Rumor: Sarunas Jasikevicius to Opt Out and Return to Europe

by Atma Brother ONE on May 27, 2007 10:12 AM PDT in Rumors Comment 26 comments

It's always tough to gauge the validity of non-Bay Area reports and rumors on the Warriors, but according to this piece in The Boston Globe by Peter May, Sarunas Jasikevicius could be opting out of the remaining 4 million dollars on his contract with the Dubs and returning to Europe:

According to those ever-reliable reports from across the pond, at least three European teams have expressed an interest in signing Sarunas Jasikevicius. The Golden State guard, who played only six minutes in the postseason, can opt out of his contract, which calls for a $4 million payday in 2007-08. He might get that (the equivalent, after taxes, is around 1.9 million Euros) in Europe. Jasikevicius simply has not enjoyed the spectacular success he had in Israel, where he was treated like a rock star, married a former Miss Israel, and won a couple of Euroleague titles for Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Prior to that, he was a star in Spain. A Spanish news outlet had Real Madrid trying to lure both Jasikevicius and Fabrico Oberto from the NBA, perhaps in anticipation of hosting next year's European Final Four. Hey, it worked this year for Panathinaikos, which loaded up for the Final Four in Athens and won the whole shebang.

Sarunas hasn't played all that well during his stay with the Warriors aside from that February 7th loss to the Timberwolves where he dropped 20 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and collected a block and a steal. It should be noted however that Nellie has had a very, very short leash with him from day one. If Nellie had the same impatience with Monta Ellis, the MIP would've been benched early in the season for those careless turnovers and never returned. This past season and playoffs the Warriors desperately needed another backup point guard in the rotation to ease up Baron Davis' minutes (fatigue was a big obstacle in the Utah series down the stretch), so it really would've been nice to see Sarunas pan out for the Dubs.

Sarunas is a valuable commodity not off the bench, but on the bench!

But let's say Sarunas does opt out of the remaining one year and 4 million on his current deal. There's a few ways to look at it:

Cap Savings: One of the reasons the Warriors and Pacers were able to make the numbers match up in the 4 player blockbuster deal was because of Sarunas Jasikevicius' contract. If Sarunas opts out, the Warriors just worked the Pacers that much more in that trade because of the 4 million in cap savings.
Trade Impact: Sarunas was probably going to be traded this offseason. A few months back he admitted he expected to be moved, citing his contract is just excessive for a player who doesn't play at all for a team (ahem, Adonal Foyle). Also, Jasikevicius' expiring 4 million would've been useful for making the numbers work if the Warriors were to make a play for a big name, big money player such as Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal, Pau Gasol, Zach Randolph, or even Ron Artest, so this could be seen as a drawback.

Regardless of how this situation plays out, Sarunas Jasikevicius should be commended for his excellent attitude this past season as a Warrior despite seeing next to no playing time. His energy and cheerleading on the bench during the final run to the playoffs and the shocking 1st round upset of the 67 win Dallas Mavericks rivaled the great Calbert Cheaney! It was nice to see every Warrior having fun out there towards the end of this past season even if they were in Nellie's doghouse. Major props to Sarunas.

Will Sarunas Jasikevicius be on the Warriors next season? If he picks up his player option for next season, how useful do you think his expiring $4 million dollar contract will be for summer trades?

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

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he needed some PT BABY!

As dicky v would say get him some pt baby! I was very impressed with his play in indiana and never understood why nellie didnt play him. I think alot of teams would be interested so it would suck to see him just leave, however saving 4 mil is always nice.

"Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk"

by sprewelllatrell on May 27, 2007 10:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No team in Europe has money like that to burn

by Jeremy Belvins on May 27, 2007 11:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Your wrong

I couldn't tell you how many teams there are, but I could name one Real Madrid does. This team is one of many that is own by there respectful soccer club. If there can pay 5 million for the rights for David Beckman, this is just for his rights not his salary, like five years ago. So don't say no Euroleague team doesn't have the maoney because they do.

by Psion on May 27, 2007 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

WHAT?!

"So don't say no Euroleague team doesn't have the maoney because they do."

Who are you trying to school? I wasn't saying that there were no european teams with resources, I was merely musing about the absurdity of paying so much money for a player like Sarunas Jasikevicius. That is what I mean by "money to burn." If you're trying compare a player like Beckham to Sarunas Jasikevicius, then you're completely off base.

You know what, forget it...

Just do me a favor and never reply to anything I write again. I'll be sure to reciprocate.

by Jeremy Belvins on May 28, 2007 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

idk

he could possibly be a star in europe

by travisl212 on May 29, 2007 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My guess is that he's gone

Of course I don't really know. Can I ask a seasoned capologist here how this would help us in free agency? Obviously, it clears 4 million from the books, but doesn't it still keep us close to the luxury tax threshold?

by Byron Houston We Have A Problem on May 27, 2007 11:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

capology

In terms of the salary cap, Cabbages leaving does next to nothing. With or without him, we're still over the cap and you have to be under for it to matter. In terms of the lux tax threshold, it helps as we were close to the threshold and saving $4million means that there's $4million more to spend to extend Ellis or Biedrins or find a way to keep Barnes without going over the Lux threshold (which is always higher than the cap). That's not something insignificant. Being under the lux threshold means not paying a dollar for dollar penalty for salary above it and getting a share of the lux tax division.

