Sarunas speaks to ESPN

by ffgolden on Sep 10, 2007 11:01 AM PDT Comment 32 comments

Runi spoke with Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com. Not really all that much new here, but worth posting nonetheless. Here are some relevant quotes:

"I'm really waiting for [Golden State] to trade me. It's been going on since February, and nothing's happening. I really don't understand this franchise, to be honest with you. I know what kind of offers they got for me, and they're not taking them. I know they're not planning on using me, so I really don't understand what they're trying to do with me. In that league, absolutely nothing depends on me, so I'm sitting by the phone and waiting."

Well maybe you shouldn't have picked up your option.

"It's a decision I'm going to have to make after the Eurobasket, but I think I'm going to go back to training camp and just wait and see what happens."

Buyout thus doubtful.

"As far as I know, there's really not much going on now," Jasikevicius said. "But from what I hear from my agent, Golden State had a lot of interesting offers. Whether they want to add another piece or add another expiring contract like mine with another piece, I've had my hopes up 10-12 times of getting out of there, and nothing happened."

Again, if you wanted out, you shouldn't have picked up your option. Greed is a bitch.

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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offers

If he's referring to offers like Chris Quinn and Michael Doleac or Ira Newble and Shannon Brown, then Sarunas is an idiot for thinking they're remotely "interesting"

Questions? Complaints?

(AIM: JetForze; email: Jon.d.ma@gmail.com)

by OptionZero on Sep 10, 2007 11:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

unlike Sarunas, I know what's happening...

you picked up your player option when you shouldn't have then we'll make sure we dump you on the worst possible place unless we get a jackpot deal out of nowhere.

by lightz0ut on Sep 10, 2007 11:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

seriously

its his own d*mn fault for choosing money rather then getting outta here. quit ur whinin, man up, and play some decent ball. u can get worthy backup time behind baron, if u step up your game - loser.

by thewarriorsrule on Sep 10, 2007 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

no matter what you take the money

There is no way he was not picking up that option

He will likely get out at some point this year

by Zig on Sep 10, 2007 11:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

There's nothing wrong

with taking the money.

There is something wrong with running your mouth off afterwards.

Questions? Complaints?

(AIM: JetForze; email: Jon.d.ma@gmail.com)

by OptionZero on Sep 10, 2007 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly.

And if the $250k buyout offer were true, you should DEFINITELY not be running your mouth. Though it's a pittance compared to $4mil, it's money for nothing and would just be icing on whatever cake he's being offered from those Euro teams. Something tells me his agent is a very convincing man.

by ffgolden on Sep 10, 2007 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's typical though

I wouldn't expect much more

by Zig on Sep 10, 2007 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And I guess

though he looks like an ass the best of all worlds for him is to get the money and then became a cancer so he can get what he wants which is a buyout or a trade

Agree its annoying for Warriors fans

by Zig on Sep 10, 2007 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cheap shot...

It is interesting that he was the most enthusiastic cheerleader from bench last year when the Dubs were on their run and now he takes this cheap shot at Nelli ball...

He said his preferred NBA address would be a team, "that plays more European. You know my style of basketball is more team-oriented, and I hope to find a team that actually passes the ball and plays team ball."

(from above mentioned ESPN article)

Granted, he doesn't fit in the system, but it seems ingenious to now rip into the Dubs as not playing "team ball".

by Joe Frank on Sep 10, 2007 12:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

on his defense

our team often looked like they were playing "pick-up game" ball. but at the same time, they can't pass the ball to players on the bench. that will be out of bounds. you gotta get in the game to receive the ball Sarunas.

by lightz0ut on Sep 10, 2007 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

TRUE DAT!!!

HAHA to "...they can't pass to players on the bench. that will be out of bounds."

"S.C. gooooo hooooome!!!"

by scottiepimppen on Sep 10, 2007 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with him on this point

Nellie Ball sometimes can be very very selfish....I've seen Baron Davis take it to the post far too many times. It's a lot more fun to watch Toronto play.

Tony.psd = Da Man

by Zorgon on Sep 10, 2007 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

what is so hard, mullin

sarunas and pietrus for jwill already!! jwill only has 1 year left on his contract. what is so freakin hard!!

by thewarriorsrule on Sep 10, 2007 1:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

thewarriorsrule

I am with you 100% on that one. Get a backup PG with a huge expiring contract, which will be very enticing for other teams at the deadline while freeing up a roster spot in the process. It seems like such an obvious move. We must be missing something. Anyone care to fill me in?

