Congrats Spurs fans, Jefferson opts out of contract

[Mavs Man]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/bal...urn=nba,252707

Richard Jefferson opts out of his contract, mind
By Kelly Dwyer

In an offseason full of what is probably going to be stunner after stunner, we have our first. Underwhelming and overpaid Spurs forward Richard Jefferson(notes) has opted out of the final year of his contract, leaving $15.2 million on the table to get away from San Antonio.

Amar'e Stoudemire(notes) pulling the same trick? We can understand. More money to be had up front, if he stays in Phoenix, if the leaks are correct, and more money to be had overall. Dirk Nowitzki(notes)? He might have to take an initial pay cut, but overall the move will be well worth it. Paul Pierce(notes) doesn't have the same guarantee after opting out of his final year, but we're inclined to believe that the Boston Celtics will reward loyalty and overpay.

Richard Jefferson? It's hardly the same story.

Jefferson's been trending downward for two years now, seen as an albatross in both New Jersey, Milwaukee, and San Antonio for three consecutive springs. New Jersey and Milwaukee had to pay to dump Jefferson when they traded the former All-Star, taking back cheaper contracts but also players that were pennies on the dollar in terms of talent compared to the talent usually associated with the size of Jefferson's contracts.

The Spurs? All they did was yell at Jefferson, a lot, for the entirety of his time in Texas. As Adrian Wojnarowski pointed out, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich "rode him hard," as the disappointing small forward went from appearing as the perfect fit for an older Spurs team on paper, to a poor shooting on-court liability completely lacking in confidence.

Now, to hear Jefferson tell it last April, he was considering opting-out because of the impending change in the Collective Bargaining Agreement rules, and the sheer amount of teams with cap space this summer. As he told FanHouse:

"I probably wouldn't make 15 (million dollars) some place, but you could somehow recoup some of that over a multi-year deal and get some guaranteed money for the next few years.

"So you figure it out. If you're able to get four years and 40 (million dollars by opting out) from someone, it's like, 'OK, I did lose out on 15 (million dollars). But I'm going to get basically a $25 million extension.' Those are things that you think of at the end of the season.''

Apparently he's done thinking, and he's moving on with the early-termination option.

The problem with that is, I'm sorry, Jefferson's getting nowhere near four years and $40 million. If anything, a contract half that size would more than suffice, and that would probably be a contract he could muster next season (even if 2010-11 would be a repeat of this season, in San Antonio), on top of making the $15 million he was due to make this year.

League-wide sentiment, even in this open market with scads of teams with cap space, is that Jefferson is mid-level player at best, and I have a problem with even going that far. I honestly think Jefferson might end up getting a three-year deal worth around 18 million dollars, but as stated above, he could probably have gotten that next year, after taking in his final big season with San Antonio (and another team, as his expiring contract would probably have been shipped elsewhere). So that's $33 million (combined, between the two deals) by passing on the early termination, or $18 million signed this year after opting out.

Doesn't sound like a "$25 million extension" to me.

Two distinct elements are into play. The first allows for the thought that Jefferson's time in San Antonio was so ceaselessly untenable, that he had to get away, no matter the cost.

Or - and it should be pointed out that it is quite likely that both these elements are running concurrently - Jefferson is still overrating his own talents, making rash decisions, and acting on bad advice. Or no advice at all, which can still be pretty bad advice.

For whatever reason, unless there's some boffo deal that he has lined up that we know nothing about, this is a bad, move. Jefferson was going to get a contract no matter how poorly he played next summer, and he may have just cost himself a significant amount of money.

[Mavs Man]

Can't say I'm happy to see this go down, as a Mavs fan. The Spurs just saved themselves $15 million, and they will most likely replace most of his production with their 1st round draft pick this year, James Anderson.

Meanwhile, I'd be shocked to see a team give Jefferson a contract anywhere close to what he would be making this year. Yeah, he might sign for more money with a longer contract, but there is no reason he could get a similar deal NEXT YEAR after banking the $15 M. I guess Pop really did ride him hard...

[Danny White]

Don't let the door hit you on the arse on your way out.

[Bob Sacamano]

Too bad I haven't followed the NBA in a couple of years, because I was pretty syked when I found out that the Spurs had Richard Jefferson. I remember him flying against them in the NBA Finals a few years back.

Guess I haven't missed anything.

