RJ Opts Out Of Contract

[ClubLakers KB8]

Are you serious? Wow.

The guy must want a ring. No other way to push it.

I think he felt he didnt fit in the Spurs system.
Scared of a lockout so he's hoping to get a three+ year deal.
Wants to play for a contender.

Still, if he gets what he was owed in this one season over the next three years, I'll be impressed.

Simply a dumb financial move. If the man wants to win this much, I respect the ish out of him. If he signs for MLE money for a team that's not on the cusp? Dumbass.

[co_laper]

No, if we want the cap space (only 2 mil), then we have to renounce his rights. We have Jefferson's cap hold so unless we renounce that, we're considered over the cap and eligible to use the MLE.

I agree that Jefferson's expiring contract is worth something IF we planned on using it. Right now, with the likely addition of Splitter, I really don't know what I would be trading Jefferson for. The guys that are available straight up for Jefferson were guys like Elton Brand. Over 30s and still locked into huge long term deal while having an injury history. If we're that high on Splitter, I think Jefferson's expiring contract isn't all that important.

Plus, we were high in luxury tax last year and lost in the 2nd round. I find it hard to believe that Peter will just be willing to trade Jefferson for a different 15 million worth of long term contract while also adding Splitter. Let's put it this way, if we kept Jefferson and trade him for a different guy, then it's 90% likely that we're gonna let Parker leave after this season. We won't have enough money to sign him unless we plan on paying 4 guys 10+ mil a year (And Duncan is getting 20 mil). Peter's not that rich yow...

This doesn't make sense at all for me. Why would Richard Jefferson leaves 15 million on the table? He has said before in an article that if he can make it up with a long term contract (for instance 4 year 40 mil) which means he basically is getting a 3 year 25 mil extension that he might opt out. No teams out there can give him a 4 year 40 mil deal unless the Bulls or Knicks or Nets are really that stupid. Only we can do that. I really think Jefferson is coming back on a different deal for us. We benefit from this because we're not gonna be paying the lux tax as much and it might also mean that Pop is liking what he sees from Jefferson as we enter his 2nd season with us.

If he leaves thou, we're screwed unless we get Matt Barnes or Mike Miller here. I'm definitely not excited about the prospect of hearing that at SF, we're starting Malik Hairston.

[SApuro_]

It took me a while to digest all this. First I was happy like we won the lotto then I was like wait now we don't have a starting 3 and no money to get one. But after further review I believe its obvious that RC has worked out a behind the scenes deal with RJ.

He gets an opportunity to seek out the best deal possible but know we are willing to offer him 4 yr deal at 7-8 mil per. Everyone wins. He gets some security and we save money on the tax.

If we can sign Splitter and get Matt Barnes or Mike Miller than Spurs get an A+ for off season moves.

[TXSun]

best thing that will happen to you guys in the offseason.

[Donald Kaufman]

Agreed. If he thinks he has value after the season he just had, good luck to him.

[Frankie23]

Sorry, but i don't understand very much.

If Jefferson opt's out to sign a new deal with the Spurs, we will be able to have Jefferson again+Splitter+a MLE (Mike Miller)?? If this happens, really good move for RJ, RC and Pop!!

Or just Jefferson and Splitter? Witch is the same we would've have but cheaper..

[evilempire]

This dosen't make any sense at all for him. As others said, no way he makes up the money he had to give up for this year. Even if he gets a 4 year deal, he would have been much better off taking the 15 Mil and signing an extension next year.

Unless there was some other reason... Perhaps he didn't like the team/fit/city/etc? Who knows, but unless he isn't doing this for the money it dosen't make sense. Better to work harder this year and go on the market with a better season under your belt.

[co_laper]

No frankie.

Jefferson, we have his bird rights. That means we can sign him to whatever amount up to the Maximum without using our MLE or LLE.

Splitter and Mike Miller and the rest of the FA, we need to use our MLE or LLE to sign them.

So we can sign Jefferson back at a lower price, but Splitter and Miller has to come via MLE.

Right now, it's looking more like Jefferson at a lower price, Splitter, and Barnes IMO. That would be the dream offseason for me. With James Anderson in, I'm liking Matt Barnes in San Antonio more than Mike Miller because we need that defensive guy.

[Blame Rasho]

Q: Doesn't this take the Spurs less than $2m UNDER the projected cap, thereby taking the MLE off the table, thereby leaving less than $2m available to sign Splitter?

Not trolling, I may well be incorrect, just wanted to see if I had my math right and figured you'd all know best.

I believe every team doesn't have space up to the MLE can use it.

Translation... if you have 6 million dollars of Capspace... you get no middle level exception.

If you have 4 Million of cap space you get the MLE...

[anotherhomer]

the Spurs and Richard Jefferson probably have a gentle's man agreement in place.

Probably a deal in place fo 4 years/30M starting at 6.5. That way, RJ gets essentially a 3 yr/15M contract extension.

Why this is signficant? There's a possibility that the MLE and available money in next year's free agent market maybe not be there next year.

Why Spurs do that? Well, they shave 9 M million for this year to help avoid the luxury tax.

[bbenson5]

the Spurs and Richard Jefferson probably have a gentle's man agreement in place.

Probably a deal in place fo 4 years/30M starting at 6.5. That way, RJ gets essentially a 3 yr/15M contract extension.

Why this is signficant? There's a possibility that the MLE and available money in next year's free agent market maybe not be there next year.

Why Spurs do that? Well, they shave 9 M million for this year to help avoid the luxury tax.

I think this is absolutely correct except my guess is the contract is 4 yr/40M. Look at how much Outlaw got. RJ could always get 5M a year there would be no reason to opt out then. I think Duhon gets close to that.

[Blame Rasho]

I just wonder how many teams called RJ's agent...

[Marc]

I just wonder how many teams called RJ's agent...

Probably some of the WNBA.