Unhappy with the Warriors' low-ball offer? OK, Baron, then just opt-out
By Tim Kawakami
Saturday, May 10th, 2008
It makes all the sense in the world for Baron Davis' agent, Todd Ramasar,
to
be publicly displeased with the state of negotiations (thanks GLepper)
between his client and the Warriors.
(He should just opt-out then.)
I know Todd well, I know he has a job to do, I know that around the
league,
there are normal agent's parameters: Either get ridiculous money or
complain
when it doesn't happen.
None of this shocking. Baron has an opt-out clause this summer, and he
wants
the Warriors to pay him anywhere from $50M to $70M to-Do I hear $90M?-long
term in order to keep him.
The Warriors are staring at Davis' potential $17.8M salary for next season
(if he doesn't opt-out) and presumably thinking that's already an
over-payment for BD's services, based on his fizzle late this season.
So any potential extension has to figure in the $6M or $7M overpayment for
next season.
(Maybe the Warriors wouldn't mind if Baron opted-out.)
For example, the Warriors could be offering a two-year extension at $8M
and
$8.2M through 2010-2011. Add that to the $17.8M and that's $34M over three
years, when Baron will be turning 30, 31 and 32.
I'm sure BD is asking for more than that. Much more than that and for many
more years than that-I'm guessing he's in the ballpark of 4 years (after
next season) at $14M, $14M, $15M and $15M. Just an educated guess. Might
be
on the low side.
(Time to opt-out if you want more, BD.)
Add that estimated $58M to the non-opt-out $17.8M and that's five years,
$75.8M over five years, at the end of which, Baron will be turning 34. Uh,
no thank you, if I'm the GM or accountant or Sane Person with the
Warriors.
The Warriors aren't doing that. Ramasar knows it and BD knows it. The
Warriors know BD won't take any extension that will have him earning a
salary of less than $10M.
So there's a problem.
And there's one big possible resolution: BARON CAN OPT-OUT and become a
free
agent on July 1.
If the Warriors are being silly terrible low-ballers who won't meet
Baron's
obvious market value, then there ought to be a line of teams ready to
throw
$70M or $80M at Baron.
If that's true, there ought to be 10 or 12 franchises dying to pay Baron
Davis.
There are only a few under-the-cap teams with the ability to sign BD to a
big free-agent deal outright. but if he's so valuable, then one of those
teams will get him (as Washington did with Gilbert Arenas many moons ago)
or
other teams will manuever like crazy to give them the ability to get him.
If Baron truly is more valuable than the Warriors' guess combined offer of
$34M over three years (counting the $17.8M). then the market will
determine
it.
If Baron wants to test it. If Ramasar allows it. If they think anybody out
there really will pay it.
Of course, if Baron opts-out and the money isn't there, then he's not in a
very good spot. So we may be hearing more from Todd up until June 30, and
then he may have to go silent.
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