Sessions explains why he opted out

Post #1 » by **dockingsched** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 2:03 am

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--escap ... bcats.html

...Sessions could have returned to the Lakers this season, but instead opted out of the $4.5 million final year of his contract to test the free-agent market. A concern of the Lakers trading him, a desire for more contract security and a chance to play near home have made Sessions comfortable with his decision to sign a two-year, $10 million deal with the Bobcats...

....Sessions said he had a positive postseason meeting with Lakers officials, but he still wasn't confident he remained in their future plans.

Worried that he could be traded, Sessions opted out of the final year of his contract. Even if he hadn't, Sessions believed the Lakers could have dealt him to get a marquee point guard in free agency like Steve Nash or Deron Williams in a sign-and-trade deal.

"It was one of those situations I looked at like, 'If I do come back what if they trade me?' " Sessions said. "There were talks about getting Deron. They always wanted the bigger-named guy. What if I get traded to a team and it's my contract year? It was one of those things that I can't say if I opted in, [Nash] wouldn't have come. They still might have tried to get him. You just never know."

Sessions said the Bobcats aggressively pursued him from the moment free agency began. Charlotte had the worst winning percentage in NBA history (.106) during the lockout-shortened season. Still, Sessions enthusiastically agreed join the Bobcats, who are close to his hometown of Myrtle Beach, S.C. New Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap said Sessions will be counted on to lead this season. The Lakers have replaced Sessions with a veteran point guard who can live up to Bryant's demands in Nash.

"It's one of those things where I knew what I was getting myself into when I did it," Sessions said. "I signed with Charlotte and the past is the past."

hope it works for him, easy to understand his reasoning. would've been nice if he was here backing up nash, oh well.

MistyMountain20 · Post #2 » by **MistyMountain20** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 2:53 am

I liked Sessions. He had a weak Playoffs, but all in all he had a solid stint with us.

iamworthy · Post #3 » by **iamworthy** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 2:58 am

Doc, we agreed on Session's stance from the get go. I have no problem with what he did. Im glad he got a raise. He seems like a good guy.

gotokyo · Post #4 » by **gotokyo** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:10 am

He was afraid of being traded so he opted out and signed with the worst team in the league.

Good idea.

Imadogg · Post #5 » by **Imadogg** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:26 am

gotokyo wrote:He was afraid of being traded so he opted out and signed with the worst team in the league.

Good idea.

a chance to play near home

He preferred that over being traded somewhere he had no control over. Respectable

DEEP3CL · Post #6 » by **DEEP3CL** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:28 am

Not letting him off that easy, money wise I get it. But him worrying about weather the team was going after a bigger name is moot. So what if we we're ? The thing is Sess was a career back up and that's probably his apex, but seeing as he signed with a team trying to build of course he's a starter. Staying here even if we got Steve makes him better......he goes to the role he was best suited for. And playing behind Steve would've risen his value. He got exposed a lot as a starter on an elite team.

Sorry but I've never had any sympathy on guys worrying about being traded. You know the deal the minute you sign a pro contract. I understand it more from guys who've established a family with kids and real life issues to deal with. But when you're single.........don't fly, you only got yourself in most cases.

And this part makes no sense what so ever...."What if I get traded to a team and it's my contract year? "

For one he never mentions what type of team he land up on, secondly the only way it hurts him is if he landed on a team with an elite PG and he sees little time.

I didn't need to read that article, I knew his reasoning all alone. He got what he wanted....money, still starting and that's it. Welcome back to the abyss Sessions, the bright lights was too much pressure for you.

Imadogg · Post #7 » by **Imadogg** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 4:34 am

And again, he doesn't owe anything to the Lakers or to DEEP and he made his choice. Who said anyone has to let him off easy? If he was trash talking the Lakers, we could have something to say about his performances or his choices. Dude just said he believes he made the right choice, good for him.

Desiderium · Post #8 » by **Desiderium** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 4:38 am

stupid reasoning to be honest. whatever tho, i didnt like his passion in game. dude had no fire in his eyes

leeprettyp · Post #9 » by **leeprettyp** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 4:57 am

I get it cuz we were talking to NJ for a possible Dwill trade (man that would've been a bad move in the end). But Sessions essentially has cemented his career as a backup PG compared to growing with us here in L.A.

