Rumor: Chris Wilcox's Agent Pushing Warriors

by Atma Brother ONE on Aug 4, 2006 9:04 AM PDT in News

The Sonics, however, concluded that they were essentially bidding against themselves because only a handful of teams could offer Wilcox more than the maximum mid-level exception of five years and $30.2 million.

The two sides appeared to find common ground on a three-year deal. However, the Sonics continued to maintain that Wilcox is worth $6.6 million per season, and their offer is about $6 million less than his demands.

"A one-year deal, in our mind, is not a deal," Fried said. "One year, in our mind, left Chris with no alternatives."

Fried has urged the Sonics to consider sign-and-trade scenarios, including a deal with Golden State. Nothing has materialized, however.

What kind of plausible sign-and-trades can you put together to bring Wilcox to the Warriors?

Also see:

99% of rumors never happen, but 99% of them are fun to talk about!

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Ugh

I hope nothing is plausible because I really don't want the Warriors to sign this guy. The last thing they need is some lazy underachiever with a big contract. I would rather keep our big contract guys who are merely wannabe overachievers. Although, Wilcox would be a perfect complement to BD - both guys would be a lock to only play in 60 games.

by Jud Booshler on Aug 4, 2006 9:41 AM PDT reply actions

Jason Caffey

comes to mind when I think of Chris Wilcox. A player who performs for the last 20-30 games of his contract year and once he receives the contract he's looking for he goes back to his uninspired ways. I say no to any sign and trade involving Wilcox.

PT-42

by norcaldevilasu on Aug 4, 2006 10:31 AM PDT reply actions

Wilcox is not a Caffey

I realize the temptation to make the comparison is there, but there are some differences. Caffey was an undersized PF who, when he played for the Bulls, hovered at around 50% from the floor. Considering that the Bulls at the time featured a pretty amazing cast to give him open looks, it's tough to blame his situation. Wilcox's worst in situations not as good has been better than Caffey at his best in this regard.

Wilcox is not similarly short for his position and his numbers have been better. While it's tempting to say that he finally started playing well in Seattle, his per-minute production in Seattle wasn't in stark contrast to what he did in LA. The big difference was that in LA, he didn't play as much and when he did, they didn't feed him the ball as much. But he rebounded well before and shot the ball well before the trade. On a whole, he seems like a much better gamble than some of the other options and looks to be a better player than Caffey ever was.

by jae on Aug 4, 2006 10:50 AM PDT reply actions

end of contract wonder

Wilcox <> Caffey

But..

Wilcox did play as he was projected to play ONLY at end of his contract. It's not clear how much of his problem was due to the Clippers and how much was him finally trying.

His team -- the guys who know him -- think he's not proven that he is worth what he wants and the team prior traded him.

Maybe they have log jams at PF in LA so he was expendable for a different kind of player and maybe the Soncis are cheap.

I'd keep Murphy and not swap him for Wilcox.

by joe sez on Aug 4, 2006 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Wilcox's play was actually fairly consistent

I'm not sure what you mean about him playing like he was supposed to only at the end of his contract. In his first three seasons, he was used sparingly, but his per-minute stats were pretty reasonable. If he were on a team that didn't have an all-star at his position and he were used as little I'd worry. If he got into games and stunk when he got time, I'd worry, but as it was, he performed adequately when he was put into games.

LA traded him because he likely wasn't as good as Brand and they weren't going to give him a big payday to be a backup. In return they got a shooter who they can probably keep for less.

by jae on Aug 4, 2006 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Per minute stat overused

Maybe I was harsh but Wilcox has gotten better as of late -- the per minute stat doesn't do it for me. e.g. When Ben Wallace played at Orlando, Joe Dumars really wanted him because Ben went 100% and never got winded when he played. It wasn't a stat/minute thing.

Wilcox played behind Brand but according to the Sonics, Wilcox wants too much and the team who owns him probably is right. Maybe it's Denver who set the salary bar too high this year when they signed Nene. The GSW need to pay for someone who's in their prime and proven, not up and coming. Here's what gets me:

From the Chicago Tribune earlier this year when the Bulls needed to sign some "Bigs".

Q:I wanted to know what you think about the Bulls trying to sign Chris Wilcox of the Supersonics? Once he got traded from the Clippers, he put up some decent numbers while being a starter. -- Omari, Forest Park

Sam Smith: Wilcox is a big guy, a free agent not mentioned much, and is somewhat of a risk because he started playing well in his contract season. But he was behind Elton Brand and didn't get much chance. I think the Bulls will look at him, but there have been whispers of a lack of, shall we say, enthusiasm and I don't believe he's high on their list. If they lose their top guys I can see them making a bid.

I'm interested in seeing more of Chris Taft who could be like Wilcox and keeping Murphy. Troy has gotten better every year, works hard, has a good attitude and would probably become more appealing in trades after the season starts. YMMV

by joe sez on Aug 4, 2006 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Changing the game?

