Millsap aims for 2013 Free Agency rather than extension

[StocktonShorts]

http://m.sltrib.com/sltrib/mobile2/5463 ... n.html.csp

Sounds like Millsap has turned down the max extension the Jazz could offer, a 3-year, $25M deal, in favor of testing the free agency waters next summer.

Does this change anything for the Jazz?

Edit: updated title

[Neon Black]

Teams that were interested in trading for him might opt to wait and snatch him up as a free agent. On the other hand, there may be a few teams who'll be tempted by his expiring contract.

[Neon Black]

Nice! I like the new "+1" button.

[reapaman]

It said initial indications are that he prefers to be a free agent, never said he turned it down. He probley will reject it but the title is incorrect for now.

[DelaneyRudd]

It sounds like a good move for Paul money wise. It indicates he likely would be moved or traded this year, but he is not in the position where he can be secure in his minutes or team stature so I can't call this entirely a money issue either. If he signs that extension he becomes a super trade asset so I don't think it's a sign of disloyalty for him not to accept.

[Inigo Montoya]

If Milsap doesn't sign an extension with the Jazz he is as good as gone. He becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of next year, which means that the Jazz won't have the right to match offers and won't be able to. If he signs a bigger offer, he is gone. The Jazz offered the most that they were allowed though, so it is not like they didn't make an offer or made him an insulting offer under his market value or something like that. He can't try to play other teams against the Jazz to raise his value and then hope the Jazz will sign him, they already offered everything they are allowed to and just can't give him more even if they cared to.

If he doesn't sign the extension with the Jazz, I think it makes it easier for the Jazz to make him come off the bench though.

[DelaneyRudd]

Yes, this limit makes it very easy on the Jazz. I love Paul as much as the next guy, but he's the odd man out amongst our keepers.

[retiredcoach]

The real problem with Millsap not accepting the extension is he will demand to be a starter and play major minutes because he's in a contract year. With the extension, coming off the bench would have been way more acceptable.

That will impact Favors. Regardless of what Favors has said in the media, he expected to be a starter last year, and he was not happy that he didn't start. If he's doesn't start this year and play 30 plus minutes a game, he won't sign an extension with the Jazz when his contract is up.

If the Jazz give in to Millsap, then they may likely loose both Millsap and Favors. So if Millsap won't take an extension, he needs to be traded now, so the Jazz have a significant shot at keeping Favors.

Favors may seem like a low key amiable guy, but he believes he's one of the top defensive players in the NBA right now and so he should be getting major minutes.

I was hoping the Jazz could keep Millsap with the extension. The value of the extension was never a mystery to Sap and his agent. They both said they wanted to negotiate it with the Jazz at the end of the season. They got the max extension and now they don't want it? That's not a good sign for the Jazz.

[Inigo Montoya]

It also makes the probability of a trade more likely. I wonder what are the good (and reasonable) trade options out there that the Jazz\Jazz fans would welcome. And please no Granger-Milsap suggestions. If it could happen, it would have already happened by now.

Milsap+Bell for Kevin Martin+Motiejunas works
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=9ymqvj5

Milsap for Redick+Andrew Nicholson works
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=9fd75xx

Milsap for Tyler Hansbrough works
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=cfn7ou2

[Inigo Montoya]

The real problem with Millsap not accepting the extension is he will demand to be a starter and play major minutes because he's in a contract year. With the extension, coming off the bench would have been way more acceptable..

Once he declines the extension, he is in a much reduced position to demand anything because at this point every side will do what is best for them, and once he made it clear he won't sign with the Jazz (which is basically what did by declining the max the Jazz could offer knowing they won't be legally able to match a higher offer by another team) the Jazz will do what is best for them which is to start Favors and keep him happy (he should start regardless, its about damn time) while gaining one of the best 6th men in the league (and looking for a trade in the meantime). Being in a contract year, Milsap will have to be on his best behavior and produce regardless. If Milsap's value diminishes a bit by coming off the bench and much higher offers won't be there as a result, then perhaps then the Jazz offer will make more sense to him and he'll reconsider.

[Muggsy Bogues]

Yes, this limit makes it very easy on the Jazz. I love Paul as much as the next guy, but he's the odd man out amongst our keepers.

Really? I'd have assumed that Big Al would be the one to go. His post offense is great, but the guy impedes ball movement.

[Matt007b]

I think there's still a decent chance Milsap will come back. From what I understand, the CBA only allows the Jazz to offer a max 7.5% increase to the current contract which is about $25 million over 3 years.

