WowWowWow: Baron to the Clippers!

Five years and 65 million. I'm not sure I like this development, because it officially opens up a spot for Arenas on the Warriors. They can't offer Gilbert any more money, but with Baron out of the fold, Arenas has to become their top option.

over 3 years ago Mike Prada 14 comments 0 recs |

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wow

this is a huge surprise, just cause of how fast it happened. One good thing from it is that it really sets the market for arenas, if baron davis is worth 5 years at 13 mill per, how much is gilbert arenas really worth? Hes 7 million a season better than baron davis?

by Wooz on Jul 1, 2008 8:54 PM EDT reply actions

I agree with you, HOWEVA...

It still comes down to what teams are willing to pay for Gilbert, and if Golden State is willing to give him the max, then our only choices are:

A. Give Gilbert the max and keep him in Washington
OR
B. Try and convince Gilbert that his contract should be in the range as Baron’s as he goes off to Golden State to sign for the max.

Am I holding out hope that Gilbert will sign for less than the max? Sure. But if he does, it will be to help the team, not because Baron’s contract drove his price down.

Bullets Forever: Where fancy numbers and YouTube come together.

by Jake Whitacre on Jul 1, 2008 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, Gilbert is in the Driver's Seat

But I don’t see him going to Golden State for a max 5 year deal when he can just accept the Wizards’ max 6 year deal. Honestly, part of me thinks that Gilbert just wanted his ego stroked by Washington this off-season. After all the talk about how much the Wizards are better without him, it must be great to see Ernie throwing a max contract in his face and Abe flying up to Toronto to tell him, “you’re our guy,” as sappy as that sounds. Now he and the rest of the league knows that at least he’s worth max money. And that status is probably worth more to Arenas than gold. Even if he took less money to help the team, the rest of the league will have seen that he took less money and will still respect him, probably even more than they did before. The rest of the league would certainly know he cares about winning more than anything else if he does sign for less to help the team.

After all this, I have a higher opinion of Agent Zero and a lower one of Antawn. What a crazy day this turned out to be.

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on Jul 1, 2008 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Spot on

I think your post is exactly spot on.

Arenas has said all along that he wanted a Max contract offer. He also has said he would take less to make sure Jamison is signed, and to make sure the Wizards can contend.

If he is really waiting for the 2008 Salary Cap and Luxury Tax numbers to be announced before signing, it can only mean he’s thinking of staying with the Wizards – but taking a less than Max contract.

A man of his word… how refreshing.

by Rook6980 on Jul 1, 2008 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I recd this

Because I agree as well.

For all of Gilbert’s mini-dramas, he did the Wizards a huge favor by announcing his intentions to opt-out a year in advance. He didn’t pull a Baron Davis and opt-out on the last day to sign with the freaking Clippers, leaving his team totally screwed.

He could still sign with Golden State, sure, and he could still take the max, but it doesn’t look like that’s happening now. So long as he doesn’t, I think it has to reflect well on him.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jul 1, 2008 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Feel the same way. He wanted the max offer, the ultimate show of “respect” that Gilbert has used as a chip on his shoulder since before he got to Arizona. He got it. Now he can play the magnanimous Gilbert, giving back millions to help his team.

by Jheiser3 on Jul 2, 2008 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Kinda makes you wonder

If Baron left a deal that would’ve paid him $17.8 mil for a deal that’s going to average $13 mil, how badly do you think Golden State was lowballing him during their contract negotiations this season?

Bullets Forever: Where fancy numbers and YouTube come together.

by Jake Whitacre on Jul 1, 2008 9:06 PM EDT reply actions