That Dumars wasn't interested in Wallace's per minute doesn't mean that Wilcox's per minute didn't indicate Wilcox has or hasn't been performing at about the same level. That he's asking for too much money also doesn't mean that he's only recently been performing well.

When a guy isn't getting into games behind an all star, I'm not sure what sort of object measure you can use other than a per-minute stat. Since I'm not able to watch every minute of every game, I have to rely on stats to some degree to approximate what was going on. Wilcox put up good stats. He just wasn't afforded much of an opportunity to display this. Why this happened is subject to debate, but when he was on the court, he performed adequately.

I'd love to see more of Taft as well, but he's a big risk. Guys with major back surgery at 20 or 21 don't tend to have long careers moving people around in the paint. It's a major gamble to depend on him for the future.

by jae on Aug 5, 2006 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions

MAYbe, and it depends on who goes

Wilcox (Seattle) has been an underperformer averaging less than 10 points and 6 rebounds while getting starters minutes, less than those of W's own Troy Murphy (most often dangled trade bait recently) who (and more importantly, who's CONTRACT) are we giving up for him - must be one of the "big four" contracts or it's not even worth discussing.

by hardcore on Aug 4, 2006 2:37 PM PDT reply actions

10 and 6? "Starter minutes?"

I think you've got a problem with your stats and facts there. Where do you get that Wilcox was averaging 10 and 6 while getting starter minutes? Prior to the trade, he was averaging 13mpg in LA. The previous seasons he'd averaged 18, 20 and 10 minutes. I don't consider any of those "starter minutes."

by jae on Aug 4, 2006 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions

y'r right

his career scoring numbers are worse than I'd thought (espn.com), making him an even less attractive option for GS to pursue - thanks for clearing that up

by hardcore on Aug 5, 2006 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Starter minutes.

You contended that he got his numbers in starter minutes. You appear to be changing your tune now, JB. Wilcox didn't get "starter's minutes" and the numbers you presented were totally fabricated. What the hell are you basing your evaluation on?

by jae on Aug 5, 2006 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions

y'r right, and still not a match

not sure where you get off accusing people of fabrication but that's your deal ... we're all in this together, more or less? anyway ...

like I said "y'r right" - fyi 10 & 6 (actually it was 9.something and 5.something, I rounded up) were posted as his 2005 stats on a website ... they were not split out the way you had mentioned - your split is a NICE POINT JAE - but his overall stats remain underwhelming to me to add the contract being discussed ...

I remain unconvinced that we have a decent match to make a trade with Seattle for Wilcox (without simply adding his contract to GSW's big contracts - we need to move one or more of BD, MD, TM, or AF - not changing my tune - that's been a consistent view of mine all along).

So "what the hell" are you proposing specifically as a trade? ( other than Pietrus, who you made pretty clear was worth a coffee maker in your previous proposal ) I think Wilcox's agent is using GS just like I think Harrington's did - to try to get a better offer for their client. But, hey, I'm not afraid to be wrong on this, if there's a way to improve the Woes no one would be more pleased than I, & I don't care who's idea it is

by hardcore on Aug 5, 2006 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Starters minutes

My issue was that you claimed that he averaged 10 and 6 in starter's minutes. The 10 and 6 weren't accurate (and the numbers don't really round to 10 and 6 either), but more of a problem was your claim that he got "starters minutes." That part was false and whether or not you rounded becomes wholly irrelevent. Since you were making a statistical argument to suggest that Wilcox wasn't worth it, it's confusing that not a single part of your statistics were accurate.

I'm not proposing a trade. That's Mullin's job. I am saying that of the people out there who have been mentioned in rumours outside of boards like this, I think Wilcox is a reasonable target and has shown enough to suggest that he can be part of a solution rather than another problem.

by jae on Aug 5, 2006 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions

If Woes really wanted him they can ...

Since Wilcox is a restricted FA, the Woes could sign him to an offer sheet of their chosen price anytime- if they want him badly enough - which would force Sea to either match or agree to a sign and trade at the same time. Ideally Mullin should be taking the initiative and grabbing Wilcox before other interested teams (Phoenix for example) work out a deal. CW & agent are meeting with Sund Thur, if Mullin could make an offer before then he'd essentially force Seattle's hand, and have Wilcox's agent working on GS behalf (just as Jeffries agent made it clear he wouldn't be happy staying). ... that they haven't indicates to me that they don't want him badly enough or more likely Mullin can't pull the trigger without unloading salary first or simultaneously ...

by hardcore on Aug 8, 2006 6:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Let's not forget the SAD factor.

Seasonal Affected Disorder is a year-round problem for some Seattle transplants. Vin Baker and I think Kendall Gill both turned into piles of much during their respective tenures as Sonics. I personally love Seattle, but some people just can't shake the dreariness. I think it's possible that Wilcox would thrive in the Golden State, because it's golden.

Yeah, I'm just kidding...