Since a player like AK can get $20 million in 2 years (insane..) .. Milsap's camp think he can get more and so he'll go to free agency to test the waters and see if the Jazz can match or do better... makes sense. So it could come down to who you want and what you want to pay when Jefferon and Milsap become free agents in 2013. Risk to Milsap is injury or a really bad year which could hurt his value..

[reapaman]

Well people must remember, KOC put us in a position where have to make the playoffs now or the season was a total failure which means Millsap has to stay out the year and will be starting unless Favors overtakes him before the trading deadline. This is unlikely due to how much more experienced Millsap is. You can't trade him now without potentially hurting your playoff chances depending on what player you get back.

Millsap is likely gonna be very expensive based on his talent level and how much money guys have been getting paid (Bobcats and Net got in a bidding war over Kris freaking humpries). I don't know what KOC's gonna do but in predictable KOC fashion, he gonna let another valuabke player walk for nothing or mabey he gets a trading exception or somthing lame like that.

[DelaneyRudd]

Yes, this limit makes it very easy on the Jazz. I love Paul as much as the next guy, but he's the odd man out amongst our keepers.

Really? I'd have assumed that Big Al would be the one to go. His post offense is great, but the guy impedes ball movement.

Well, I suppose I don't really label him as one of the keepers. I was talking about the players due a raise.

[outerspacefella]

Ok then, worst case scenario the Jazz lose both Al and Paul... and then they got big bucks to spend next summer... that said, well, is that a "worst case scenario" really?
Why do we keep bouncing around Millsap and/or Jefferson when the Jazz, right now, have zerodollars commited after this uocoming season. They can build from zero if they want to.

[QuantumMacgyver]

If Milsap doesn't sign an extension with the Jazz he is as good as gone. He becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of next year, which means that the Jazz won't have the right to match offers and won't be able to. If he signs a bigger offer, he is gone. The Jazz offered the most that they were allowed though, so it is not like they didn't make an offer or made him an insulting offer under his market value or something like that. He can't try to play other teams against the Jazz to raise his value and then hope the Jazz will sign him, they already offered everything they are allowed to and just can't give him more even if they cared to.

If he doesn't sign the extension with the Jazz, I think it makes it easier for the Jazz to make him come off the bench though.

That's not entirely accurate because the Jazz simply offered him the most they could offer through an EXTENSION. They can offer a lot more via free agency.

[Inigo Montoya]

I stand corrected. Though I wouldn't want the Jazz to offer more anyway. About 8M per season is Milsap's realistic value and if somebody wants to overpay they can go right ahead and do it and I'll be happy for him.

It still feels to me like the Jazz are trying to appear as though they are doing what they can (Yes, Prime Minister ) since the max extension value works for them while more than that will not. So they can say they did what they could to Milsap and the fans while still not offering a really huge deal that he is hoping to get. And again, if he gets a big offer and signs it then the Jazz can't match because he is unrestricted FA so it still looks like he is gone either via free agency or via trade.

[reapaman]

Ok then, worst case scenario the Jazz lose both Al and Paul... and then they got big bucks to spend next summer... that said, well, is that a "worst case scenario" really?
Why do we keep bouncing around Millsap and/or Jefferson when the Jazz, right now, have zerodollars commited after this uocoming season. They can build from zero if they want to.

Well the problem is, who are the Jazz going to get? Besides Dwight and CP3, everyone else worth getting is a RFA. Most of them are on teams that have the cap room to accept any offer even if its a max or poison pill contract. Plus we are not only competeing with their orginal teams, we are competing versus teams like Dallas and Atlanta as well. In short, RFA don't get me hyped.

Plus there would still be this empty filling knowing that we could have possibly traded Millsap and Al when they had more value for some young assets, I mean anything instead of nothing. Without them and any other veterans, we would have sucked bad enough to get high draft picks in 2012 draft and possibly the 2013 draft. And if we wouldve lost a few more games to GSW, then mabey we would have their pick too in the 2012 draft sensing how close we were to getting it.. Plus we could have focused our attention this free agency on getting guys who could be here long term like courtney lee. So basically we would be in the same situation with alot of cap room next year but instead we would have more young assets and more highly talent players from the draft(which gives us a higher chance to find a star).

I mean if were gonna be in the same situation, then we minus well do it with more assets right?

[JDubJazz]

I never thought Millsap would return after this season, and I think thats a good thing for both parties involved. The second we traded for Favors, the clock on Millsap's time as a Jazzman started ticking. He wants to start, and the Jazz have better (read taller) options. I expect a trade before the deadline, but even if he finishes out the season, It'll be his last in Utah.

[ColdBlue]

I would love Sap on this team as a 6th man for 3/25 million. I'm sure he will do better elsewhere but I'm no so sure he will start on a contender.