DEEP3CL · Post #10 » by **DEEP3CL** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 5:14 am

Imadogg wrote:And again, he doesn't owe anything to the Lakers or to DEEP and he made his choice. Who said anyone has to let him off easy? If he was trash talking the Lakers, we could have something to say about his performances or his choices. Dude just said he believes he made the right choice, good for him.

You damn right Imadogg.......he owes me NOTHING or the Lakers NOTHING. He reasoning was stupid though, as a pro athlete you know the ramifications of being traded. My opinion is mine I don't have to fall in line with the " it works for him" crowd. His choice is his choice.....so be it.

DEEP3CL · Post #11 » by **DEEP3CL** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 5:16 am

Desiderium wrote:stupid reasoning to be honest. whatever tho, i didnt like his passion in game. dude had no fire in his eyes

Glad to know it's some smart guys here who can see past the smoke.

Post #12 » by **dockingsched** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 5:23 am

4.5 mil without being sure what your future holds vs 10 mil knowing you'll have legit minutes. somehow picking the latter is stupid :noway:

DEEP3CL · Post #13 » by **DEEP3CL** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 5:28 am

dockingsched wrote:4.5 mil without being sure what your future holds vs 10 mil knowing you'll have legit minutes. somehow picking the latter is stupid

Doc I didn't say him taking the money was stupid. But like I said at the time of him opting out, had he picked up his option and ball'd the hell out he probably could've made more. But I him worrying about being traded should've been the last thing on his mind.

There is no refuting that, so what if they trade you.....you still control your own destiny if you play well.
That's all you have to do, just ball nothing more nothing less.

Post #14 » by **dockingsched** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 5:33 am

eh, its easy to sit here and claim he'd make out better if he stayed on the lakers, but when its how you make your living, i can see why someone who has been a journeyman never finding a steady role would be eager to guarantee twice as much money. i mean, what if he gets hurt, tears an ACL next week. he owes to himself to look out for his security.

Imadogg · Post #15 » by **Imadogg** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 5:35 am

DEEP3CL wrote:You damn right Imadogg.......he owes me NOTHING or the Lakers NOTHING. He reasoning was stupid though, as a pro athlete you know the ramifications of being traded. My opinion is mine I don't have to fall in line with the " it works for him" crowd. His choice is his choice.....so be it.

That's the point though DEEP. He knows as a pro athlete that he can be traded any time, so he took a step to avoid that.

Not trying to make you change any opinion, just saying his reasoning doesn't go against what you've stated. Trades are a part of the game, he avoided that for now by opting out, getting paid, and moving closer to home.

Bad job to Sessions basketball-wise for not staying with a good team and not letting us see him run the offense over Blake, but good job on him taking care of himself.

Dr Aki · Post #16 » by **Dr Aki** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 5:39 am

if we had sessions still, he wouldve been used to absorb more salary from the dwight deal

so sessions' fears were indeed grounded and well thought out

DEEP3CL · Post #17 » by **DEEP3CL** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 6:09 am

Imadogg wrote:That's the point though DEEP. He knows as a pro athlete that he can be traded any time, so he took a step to avoid that.

Not trying to make you change any opinion, just saying his reasoning doesn't go against what you've stated. Trades are a part of the game, he avoided that for now by opting out, getting paid, and moving closer to home.

Bad job to Sessions basketball-wise for not staying with a good team and not letting us see him run the offense over Blake, but good job on him taking care of himself.

I get that Dogg, I get him taking secure money, moving closer to home also. I'm just say'in he probably cut himself a little short in the long run. He'll probably be replaced by Kemba Walker next season as the starter, and since he'll be an expiring again chances are he'll be dealt or he'll be on the hunt for another team. And it's a given he won't make another 10 mil. But it's cool that he got his now cause it ain't coming again.

Imadogg · Post #18 » by **Imadogg** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 6:13 am

I agree with you, but think about it, he did this because he's never got it before and like you said, it ain't coming again. He's never signed a contract this big, he's been traded a couple times in the past. Now was the time to go for it and he did.

GoldKnightRises · Post #19 » by **GoldKnightRises** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 10:00 am

He was alright for a while...then the playoffs came...still, tons better than steve blake

dub81 · Post #20 » by **dub81** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:29 pm

No problem whatsoever in what he did.

He honored his contract and he had a option to opt out and he did. Whatever reason he opted out was his reason and we should not care. He did not bad mouth the organization or anything and he wanted to be closer to home and he got more money. I don't understand why another grown man is worrying about another grown man's reasonning for leaving a team when his contract is up?

Wish him all the best.