[MC KAos]

this isnt as good as it sounds, the spurs were well over the luxury tax and all this does is save peter holt money, we still cant use more than the MLE to get better. it actually kind of sucks because we now have to get another SF and most of the MLE is going to tiago splitter (hopefully)

[casmith07]

Originally Posted by MC KAos

this isnt as good as it sounds, the spurs were well over the luxury tax and all this does is save peter holt money, we still cant use more than the MLE to get better. it actually kind of sucks because we now have to get another SF and most of the MLE is going to tiago splitter (hopefully)

Richard Jefferson is done. Be happy that your franchise is doing the right thing.

[MC KAos]

Originally Posted by casmith07

Richard Jefferson is done. Be happy that your franchise is doing the right thing.

i understand how it seems like a good thing, and if it meant that the spurs were now 15 mil or anywhere near that under the salary i would be down in 6th street celebrating. But the fact of the matter is that cap wise, we are still in the same boat, minus a decent SF. The only person who wins is the spurs owner, Peter Holt, because he is now under the luxury tax threshold.

[Bob Sacamano]

Originally Posted by MC KAos

i understand how it seems like a good thing, and if it meant that the spurs were now 15 mil or anywhere near that under the salary i would be down in 6th street celebrating. But the fact of the matter is that cap wise, we are still in the same boat, minus a decent SF. The only person who wins is the spurs owner, Peter Holt, because he is now under the luxury tax threshold.

It may be rebuilding time, in a way, anyways. Holt knows what he's doing.

[casmith07]

And can possibly now bring in a better player for less, like a Rudy Gay.

I've watched the NBA for a long time. The Spurs have always impressed in the front office. Have a little faith.

[MC KAos]

Originally Posted by Bob Sacamano

It may be rebuilding time, in a way, anyways. Holt knows what he's doing.

i dont think so, if either anderson pans out or we can get a decent SF, with the addition of splitter and a healthy parker i think we can compete in the west for another 2 or 3 years

Originally Posted by casmith07

And can possibly now bring in a better player for less, like a Rudy Gay.

I've watched the NBA for a long time. The Spurs have always impressed in the front office. Have a little faith.

rudy gay would be pretty awesome! it would more than likely have to be in a sign and trade though because i dont see them letting him go that easily, but then again it is the same franchise that gave away pau gasol!

but your right, the spurs front office, besides the luis scola debacle, have always done the right thing in the end. i hope they have another jedi mind trick up their sleeve

[Bob Sacamano]

Originally Posted by MC KAos

i dont think so, if either anderson pans out or we can get a decent SF, with the addition of splitter and a healthy parker i think we can compete in the west for another 2 or 3 years

Then quit worrying then, lol.

[casmith07]

Originally Posted by MC KAos

i dont think so, if either anderson pans out or we can get a decent SF, with the addition of splitter and a healthy parker i think we can compete in the west for another 2 or 3 years



rudy gay would be pretty awesome! it would more than likely have to be in a sign and trade though because i dont see them letting him go that easily, but then again it is the same franchise that gave away pau gasol!

but your right, the spurs front office, besides the luis scola debacle, have always done the right thing in the end. i hope they have another jedi mind trick up their sleeve

what are you complaining about then? Dude there's like 40 free agents available not named LeBron James. Guys like Gay, Boozer, and a bunch of others.

[SaltwaterServr]

Originally Posted by casmith07

Gay, Boozer

Please let them sit on the bench next to each other. Best photo op since "Dirty" and "Sanchez" lined up at the Jets game.

[MC KAos]

Originally Posted by Bob Sacamano

Then quit worrying then, lol.

Originally Posted by casmith07

what are you complaining about then? Dude there's like 40 free agents available not named LeBron James. Guys like Gay, Boozer, and a bunch of others.

lol ya im just iffy about it at the moment

[InmanRoshi]

RJ has always struck me as a NYC guy. He made it known he wasn't thrilled when New Jersey traded him to Milwaukee, and I doubt he liked San Antonio much better. It just so happens that the Nets and Knicks have a ton of cap space to spend and in desperate need of some "names" to sell to their fan base. He wont get the $15 million he was due next year, but he probably won't have to settle for the MLE either, and in the meantime he gets a lifestyle that he enjoys a lot more .... plus the security of a new long term contract in before the CBA goes up in smoke and a potential lockout happens next year.