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Agent says Baron may opt out of Warriors deal
Source: Odds 50-50 guard will become free agent
By Geoff Lepper
STAFF WRITER

Article Created: 05/09/2008 08:28:38 PM PDT


OAKLAND -- Callers waiting to leave voicemail for Warriors executive vice president Chris Mullin are serenaded by the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want."
Never has that been more true for Golden State point guard Baron Davis.

After weeks of informal conversations, Davis' agent, Todd Ramasar, met with Warriors officials Thursday to discuss a potential contract extension for his client. But the talks failed to provide any satisfaction for Davis, a two-time All-Star who just turned 29.

In fact, the sides were so far apart in what they perceive as Davis' worth that Ramasar brought up the specter of Davis using his opt-out clause to void the final year on his current deal and become an unrestricted free agent as of July 1.

"After sitting down with the Warriors organization (Thursday) regarding Baron's future, I don't know what direction the Warriors are going," Ramasar told the Times. "Baron is adamant about remaining a Warrior but based on my conversations with the team (Thursday), we have to consider all of his options."

A source close to Davis said it's now a 50-50 chance that the Warriors' captain, coming off a season in which he averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds, will not remain beyond next season after various contract offers that were so low as to be practically hurtful.

Lepper made it seem like somebody said there's a 50-50 chance Fizzle opts out..All the source said is that he might become a free agent in 09..Duh..

Davis has no leverage. His ego won't allow him to accept an extension less than what his buddy Pierce got.

17.8 million dollars is a lot of money...
maybe he signs with a contender for the MLE, he's already made a lot of money, 29 is too young to do that, right?

the world's smallest violin playing for Baron's unfulfilled contract expectations

Well, the main question is whether or not you'd be willing to go over Nash and Billups money (6 years, $60-ish million) or not.

That's a tough question, but if I could resign Davis and know he'd be happy at 6 and 60, I'd do it.

Hoooo-rah to the W's brass for this move... "practically hurtful" really cracked me up.

If there's no extension... and the Warriors are being so hurtful, I guess the W's would start listening when the Mavs come calling...

sanddude909 wrote:Well, the main question is whether or not you'd be willing to go over Nash and Billups money (6 years, $60-ish million) or not.

That's a tough question, but if I could resign Davis and know he'd be happy at 6 and 60, I'd do it.

If they could get him to resign for 10 Million this year, that'd be a huge cap savings for us and I think I'd have to consider it (the 6 years). Doubt if he's willing to be that generous though. Really don't think that Baron's willing to commit to that many years with us unless he were getting max money.

$10 mil per? Are you serious?

I would re-sign Baron at 10 Mil. I probably wouldn't want to go six years, because he's going to demand his Clipper trade at some point during that stretch unless we're winning 2nd round playoff series. Signing Baron to 6 years is almost guaranteeing that we get raped in trade whenever it finally blows up, but then again, we got him for Speedy and Dale Davis, so how "raped" can we really get? But at 10 mil? Warts and all, he's A LOT of talent for $10 mil.

However, considering the health/endurance issues . . . at 10Mil, we're pretty close to cost vs. contribution. We're getting an "all star" talent with a 60 game shelf life. $10 mil is 65% of 15 mil, which is on the low end for that kind of talent (projected to 82 games) but you have to discount the history, the possibility of those injury games comming at the wrong time, and the eventual trade demand if we aren't contending . . . I might go as high as $11 mil, but definitely not to $12.

I think if everyone went into it realistically, knowing that Baron wouldn't finish a 6 year deal necessarilly here, but that he would have a future in the league secured (and his post NBA carreer funded) and everyone came to terms with his minutes/games limitations, and Monta is continued to be granted more leadership and control of the team . . . yeah, 11 mil per is close to the right number for a VERY skilled player who has some very real minutes/games limitations and carries some attitude risks.

The main issues are:

#1 would Baron ever stoop to $10 mil type money? No.
#2 And, what coach is going to be able to manage his emotions as he becomes less of the focus and we start adding pieces with that $7mil of capspace who don't "need" Baron Davis to take over very game? (psst. . . Paul Silas isn't doing anything right now . . .pass it on)

He'd be a reliever, or a 5-hole DH. He'd be here to give us spectacular performances when needed, but need to stay out of the way of team play when we're clicking without his "dominance." He'd be a rich man's Sam Cassell. I would be very pleased to have a luxury like that in our back pocket, but I don't see the emotion/ego side of it working out.

