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Over $2M?
WTF?
Damn it. Sell some damn tractors and get this over with.
Parker, Spurs end contract talks
Web Posted: 10/28/2004 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....3075a0d0.html
With five days left to extend Tony Parker's contract before an NBA deadline, the point guard's agent said Wednesday he has ended talks with the Spurs after team officials declined to increase their six-year, $64 million offer.
"We've been told (Spurs chairman) Peter Holt won't pay a penny above $64 million," said Marc Fleisher, Parker's agent. "We respectfully think Tony's value is higher and that it just makes more sense for him to wait until the summer."
If the Spurs do not extend Parker's contract by Sunday, he will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. The team will have the right to match any other offer he receives.
Spurs' officials, as is usually their policy during contract negotiations, declined comment.
The breakdown in negotiations comes with the two sides separated by no more than $4 million. Parker had been seeking $68 million, though a source close to the talks indicated he would be willing to compromise at $66 million.
Fleisher had been awaiting a new proposal from the Spurs this week, but was informed the team's ownership group would not increase its offer. Parker, who said last week he was "very confident" an agreement could be reached, remains hopeful the Spurs will reconsider.
"I would like to get it done, but I don't know if we will be able to," Parker said. "Marc says the Spurs' offer isn't fair. He thinks we can do better in the summer. He might be right."
The Spurs' $64 million offer would eclipse the six-year, $52 million deal Manu Ginobili signed this summer as the third-largest in the franchise's history. Only Tim Duncan (seven years, $122 million) and David Robinson (six years, $66 million) have received larger contracts.
Last summer, Washington lured Gilbert Arenas, another of the league's top young point guards, away from Golden State with a six-year, $64 million deal.
However, with NBA contract values escalating sharply over the past four months, the money Parker is seeking is substantially less than what other members of his rookie class have received. Memphis recently gave forward Pau Gasol a six-year, $86 million extension, the maximum he could have received. Utah forward Andrei Kirilenko, another of Fleisher's clients, also is close to signing an $86 million extension. New Jersey forward Richard Jefferson signed for $76 million over six years.
"At those numbers, it just seems better for him to wait," Fleisher said. "I think there's a good chance he could get a max deal next summer."
Some Spurs' officials privately agree, though the team and Parker will both be taking a gamble by waiting until the summer because the league's collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of the season.
The NBA is expected to try to reduce the maximum length of guaranteed contracts as well as reduce the maximum annual raise a player can receive in the new CBA. The players' union will likely resist, depending on what other concessions are made.
By waiting, Parker also puts himself at risk of injury. Any insurance policy he signs probably won't come close to guaranteeing what the Spurs are offering.
It remains to be seen how Parker will react if he enters the season without a new deal. He will earn $1.5 million this season regardless of whether he signs an extension.
"Tony went through a tough time two summers ago," Fleisher said, referring to the Spurs' failed pursuit of New Jersey point guard Jason Kidd. "And he came out of that just fine.
"He's going to have even more incentive to play well and be the max-type of player he is. What makes Tony great is that he has a lot of confidence in himself."
Spurs officials postponed negotiating with Parker until the end of September then quickly set their own Oct. 10 deadline for completing talks. Though a deal was not reached, the team continued negotiating.
Fleisher said he doubts talks will resume a second time. Even if the two sides agree on the total value of the extension, they still have to negotiate the structure of the contract, which could lead to other stumbling points.
"This is sort of what they indicated they wanted all along," Fleisher said. "I think this was specifically designed that if they got a great deal for themselves they would do it. But if they didn't, they would wait.
"I made it very clear to Tony that he has to assume when (team officials) say Peter Holt is not going to pay a penny more than $64 million, they're men of their words.
"It's not for us to tell Peter he's wrong. But at the same time we don't have to take a deal we think isn't fair value."
Over $2M?
WTF?
Damn it. Sell some damn tractors and get this over with.
Nice logic there, Spurs."At those numbers, it just seems better for him to wait," Fleisher said. "I think there's a good chance he could get a max deal next summer."
Some Spurs' officials privately agree
If Holt can't come up with $2 million, then he needs to sell the team.
Clearly the Spurs think that next summer that they can make out alright with the potential changes in the CBA and with Parker being a restricted free agent (would he remain so under the next CBA?)
Still, this does seem somewhat odd. The Spurs are clearly making a big gamble right now. I suppose they believe that they can make out better if the new CBA does reduce contract lengths and the max annual raises. They wouldn't have to carry insurance for Parker's deal starting this summer as well. Plus the last years of any guaranteed deal usually comprise a disproportionate amount of the total value so the cost of insuring such a shorter, smaller deal would be significantly less.
They did a decent job of handling Manu's foray into free agency. They seem to think they can do it again.
