The Agent (Or Kohl Abuser): Mark Bartelstein

[paulpressey25]

I don't think we've really focused enough here on the fact that a number of the Bucks players are represented by Chicago based agent Mark Bartelstein. I believe that he is the agent for Mo, Bell, Jake, Bobby and may be working on getting CV as a client (?)

I found this blog link which provides great commentary. It's clear if I were a player, I'd love to have this guy as my agent. Especially if going up against Herb Kohl and Ron Walter for a contract deal.

Read this 2005 profile:

http://thatisbully.blogspot.com/2005/08 ... stein.html

Mr. Brightside: Mark Bartelstein
".....When Sixers GM Billy King inexplicably unloaded nearly $20 million on back-up center Steven Hunter, who plays like eleven minutes a night, we were immediately drawn to the name Mark Bartelstein, Hunter's agent. Seems like his name is everywhere in the B-list market for NBA role players.

NBA superagent Mark Bartelstein and his Chicago-based, Priority Sports & Entertainment, are amassing a large roster of highly paid NBA role players.

He is everywhere. He is the NBA's Mr. Brightside.

Bartelstein has figured out the precise methodology for getting general managers to open their purse strings. Wide. Then he grabs all he can. We are talking about gihugic (our word) contracts.

Mind you he does not represent the A-list. He does not represent Shaq (Perry Rogers), Kevin Garnett (Andy Miller), Tim Duncan (Lon Babby), Allen Iverson (Leon Rose), Ray Allen (Babby), Tracy McGrady (Arn Tellem), Kobe Bryant (Rob Pelinka) or Lebron James (Rose). Rather his stable includes B-listers Antoine Walker, Bobby Simmons, Brian Grant, Darius Songalia, Jannero Pargo, and some C-listers such as Dan Dickau, Charlie Bell and Eddie House.

His amazing negotiating techniques have procured a six year, $41 million deal for Boston's back-up Center Mark Blount. Memphis' Brian Cardinal, not a starter, earns $39 million over six years, thanks to Bartelstein. Bobby Simmons will get $47 million, Brad Miller -- $68 million, and the impressive list goes on...."

[SupremeHustle]

I posted in the Europa pic thread that Europa is Bartlestein. It just makes too much sense.

[paulpressey25]

He's not Bartelstein. But it does point out some basic risk assessments that the Bucks probably didn't engage in.

Most businesses will do assessment exercises of risks to their business. These include the obvious such as reliance on a key employee, key customer, required access to raw materials, etc.

It's clear when you've got 50% or more of your regular rotation represented by the same agent you've got risk. That agent (and his players) then have the potential to hold too much leverage over the team.

I posted that article for two purposes:

a) To show the Bucks blew it in the risk assessment and are paying the price.

b) The fact Bartelstein is able to obtain these incredible contracts for "b" and "c" tier players speaks volumes......maybe Ron Walter shouldn't play poker with this guy.

He would appear to get far better relative results than say a Scott Boras does in baseball, but does it without the drama.

It also speaks volumes that he's now held up the Jason Kidd trade over "Devean George". There is no way a blockbuster trade should be held up by "Devean George"

[GrandAdmiralDan]

I don't think we've really focused enough here on the fact that a number of the Bucks players are represented by Chicago based agent Mark Bartelstein. I believe that he is the agent for Mo, Bell, Jake, Bobby and may be working on getting CV as a client (?)

I'm all for focusing on this more/again, but I do recall bringing this topic up during the offseason on here, and also on WSSP during the early part of the season.

So it isn't like we just missed this angle, we just haven't talked about much in a while.

I like how you've rolled it into the Kohl/Walter/cronies topic though that we've been focusing on more lately, especially in the last couple days. That is definitely an interesting lens to re-examine this topic through.

Good call.

[paulpressey25]

Oh, I remember you bringing this up when Mo and Bell got their big deals......then it was in the light of Bartelstein cleaning the Buck's clock in these negotiations.

I think where the topic takes a new twist now is the fact that apparently the disgruntled faction on the team consists primarily of Bartelstein clients. Now we have so many of them, that if Bartelstein wants one guy to act out to get traded or have a change occur, he can arguably direct others to act in unison.

Two questions for you GAD.

a) Is CV a Bartelstein client or will he be.

b) Is there any other NBA team that has at least 50% of it's core 8-9 man rotation represented by one agent?

[Sigra]

I believe that he is the agent for Mo, Bell, Jake, Bobby and may be working on getting CV as a client (?)

All overpaid guys that wants to be traded

Hmmm

[europa]

I posted in the Europa pic thread that Europa is Bartlestein. It just makes too much sense.

I wish I was. He's made a lot of money over the years getting big contracts for players who didn't deserve them. It's not hard to land a big contract for a major talent but when you look at the list of Bartlestein's clients and you see how much money so many of average (and sometimes less) ability have gotten, it's truly amazing. He's flat-out owned the Bucks in recent years.

[GrandAdmiralDan]

Oh, I remember you bringing this up when Mo and Bell got their big deals......then it was in the light of Bartelstein cleaning the Buck's clock in these negotiations.

I think where the topic takes a new twist now is the fact that apparently the disgruntled faction on the team consists primarily of Bartelstein clients. Now we have so many of them, that if Bartelstein wants one guy to act out to get traded or have a change occur, he can arguably direct others to act in unison.

Yep. I know that Gery Woelfel remarked to some other people in the press corps at one point that we should rename our team to the Bartelstein Bucks

Two questions for you GAD.

a) Is CV a Bartelstein client or will he be.

I am unaware of him switching agents and have heard nothing about this actually. I'd have to look into it.

b) Is there any other NBA team that has at least 50% of it's core 8-9 man rotation represented by one agent?

Not sure off the top of my head. I'd have to look into it. I don't have a list of players and their agents that is sorted by team, only sorted by agent.

[GrandAdmiralDan]

CV fired Billy Ceisler and hired Jeff Schwartz.

http://hoopshype.com/interviews/villanueva_sierra2.htm

That happened last year.

PP25 is talking about CV switching from Schwartz to Bartelstein now. And that is something I have not happened to have heard anything about so I (or someone else) would have to check.

[zizek]

Would Bartelstein take a pay cut to run the Bucks full time? He seems to be a good judge of talent and he should be able to outsmart Kohl & co. to make the deals he wants.

[heynow]

Great piece on Mark Bartelstein and great job of making the connection PP25.
Basic business 101. Kohl would never have run his stores like this, but he refuses to run his Sport franchise like a business asset.

[Tommy Udo 6]

Leon Rose was never LeBron's agent. It was Aaron Goodwin first, and then LeBron dropped him for the Agency composed of himself & his 3 childhood friends.

There was an article in Chicago Magazine about Bartelstein a few years ago. He's also Steve Kerr's agent.