Where exactly in this story do you get this? So far Mullin has said nothing substantive on the matter. The whole story is nothing but standard-issue posturing by Baron’s agent to maximize his client’s leverage.

If and when we hear from Mullin on the subject, it will be with the same eye towards increasing the team’s leverage in a deal (thereby, increasing the flexibility of the team to surround BD with better talent.)

It’s Basic Negotiation 1A. There are no good guys and bad guys here.

One of the most important parts of constructing a team in the NBA (or any other major professional sports league) is making sure you receive good value for your investments. Although the NBA doesn’t have a hard cap, there still remains a point a which teams will no longer justify spending. In order to be competitive, you need to make sure that you are getting as much talent/ability (or whatever the hell else it is that makes teams win) for the amount you spend. Its not just as simple as saying “sign all these good players.” Certainly, thats not what your saying but if you see Mullin’s job as being asked to construct a winning basketball team (and say, not just one that will the seats) than you have to at least be willing to be willing to take an objective position and realize there is a point at which it is no longer responsible to continue employing any player (although artificial constraints prevent some players from making what they are worth).

Having said all that, I don’t think you have that much to worry about. Considering the financial landscape of the league, Baron will almost certainly not opt out. The abilities and potentials of Beans and Tay are apparent and I can’t immagine that every effort wouldn’t be made to lock them up. However, as Sleepy is saying, this is one of those efforts.

god i just realized that! well though she did lessen in sexiness with the baby but it isnt by that much but ahhh jessica alba not here! anybody know a sexy replacement?

Wouldn’t he fire his agent? A-Rod did that by ignoring Boras before he signed with the Yanks.

Are you working to create the best widget producing team, or are you working to put food on your family’s table? If somebody offered you a 20% raise, you’re telling me that you’d be “loyal” to your old job?

Think about $1,000,000.00. 1 million dollars. 10 Ferarris. 2 Bentleys. One “sorry I cheated on you, please don’t divorce me” diamond. That’s a lot of cash. Yeah, they make more than you and I, but I’m sure they grew up in just as modest a setting as you and I. No matter how rich you get, $1,000,000 is still $1,000,000. And that’s only one year, if you’re talking about a multi-year contract, that gets multiplied. 4 Bentleys. A beach estate in Miami. I summer house in Bermuda. I’d let Atlanta pay me that… or Miami. Do I get to play with DWade?

You can’t just “sign up for a championship” by taking less $$. Look at Karl Malone and Gary Payton on the Lakers. Being on a winning team is never a certainty.

Also, which would be considered a better success for Player A:

A) Being surrounded by all stars, but playing few minutes, making the playoffs, and being second (or third, or fourth) fiddle and getting little credit for the team’s success.
B) Being surrounded by a good team, playing your heart out, but not getting the credit you deserve because of an “up and coming phenom” who’s now getting paid more than you anyways.
C) Being surrounded by a raw, young team that never won anything and taking them to the playoffs the following year based solely on your contributions, meanwhile earning the love and devotion of a fanbase and a whole bunch of moolah.

Don’t confuse personal and team success.