A true Warriors fan holdin' it down in Long Beach.

by Nick D on Sep 10, 2007 1:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

First

we would get a potentially and most likely useless back up PG who may not have anything left in his knees. Incase you didn't notice we already have a PG who is injured 35 games a year, we don't need another PG who isn't going to make it through 1/3 of the season, let alone all 82 games. Second, we don't need a huge expiring contract at the deadline, we have the TPE from the J Rich trade if we wanted to use a "huge expiring contract", there's no need for Williams on that front. Third, MP2 at 3.5 million dollars is a steal, he might make mistakes but in the age of over paying for underachievers MP2 is a bargain at that price.

Overall we're much better keeping MP2 and Cabbages this season if the right trade isn't there for the Dubs. We will get more burn out of those two than the creaky J Will. Also those two small expiring contracts potentially make it a lot easier for the Dubs to add complimentary pieces at the deadline if they choose, instead of trying to go for the mega deal, which they most likely aren't going to do because of the need to extend AB and Ellis.

by J Rich 4 MVP on Sep 10, 2007 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

50/50

Well if we get JWILL and both him and BARON make it through at least half of the season, just not the same half, then we're good! haha

"S.C. gooooo hooooome!!!"

by scottiepimppen on Sep 10, 2007 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We really need a backup PG right now...

I'm not totally sold that Pietrus for a year would be anymore useful than Jason Williams for a year. That's what it basically comes down to. This team is built around Baron. Having Pietrus isn't going to give baron rest. Having Williams in for even 10-15 min a game would. Issues of William's health would be answered by a physical and 10-15 min a game would not be taxing on his body considering he's been averaging 30 min a game last season. Cabbages is a wash. He doesn't fit with the W's and I'd even argue he's not an NBA caliber PG. I mean he's played in both a slow down offense and an uptempo offense. He's fit for neither. That's not a good sign.

by ThermoElectro on Sep 10, 2007 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure if Mulson agree

on whether backup PG is much of a priority. I imagine they'll bring a few guys in for training camp and keep one of them on (Pierce?), but it doesn't sound like they are keen on putting any more money into the position, even if it's just as an expiring. It seems to me like they want to leave as much playing time for Marco and Monta as possible, and adding a guy like Jason Williams might cut into their minutes.

Perhaps it's a matter of justifying bringing on a guy who gets paid $8mil if he's not going to play much, when Cohan just agreed to pay Foyle >$8mil to get lost. This is just speculation, but perhaps Mullin's on a bit of thin ice at the moment as far as how freely he can dole out the $$, and to whom he can dole it out to.

by ffgolden on Sep 10, 2007 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's the thing though...

Cohan wouldn't be paying 8 mil more for williams. He would be paying <4million more. Plus he's an expiring contract so there's definitely value even if you don't play him. If you don't trade cabbages, he's going to sit on the pine anyways. I agree with you on the point about having monta take over offguard duties. Mulson know(s) that Monta's value hinges on him being able to play point. However, the current backcourt as it stands with Baron, Monta, and Belinelli looks a little on the thin side. While buike and jax can occassionally slide to the 2, If the Monta playing 1 doesn't pan out, this offense is going to bog down big time b/c of our lack of a distributor.

by ThermoElectro on Sep 11, 2007 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I pretty much agree

I'm not convinced that we're set in the back court either, and personally have always been a fan of the MP+Runi for JDub idea. But this point does have some merit: if you're planning on giving Monta big money next summer, why would you bring in a guy who plays the same position and already makes big money this year? Plus, Nellie's love for the Point Forward makes having extra PGs a little redundant.

I want to see the trade because A) it makes sense for the cap; B) MP and Runi are, and at this point should be, as good as gone; and C) Williams is a good veteran piece of insurance for when Baron goes down for 20 games in January. If Baron's not out there, a backcourt of Monta and Marco with someone like Pierre Pierce off the bench does not exactly give one confidence. Even if you run the ball through Jax every time down, you still have too much youth and inexperience at those guard positions.

by ffgolden on Sep 11, 2007 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cabbages needs to live with his decisions

I am starting to like this guy less and less. The saying have your cake and eat it too certainly applies here...you want to get paid, sure, pick up your option, $4 million. You want to play? ok, take your measley buyout or do not pick up the option.

