Free Agency

Boris Diaw just signed a two year deal with the Spurs for $9 million. I wish I had a job like that where I could make that kind of money while being lazy, slack and put forth almost no effort.

 

He actually played hard for the Spurs, but quit on the Bobcats. I think a LOT of the Bobcats issues this year were the fact that they quit playing.

 

That's the thing though, it makes you wonder what they would have been able to do had Diaw, TT and a few others gave 100% every night. Not saying they would have made the playoffs, but it's possible they could have won 20-25 games.

I don't understand what's makes players lay down like this. Was it coaching? Was it the front office, saying lets get a better lottery pick? Or is it just the mentality of most NBA players, that if we can't make the playoffs, lets just not try and get a pay check. I just don't get the lack of pride. I have played a lot of sports over the years, been on good teams and bad teams, but no matter I always gave 100%. These guys are getting paid and paid nice to play a game a lot of us do for free.

I am all about the per minute production type of contracts, you meet these goals or you don't get paid.

 

I did not see him play for the Spurs but his stat line was not great. Maybe a guy like him is more comfortable being behind a guys like Duncan and Parker. He can chip in a nice play every so often and it is enough. There is not as much pressure on you in that role I guess.

Spurs had Stephen Jackson at the end of the season too didn't they?

 

the bobcats have bismack, mullens, thomas, and diopp. obviously they lack talent, but they're there and under contract. they'll be at something around $48 million with mkg's contract. the cap is probably going to be in the $60 million range. the floor in 2012 is 85% of the cap -- about $51 million. the cats have to spend about $3 million or so.

diop comes off the books next year and they can amnesty either thomas or gordon depending on what they need (gordon's contract is 13mil in 2013, thomas' is 8.7 mil but is another 9.4 mil in 2014). they'll have boatloads of cap available next year and presumably another decent pick.

i'm thinking they pick up some cheap dudes from the d league or maybe some undrafted dudes. they can see who might turn into a solid player down the road. next year, they'll have tons of cap space and could help absorb a bad contract in return for picks or some up-and-comer.

...or i suppose they could be looking at the insane cap space for next year and realize they might get stuck having to throw money at chumps just to hit the floor. in that case, they should probably jump at any contract that seems like a good value...

 

Good value that fills a need. Agreed.

 

i think the problem is the front office gave up and traded away the best players. that signaled to the rest of the team they were throwing in the towel. losing became acceptable, which, imo, is the absolute WORST thing you can do for a pro sports team.

 

diaw played good enough to start for them in the playoffs. jackson also got some quality minutes.

kind of funny for a guy to be bought out by the worst team in the league and end up on the best team in the league (tied for first in the reg season). obviously the bobcats troubles weren't purely related to talent.

 

I totally agree, to me that's even more reason to bring in a player that can help at the right price/value. I by no means want them to take on a bad contract to do that though. I honestly hope that AJ decides to come here as I think that would be the best thing from a financial standpoint(hopefully), help the team a little, show the players on the team that the front office is trying to help them. It would be nice if Thomas some how decides he wants to play and produces. Diop needs to go, 2PPG and 3.7RPG over his 11 year career, will be happy once his contract expires.

 

It doesn't seem like this stuff is that complicated. Can't you avoid most of your problems just by not paying a lot of money to borderline players like Nazr Mohammed and Matt Carroll? Steve Novak, he guy who led the NBA in 3 point percentage, "played for five teams in his first seven seasons and never made more than $1 million in any of them." He was claimed off waivers by the Knicks before last season. You can find three point shooters and you can find big bodies. It's idiotic for teams to pay $5+ million a season for those guys when you can just find another off the street. The guys you should pay for are the ones who can do a lot of things well and those who can create their own shot.