Will Baron Opt Out Now?

by Mdawg851 on Jun 29, 2007 9:40 PM PDT

Anyone think the fact that we traded away our 2nd scoring option to free cap space and acquire a big shows that we're in rebuilding mode? Obviously it's been made clear that the future is Monta, AB, and now Wright and the mentality is win in 3 years rather than now, which is why KG is not a Warrior. I think Baron will definately leave next year for the Lakers(if Kobe's still there) or Clippers since he's from LA. I just can't see us being any better next year with a lineup of:

Baron
Monta
Jackson
Harrington
Biedrins

Bench:
Belinelli, Wright, Barnes, Azubuike

Won't play much:
Foyle, Lasme, Cabbages, POB

I know the system is great for Baron, but remember what happened in NO when they decided to go down that rebuilding road and him and Byron Scott hated each other. It's no secret he wants to get paid, and I'm pretty sure that extra money we have now is going to be used for Monta and AB rather than Baron's ailing knees. I see Monta getting a 4 year deal worth 5-7 mil and AB the same if not more. Barnes will get the MLE and Azubuike probably a 1 year contract for a mil at most. I really don't see Baron keeping his contract for th e next 2 seasons when we extend other contracts rather than his this summer. What do you guys think?

Poll

Will he opt out?

Yes because he wants more money

15 votes

Yes because he wants out

4 votes

No because no one will pay him

24 votes

No because he wants to stay in Oakland

42 votes

85 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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Comments

Depends

There are a lot of factors you're not taking into consideration.

Chris Mullin isn't finished shaping the 2007-08 Warriors. Let's give him the rest of the off-season to see if he adds to the current roster. If we trade for a player the caliber of Garnett, Artest, or G. Wallace then I don't believe you can say we're in rebuilding mode.
Baron's health. Is Baron going to have a healthy season where he plays more than 70 games? If he does and produces at a high level then it's probably a no brainer that Baron will opt out to get a deal with more guaranteed money/years. But what if Baron plays 50 or so games due to injuries? Then it's not such a sure bet he opts out because I don't think the list of suitors would be that long to give a player with a long injury history a lucrative contract for many years.

These are just a few things to think about when discussing Baron's future with the Warriors. A majority of the off season is still to come so let's just wait to see how this plays out.

PT-42

by norcaldevilasu on Jun 29, 2007 10:03 PM PDT reply actions

it depends

If we swap wright for a veteran, Baron probably stays.

If we keep Wright and don't add a veteran, I could see him opting out.

Now, that wouldn't be the worst move in the world since he was due $17M in 2008-2009, which is about what Ellis and Biedrins would make combined, and he'd play a fraction of the games either would.

So with that $17M free and Foyle a $10M expiring contract, we could do quite a few things, like get Gilbert Arenas or another top tier FA.

Check out this article:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=FreeAgents08

Guys who could opt out (leaving out some):

Arenas, who's already announced he will
Marion, who would be a darn nice fit at the 3 for us
Jermaine O'Neal, far less needed now
Corey Maggette, young establishing scoring option, nice fit at the 2, big and physical slasher
Artest, hahaha

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Jun 29, 2007 10:18 PM PDT reply actions

Baron

I dont understand your statement about rebuilding. First With Jackson, Monta and Harrington JRich was no longer going to be the 2nd option. Secondly picking up one young player is not rebuilding. Baron still has Jax and Harrington, Beidrins coming into to his own and hopefully the same with Monta. Thats not rebuilding, its building on top of what is already there with an eye to being even better in 2 years. If anything by the end of next season Baron should want to stay on a team on the rise towards being a possible a top tier team

by jaysohn on Jun 29, 2007 10:56 PM PDT reply actions

look at the money

With Ellis and Biedrins getting extensions, it means the Warriors will be investing a significant portion of their salary cap into their youngest players.

Baron is getting older and his health cannot possibly be less of an issue as time goes on. Do you want to commit 3-4 more years and a huge salary to that?

Jackson probably isn't tradeable for a couple years, but Foyle wiill be gone for sure in 2 or can be traded next year.

Harrington is very tradeable, but don't expect a haul as sweet as #8 and $10M. In any case, he's young enough to be part of the youth movement and can play the 3.

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Jun 29, 2007 11:06 PM PDT reply actions

Extensions don't mean squat

If Baron is smart he'll opt out and look out for number 1. The Warriors will not be loyal to him so he shouldn't be loyal to them. He should milk them for whatever fat contract he can get and then become the perennial albatross of either the Warriors or whatever team will eventually chance to take on his contract.

When was the last time a Warrior played out his contract extension? Dunleavy, Murphy and JRich all got traded before their extentions were up. Chances are that when Ellis and Biedrins near the end of whatever their extensions may become, the Warrior's front office is gonna think that they're not worth their contracts and look for younger guys or cheaper guys again. That's the cycle.

Long term signings are BS in this organization besides Foyle. They're illusions. Empty promises. A 4-year contract that's mostly backloaded means that the team wants you around for another 2 years, 3 years if you're lucky, and then you become a coveted "expiring contract player" good for trading. The better you play, the bigger a chip you become for bargaining.

by ssmokinjoe on Jun 29, 2007 11:52 PM PDT reply actions

why would he opt out of $17 mill

when there are only rebuilding teams that are that far under the cap to pay him that kind of money? you'd be hard pressed to find rebuilding teams w/ that kind of cap flexibility...

the 4 most likely teams have their own players to sign. atlanta has josh smith to extend as well as picking up options on most of their young players that yr, charlotte has wallace this yr and okafor to extend next yr, philly has iguodala, and orlando has darko this yr & dwight howard.

and besides, have you seen the ETO, FA, RFA list's, for 08-09?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=2008FreeAgents

if he gets injured this next season, there is no way a team puts out $13 mill. and he'll be 29 going on 30 by then.

by the evil monkey on Jun 30, 2007 12:27 AM PDT up reply actions

he wouldn't walk away from that money

He's asking for an extension now when he still has 2 years left on a huge contract.

He's extremely injury prone.

He was visibly yelling at teammates during the playoffs after bad plays.

I don't think his market value is that high right now so his best move is to ride out the 2 guaranteed years and play his heart out for the next paycheck.

by ballerjl on Jun 30, 2007 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions