Grizzlies, Zach Randolph at contract impasse

[jumivi]

The Memphis Grizzlies and forward Zach Randolph have reached an impasse in contract extension talks and the two-time All-Star forward is thinking seriously about triggering his early termination option and becoming a free agent, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Randolph's agent, Raymond Brothers, has been in steady talks with general manager Chris Wallace and Grizzlies ownership for several weeks, but the sides have dug in recently and have been unable to find common ground – specifically on the length and money of the deal, sources said.

Memphis has held firm on a three-year extension, but Randolph has preferred the security of four years, league sources said.

Randolph, 32, has until June 30 to trigger a $16.5 million player option on the final season of his contract. If he opts out, he can become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

***Since extensions can only add three years onto an existing deal, that presumably means Randolph prefers to opt out and ink a new deal with the team in free agency***

[nodeal]

***TThe grizzlies want to sign a 4 yr extension, which would add 2 years. 3 yrs total

Zach wants to not trigger his ETO and then in July sign a 4 yr extension, which would add 3 years. 4 yrs total.

If the grizzlies wont budge on 3 yrs total, zach will consider using his ETO so he can sign a contract for 4 yrs total in free agency.(which is no doubt a bluff on randolphs part)

[jumivi]

I think the grizz want him to use his ETO so hes 16mill for this season dont count, and we can sign a new (lower) contract for more years.

[dark-child]

Zach will exercise the ETO regardless if he is resigning with the Grizz or not because there is too much to risk by just playing out this year and hoping for a longer term deal after next season when he will be a year older and declining in production. There is also the very likelihood that he could be traded in season as the current salary does not allow much team improvement.

I would love to have him back but not on a bad deal, anything north of an average salary of 12 mil a year is too much and not more than a three year deal that includes this upcoming season.

[nodeal]

I think the grizz want him to use his ETO so hes 16mill for this season dont count, and we can sign a new (lower) contract for more years.

I agree, so zach threatening to opt out of his 16m if the grizzlies dont add 1 yr isnt going to work. It's a bluff. zach is not going to test free agency. He'll take his 16m than all yr next yr try to negotiate a 4 yr extension. Which adds 3 years.

[darkangle901]

The logical compromise seems to be that Randolph should get a 4th year player option for lesser salary than the rest of the deal. Something like 3 years, $33m with an option for $7.5m in the final year.

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[jumivi]

it is a rule that the last year cant be less than the year before.

[dark-child]

Yet it is under the new CBA, the question is what is a rule under the old CBA as well or was it abrogated with the new? If not ZBO is owed more than a million dollars on the 2014 -15 salary. ZBO also has deferred money on his current deal so it could be that an agreement was made or has been made to have those dollars increased to include that amount not listed for this upcoming season. Who really knows.

[nodeal]

***The grizzlies want to sign a 4 yr extension, which would add 2 years. 3 yrs total

Zach wants to not trigger his ETO and then in July sign a 4 yr extension, which would add 3 years. 4 yrs total.

If the grizzlies wont budge on 3 yrs total, zach will consider using his ETO so he can sign a contract for 4 yrs total in free agency.(which is no doubt a bluff on randolphs part)

Looks like Zbo took what the grizzlies were offering. Its a fair deal for both sides.