Last edited by Marcus Bryant; 10-28-2004 at 01:45 AM.
Good point. If the new CBA dicates that Parker is an unrestricted free agent, the Spurs will be even more screwed.
So if Parker is offered the max next summer ... do the Spurs match?
If Holt is still the owner, I think not. Even if that max is only over four or five years.
One does wonder if Holt isn't looking to exit now.
It's 2million to the Spurs, but 4million to Tony, if he does decide to take the Spurs offer.
There are a few more days before the deadline. Maybe, someone will come to their senses.
He was asking more than the rumored $65 million to begin with, apparently. Still, I'm surprised they didn't want to sign him for $66 mill. This makes me think they're not as high on him as the rest of us hope (or believe).Parker had been seeking $68 million, though a source close to the talks indicated he would be willing to compromise at $66 million.
$64 million is still a lot of money. They know how good he will be ... they just want to pinch pennies.
To me, Parker for $68 million is a better deal than Ginobili for $52 million.
What's in it for the Spurs waiting until next summer? Potenitally they can sign him to a shorter deal, with lower annual raises. In addition to the reduction in expense over those years for Parker the amount of guaranteed money would be significantly less, which is important for carrying that contract. The difference between a 6 year extension now under the current CBA versus a new contract next summer for say, 4 years with lower annual raises is significant.
One thing is for sure...it will be an interesting year for Parker and the Spurs.
I wonder if it's the money, or just the fact they'd prefer to spend their money elsewhere. They made an offer to Tony, and that's encouraging, but did they make it knowing he'd never accept it? Less than Gilbert Arenas? Sheesh.
One would think that if the owners got shorter contracts and lower max annual raises that perhaps the players would get restricted free agency pared back.
WTF? Two million? Gimme a friggin' break!$66 million
Okay, Holt's the majority owner, but have you seen the ownership list?
Bank of America. USAA. I think even Clear Channel and HEB have part ownership. DRob has part ownership. They can't find two million dollars in there?
Don't be surprised if Robinson steps in and Parker gets that extra money...watch.
I don't think it's a matter of the $2M. The Spurs have their limit with everyone. They set it and they don't go beyond it. There was a limit with Manu too -- they weren't willing to go a dollar over it.
I just think they set their limit with Tony and if it doesn't get done at that amount, they are willing to just take their chances next summer.
You're right Kori, it's really not a matter of 2 million. It's a matter of what, 230K or so the first year, plus 12.5% of that the rest of the contract.
Cue David Robinson to save the franchise, again.
As much as this franchise has been plagued by ty point guards in its history, what the were we doing thinking we might actually want to pony up and keep the first damn good one we got.
Tony doesn't sound positive that his agent is right. I wonder if Tony (without any agent influence) would just take the $64M."I would like to get it done, but I don't know if we will be able to," Parker said. "Marc says the Spurs' offer isn't fair. He thinks we can do better in the summer. He might be right."
Would anyone take it? Knowing you could possibly get more somewhere else?I wonder if Tony (without any agent influence) would just take the $64M.
Damn..this sux. I actually didn't think they were gonna have it done before 10/31...thena couple of days ago I changed my mind.
Guess I was right the first time.
Dammit....are the Spurs really considering pissing off this extremely young point guard with all his upside both on and off the court? I'd bet so many people (ahem, women) buy parker merchandise that would have never bought it before he came along.
And to think the management is risking their goodwill with the players in general...for a freaking 333,333 thousand per year?!??! Don't they throw more than that away on a pinerider every year? Go with one less Jack Haley for the next few seasons.
simply depressing...
Tony had a limit and the Spurs had a limit. The Spurs made a fair offer. It wasn't cheap. They offered him the largest contract in team history for a non-franchise player.
Successful teams don't play players whatever they want to make. Rasho would be hard to replace, but should the Spurs have offered him the max if he wanted it?
Risking their good will? That's silly. How can they be risking their good will after offering him $64 million? Most people in here seemed to think that $64 million was fair.And to think the management is risking their goodwill with the players in general...for a freaking 333,333 thousand per year?!??! Don't they throw more than that away on a pinerider every year? Go with one less Jack Haley for the next few seasons.
The Spurs made a finanical decision, but it was also a basketball decision. Pop and RC know more than anyone that handcuffing your team for seasons to come is bad basketball management. Sure, it was "only" $2 million. But what if it was $6 million? $8 million? You have to establish a limit, and the Spurs did that.
Tony will get a chance to prove himself. If he improves his game and leads the team deep into the postseason, he can be considered for a larger contract next summer. The Spurs can wait and see how he does. Just because he didn't sign now doesn't mean that he won't sign next summer.
I'm optimistic that Tony will remain with the franchise.
Pass the collection plate round at a Spurs game for a few mil.
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