The other factor is that any extension of Davis would completely blow ROWELL's mind, and you can't put a price on that.

510Reggae wrote:Hoooo-rah to the W's brass for this move... "practically hurtful" really cracked me up.

If there's no extension... and the Warriors are being so hurtful, I guess the W's would start listening when the Mavs come calling...

Ramsmar dropping phrases like "hurtful" is pretty hilarious. Baron needs a new agent, one that will talk straight with him.

Sleepy51 wrote:Baron needs a new agent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrKg_Ms7REs

Sure does

510Reggae wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrKg_Ms7REs

Sure does

'

Don't hate. That mess way funny. If it were Tay in that commercial you would have loved it.

I tease CUT

?

Here is my extension offer for Baron:

6 year extension with the final 3 on a player option

11.2 mil in the first year with an addtional 25% incentives based on playoff success. NO PERSONAL PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES. Help us win, or don't get your extra money. If we make the NBA finals, he takes home the full 14 mil. Play to win. I don't care if he only plays 50 games . . . make them count (and him taking mid season vacations helps entrench Monta as the leader. Baron becomes a closer.)

I would do max increases over the 1st 3 years, so that's 12.4 next year and then 13.6 in the third year. Same incentive structure. If we make the finals in his 3rd year, he makes 17 mil again.

I would then level off the deal over the final 3 years at 13.6 mil (with incentives in tact.)

This gives him power over the end of his career. If he's killing it and we get that finals appearance, he can take home a boatload of cash, opt out and sign a better short deal to finish his career if it's out there. If not, and he doesn't opt out, we have an expensive hood ornament. We are taking on risk by even considering 6 years, but we get to build his deal around performance based pay as compensation.

If he really wants to stink and collect 13 million free dollars for the last 4 years we get screwed, but Isiah might have another GM job by then, so I think it might be worth the risk.

Sleepy51 wrote:
11.2 mil in the first year with an addtional 25% incentives based on playoff success. NO PERSONAL PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES. Help us win, or don't get your extra money. If we make the NBA finals, he takes home the full 14 mil. Play to win. I don't care if he only plays 50 games . . . make them count (and him taking mid season vacations helps entrench Monta as the leader. Baron becomes a closer.)

Maybe McHale will give Isaiah a job sometime?

But seriously, what does the CBA say about performance incentives? Are there parameters/limits on incentives?

The incentive Max is 25%

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#61

So sayeth the Coon.

I should note, I do not think Ramsmar or Baron would ever take this deal. This is just what he is worth to me. This is the amount of franchise resources and the level of risk I'd be willing to invest in him. I know he likes money, I know he wants to win. I'm thinking those two factors could be made to work for us rather than against us.

But he will be too proud or his agent too dumb to set him straight.

Sleepy51 wrote:?

You didn't watch it? Great microcosmic effect.... the commercial had huge potential and didn't deliver

Sleepy51 wrote:Here is my extension offer for Baron:

6 year extension with the final 3 on a player option

11.2 mil in the first year with an addtional 25% incentives based on playoff success. NO PERSONAL PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES. Help us win, or don't get your extra money. If we make the NBA finals, he takes home the full 14 mil. Play to win. I don't care if he only plays 50 games . . . make them count (and him taking mid season vacations helps entrench Monta as the leader. Baron becomes a closer.)

I would do max increases over the 1st 3 years, so that's 12.4 next year and then 13.6 in the third year. Same incentive structure. If we make the finals in his 3rd year, he makes 17 mil again.

I would then level off the deal over the final 3 years at 13.6 mil (with incentives in tact.)

This gives him power over the end of his career. If he's killing it and we get that finals appearance, he can take home a boatload of cash, opt out and sign a better short deal to finish his career if it's out there. If not, and he doesn't opt out, we have an expensive hood ornament. We are taking on risk by even considering 6 years, but we get to build his deal around performance based pay as compensation.

If he really wants to stink and collect 13 million free dollars for the last 4 years we get screwed, but Isiah might have another GM job by then, so I think it might be worth the risk.

i believe only one PO year is allowed to build into any contract, that plus a TO option.

but you brought up a good point - an incentive ridden contract. i believe steve nash has that when he signed with the suns. start low with the base, but build a large enough incentive if baron's to play so and so number of games, then it became near max. do that each year and we may have a deal.

of course, doubt baron goes for that. his agent won't like it even if he think its ok.