He makes it seem like he has no choice, he had a choice and he made it, so he is SOL. Don't complain to the media that you want to get traded for Michael Doleac and Chris Quinn. Will that really make Nellie jump for joy and return to the bench and bring Warriors fans to the arena?

Can we send his ass to the D-League with POB? Trade them for Louis Amundson and cash?

Saying the Warriors don't play team ball was a bit of a low blow, maybe justified because he did not crack the inner circle of Baron-SJax-JRich-Harrington-Barnes and even Beans-Monta-Pietrus, but the way they play lets anyone who is athletic and a gamer step up. The organization did not see enough from him to allow him to play with the team, so how does he have any say in what the Warriors team ball is like?

by belli nellie on Sep 10, 2007 2:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

sorry I said a**

by belli nellie on Sep 10, 2007 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

there ya go

that would be the most fitting way to handle it:

send him down to friggin Bakersfield.

Sorry if anyone reading this is from Bako, but that is the sh!tiest place I have been in CA by far. Every time I drive to Vegas, I shudder at the the thought of my car breaking down there. Even if you're making $4M, it's still Bako. I would love the thought of Cabbages living there, chasing meth whores and just hating his life. For showing he has no class, no accurate sense of his playing ability and no loyalty to the W's or his teammates, that is exactly what he deserves.

by Lifelong on Sep 10, 2007 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You

say that stuff about Cabbages because you don't like him. BD is going to opt out of his contract, there's no loyalty there. Nellie is threatening to retire if he doesn't get more money, effectively making the contract he signed LAST YEAR useless, where's his loyalty? When it comes down to it 99% of pro athletes aren't loyal. Your stay as an athlete can end in an instant so they're going to try to maximize their income during that potentially short window. Also, he does have some sense of his playing ability, he's widely considered one of the better international players in the world, he just isn't a good fit for the system we play and probably the type of ball played in the NBA. With that said, unless he is traded or bought out he's going to be right back on the end of our bench this year because there is 0% chance that he will ever play in Bakersfield.

by J Rich 4 MVP on Sep 11, 2007 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

how are we suddenly expecting loyalty? i was actually pleased at his cheerleading during the playoffs because i was expecting a guy like that to mope. instead, he supported his team even if he wasn't getting the minutes he felt he deserved. i actually think the guy is a good player who didn't work out in two extremely different systems (Nellie-Ball and Carlisle's sloooow Pacers). I also don't completely understand the large degree of resentment regarding him not opting out. Sure, it's not helping our salary cap situation, but from a player's POV he'd be a fool not to take it. We hear these kinds of comments all the time but they're usually from star players. In Europe, Sarunas IS a star player. So it's not like this is out of the blue.

P.S.

LET'S TRADE THE SUCKA!

by sadleavy on Sep 11, 2007 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No one is blaming him for picking up the option...

He needs to get paid. However, he shouldn't be complaining about his current status considering he brought it upon himself. If he wants money, fine. But if he wants to play on a team that he would fit in, then he should've opted out and signed a contract directly with that team.

by ThermoElectro on Sep 11, 2007 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

that it's his fault that he's going to be stuck at the end of the bench this year. He had the choice of picking up his option and not playing or he could have opted out for a lesser contract and get more playing time. He decided the former and now he needs to suck it up and quit whining. He had complete control of the career path he chose to take and if he really wanted he could have put himself in a better situation, but he chose differently.

by J Rich 4 MVP on Sep 11, 2007 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cabbages + whine = sauerkraut

Ah well, it'd be a pretty good pun if he were German.

On the hang-up, I'm actually intrigued by it, because it could mean the Ws are trying to do something interesting with his contract rather than just "dumping" it. After all, Harrington + Cabbages + Monta + Belinelli gets us close to the salary range of Kobe (not saying that's remotely equal value, just an example. ;-)

As for the whining to the press, yeah, it's both annoying and useless. Does he actually think he's going to force Mullin's hand? Siddown and shaddup, meat, we've got bigger things to worry about -- next year's head coach, for example...

by Sleepy Freud on Sep 10, 2007 3:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This is getting old

I have always liked Sarunas, even before his days in the NBA but seriously... no seriously. Give me a break. Between this and his comments from the Eurobasket 2007 interview that I posted a few days ago I am starting to get tired of hearing this guy b!tch. Just because he is getting a taste of playing some meaningful basketball this summer and finding success on the international stage doesn't mean he is an NBA All-Star.

I was hoping that his success in EuroBasket 07 would inflate his trade value but it looks like it is just inflating his ego.