded and has a team option in the fourth year if it is a four year deal.

I don't think that it will be front-loaded, because if we sign that kind of deal, we can pay luxury tax for this year. We're very near to luxury threshold at the moment.

[tuncaboylu]

What do you think?

Just a little different than you, we should resign with RJ and use Gee and Hairston as back-up

[coyotes_geek]

The Spurs are pretty good at letting players find their level in the FA market. They aren't afraid to let a player go and look for better deals than they think is warranted. Jax is one example. He turned down a better deal than he ultimately signed for to go into FA. I suspect the reason he didn't come back and sign with SA that year was ego.

Pretty obvious that RJ isn't getting any bites close to what he wanted in terms of salary and length of contract. Will ego get in the way of coming back for less money?

I wouldn't worry about RJ's ego. He's a professional. Even though he struggled last year the effort was always there.

[lotr1trekkie]

I don't believe that the Spurs would go for 4 years because that is beyond Tim's time. Tiago signed for three so that he can leave when the Spur's suck w/o Tim. A 28 y/o center with skills will be in big demand in 2013. RJ is still the best option for 2 years unless we hit a gold mine out of nowhere. Splitter is [potentially] the perfect fit with Tim as BU center. Tim gets to rest more because Tiago is taking 28 minutes a game. Blair, HIll , Anderson and Manu fill out the 2nd team. Still need a starting shooting guard.

[Chieflion]

Just a little different than you, we should resign with RJ and use Gee and Hairston as back-up

I believe that a 3D TV will decline in effectiveness after a few years and I can't upgrade it. It is quite expensive and I don't want to commit myself to it long-term. With my laptop, I have the chance to upgrade it by adding more RAM, hard disk space, upgrade its graphic card and upgrade to a better processer, and I may even get a good sound system after each passing year. Best of all, it is cheap.

[tuncaboylu]

I believe that a 3D TV will decline in effectiveness after a few years and I can't upgrade it. It is quite expensive and I don't want to commit myself to it long-term. With my laptop, I have the chance to upgrade it by adding more RAM, hard disk space, upgrade its graphic card and upgrade to a better processer, and I may even get a good sound system after each passing year. Best of all, it is cheap.

But we're going to sell our house 2 years later and we should watch as much as movie during this period. And while watching move, our eyes being tired and watching movie in TV is much confortable. Moreover we have enoguh money to buy 3D TV and we can spend that money to buy anything else.
That's why getting 3D TV is better than going at the moment.

[ElNono]

There weren't many teams that could offer R.J more than the Mid-level or meet; exceed what the Spurs could offer.

The teams with significant cap-space that could offer R.J just as much as the Spurs were :New York (Gallinari, Chandler), New Jersey(Terrance Williams, Travis Outlaw), Miami (Lebron), Sacramento (Casspi, Dante Green), Chicago (Deng), Oklahoma City (Durant). These teams already had valuable options at the small forward position.

The only teams that could offer as much as the Spurs were the Cavaliers and the Clippers. The fact that Clippers just drafted a small forward takes them essentially out of the picture, which leaves just Cleveland as the only team with a significant hole at the small forward position.

So no there weren't a handful of teams with significant cap space that all were realistic scenarios for R.J's services.

First of all New Jersey didn't have Travis Outlaw when the FA period started.

Second, if RJ is as good as he's billed here, he should have been a significant upgrade over Gallinari or Chandler in NY. Same could be argued for Sacramento.

Third, we still don't know what the Spurs offered or even what they were willing to match for RJ. Were they interested in matching a 5 year guaranteed deal? Over $10m/per deal? RJ made clear we was looking for a long term deal, but the Spurs never really stated what they would offer, simply that they would like him back.

Fourth, add the Blazers who handed out a $33m/5 year deal for Wesley Matthews. The Suns after moving Amare had a huge trade exception that they decided to spend on Hedo + pieces. Same for Toronto after the Bosh deal. Utah also had some room after Boozer left, picking up Bell in the process.

So, you know, the fact that two days ago we were scrapping the bottom of the barrel for a starting SF, and we still are to see if we can pick up a backup pretty much tells you that the market was very active for those guys.
Which makes the lack of demand for RJ even more glaring.

[ElNono]

Honestly I can't say anything about pre-arrangement. I'm su ious, but I'm not sure of course.

But let's assume that there's no pre-arranged deal between 2 sides. I think that Jefferson's value is more than MLE at the moment, it's obvious. 4 years/32M is very logical and fair deal for both sides. It may be a little more then MLE, but we should offer more then MLE to outbid the potential suitors.

Wouldn't you wait for potential suitors to offer something though? I mean, you always have bird rights and you always can match an offer.

This is exactly what Utah did with Matthews. Eventually deciding he was not worth matching and picking Bell instead.