steefP2 wrote:Hal14 wrote:sam_I_am wrote:
JRue could choose to opt out and become a free agent. Better to extend him now if possible.
Why would Jrue do that? His option for the 24-25 season is $37 million. There's no way he would make more than that in free agency, at age 34. Especially considering his counting stats across the board are going to dip since he has a lesser role here than he had in milwaukee. So far he's averaging the lowest FGA per game since his rookie year. If he goes into free agency next summer, he's obviously getting less than $37 mil.
Only way he turns down that player option is if he absolutely hates it here. But all indications are, that the opposite is true. He's been a great fit, and his buddy Charles Lee is coaching with us. He seems to be buddies with Tatum and Brown too. Plus the article from the other day where Jrue said that of all the teams he's been on, he's never played for a coach who has given him as much of a voice and as much responsibility as Mazzulla has over the season’s first month.
It would be a huge shock if he doesn't pick up that player option, imo.
And even if he doesn't, then we still have the entire offseason to work out an extension with White, who is still under contract for the 24-25 season anyways.
Ya'll worry too much
This makes no sense. First of all there’s already been reporting that both sides want an extension to happen as soon as possible. But anyway you’re thinking about about the player option all wrong; it’s not about making more money in year 1 of his next deal. It’s about extending while you are still productive and not hurt.
Jrue also still has massive cache and regard around the league. He definitely could get 3/120 in free agency if he wants or more. FVV just got a 2 year max and he’s way worse. 40 mil aav isn’t even close to max money in the next 3 years anyway. The cheapest I could see him resigning for with us is 3/110 and that would be him being nice.
I’m not worried about resigning him; that’s definitely going to happen but he’s not picking up that player option and it’s not gonna be cheap.
Hmm, oh I guess I just figured he would pick up the player option for 24-25 of $37 mil and then extend with the C's for less than $37 mil a year. That way he still gets his $37 mil for the 24-25 season (since I figure in free agency at age 34 he'd likely get less than $37 mil for the 24-25 season) and locks in an extension.
Kind of like what Porzngis just did. He had a player option of $36 mil for the 23-24 season. He picked it up, to lock in that dough (since he knew that he'd likely get less than $36 mil a year in free agency), then got traded to Boston, then signed the extension with us for 2 years, $30 mil per season.
I could see Jrue doing basically the same thing. Pick up the $37 mil player option for 24-25, then sign an extension with us for 2 or 3 years at $30 mil a year (maybe a little more).
Of course, you would think that Jrue will make less than $37 mil a year on his extension. I can't see a guy at age 34 making more $ per year on his extension than he did on his previous contract.
You look at last season and so far this season, I'd say Jrue and KP are at a similar level in terms of how good they are. KP has more injury concerns, but he's 4 years younger. I can't see Jrue getting much more on his extension than what KP got. Yes I know KP's extension was kind of a bargain, but I'm sure Brad will try and get Jrue to be a similar bargain in order to lock in the core of this team long term and maximize the championship window that we have.
Vanvleet is worse than Jrue, but he was 4 years younger than Jrue when he signed that deal. And most people have said that deal was a big overpay by Houston, who went crazy last summer (also overpaid for Londale, Green and Brooks).
My main point was that I don't think Jrue is going anywhere, and am not worried about him leaving for another team as a FA this summer, so I guess we're in agreement.
That would be Brad's greatest move to date if he could ever pull that off.