This year, being under, even by a dollar, meant about $10 million in revenue. Being over meant paying the tax and forfeiting the revenue. I realize it's Cohan's money, not mine, and I don't care what happens to him finanacially, but I can't blame someone for wanting to keep salaries down under the threshold when the payoff for doing so is so big and there's virtually no way to get that revenue back by being a fringe playoff team.

by jae on May 27, 2007 6:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think...

my webpin says it all.

by sadleavy on May 27, 2007 11:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

why keep him anyway

the only thing I remember him doin was making some clutch FTs for us in one of the regular season games because don nelson wanted to make sure we won the game lol but other than that he is the 3 option for pg and there is no need for him.

by djchuckdeez on May 27, 2007 11:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

addition by subtraction

the $4m off the books would be huge, and I don't see him as a valueable trade commodity even "to make the numbers work" - who wants our overpaid 3rd string pg? if a euroteam wants to pick him up, more power to them but hard to believe he'd walk away from too much coin ...

by hardcore on May 27, 2007 12:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Making the numbers work

Oh, I meant he'd be valuable to make the numbers work because he's an expiring contract. A team like the TWolves that might be looking to rebuild would be opening up that 4 million in the long haul rather than being tied down with a long, expensive contract.

by Atma Brother ONE on May 27, 2007 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

expiring contracts

have value, I do appreciate that aspect, and the whole sign & trade issue raised elsewhere on GSoM. ... my view is that there are far fewer strings attached to moves a GM can make without all that baggage, those complications inhibit moves as much as if not more than enable them...

by hardcore on May 27, 2007 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let him go!

Then we can renegotiate Adonals contract to 20 Million a year!!!!! MWAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!

Don't Ask....

by Zorgon on May 27, 2007 1:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

does anyone know?

When does he need to opt out by. Also can he opt out after a trade. If so that might make him even more vaulable in a trade.

by Psion on May 27, 2007 2:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bring Kobe

The free Kobe movement has begun.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2884339

by longus on May 27, 2007 4:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

oo yea!!

trade al harrington and stephen jackson for Kobe and we will be great!

by ballin on May 27, 2007 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

no i hate kobe, hes selfish. FREE LEBRON!!! now...

by djchuckdeez on May 27, 2007 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

can kobe win?

i dont know yet. hes a great player one on one, but when he misses whos going to get the rebound???

by stevenro59 on May 27, 2007 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

do you realize...

can you imagine how beastly lebron would be in nellies system? think about it...at 6'9" he can play PF for nellie, hes a decent enough rebounder for his size, has excellent ball handling ability, can pass and score, and he uber athletic. there is no better coach for lebron than nellie. could you say MVP?

by mydedgerbil555 on May 27, 2007 5:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

um....

Lebron would be beastly in any system...

by ThermoElectro on May 27, 2007 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

HAHAHA...hehe..Lebron? Kobe? HARDEE HAR HAR

Cleveland would NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER trade LeBron James. Not ever. He would have to punch out the coach, steal his car and punch out his moms too. Then, just then, maybe they would consider trading him. But they would probably just fire the coach and put his mom in jail for hurting Bron's hand. Same for Kobe, he forever holds the keys to La la land. If your him, you never leave.

by jswinder on May 28, 2007 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i hate kobe

but i love his game

maybe while everyone's drooling over Kobe we can hoodwink all the other suckers and...

FREE KG!

by sadleavy on May 27, 2007 8:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

dam

and i thought i could still wear my jamison jersey but only with a jacket on still! oh well he should go its sad for him hes pretty good sometimes but nellie wont let him in and he wants to play obviously.

by 24k state fan since 87 on May 27, 2007 10:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Nellie did say

that he wanted to limit Baron to 30 minutes a game during the regular season, and I do not think Monta will inherit all of the extra minutes. We'll need a PG to play at least 10-15 minutes a game, and also pick up the slack for the 20 games Baron will likely miss.

Of course, cabbages might not fit Nellies tastes or system. Personally I think moving Foyle for an expiring contract should be the biggest priority, assuming the core players are all back and Barnes or antoher roll player is too.

by BingBluNT on May 27, 2007 10:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I THINK HE WAS...

THE HIGHEST PAID MALE CHEARLEADER!

gdubb

by gogomaplata on May 28, 2007 4:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

LOOK....

I know that alot of people on here have been saying that the Warriors NEED a true point gaurd, that Monta Ellis isnt the future of the team because hes not a TRUE POINT, but i think that there is one major point that ya'll are missing....

The Warriors dont need a true point gaurd. Does anybody hear me? Jeff Van Gundy does not run our team, Nellie does. We are not a team that walks the ball up the court and sets up the O. We run, run, run, all day...then we run some more. Most of our baskets come from pushing the ball up the court, disabling the defense to get set up and comfortable in their element. This usually leads to someone whether it be Davis, Ellis, Richardson, or Jack attacking the rim, getting fouled, and if the drive isnt there, we move the ball around the perimeter until we get an open shot. Its plain to see... the fast break, is seemingly ALWAYS there, because we pesk the opposition into stupid shots and turnovers. Even when they score, we run back on offense before they get there, which is why we have players that can get up the court and who are talented in the fast break game. Jack can run, dish, and finish. J Rich is very fast and he can finish, same goes for Davis, Ellis, Pietrus, and Barnes. These are all fast players who exploit their talents in coach's style. Nellie recognizes. Sometimes, even when Baron is in the game, Jack brings the ball up the court instead. Our offense relies on attacking our opponents from different angles with scorers, and kicking it back out to teamates for shots, while we have mobile big man like Al Harrington and AB causing problems and mismatches. Does anyone understand why we dont need another true point gaurd in order to be successful? It does not take a point gaurd to run this style of offense at all. Instead, we could a physical, take no nonsense guy who can get up the court, can pull 8 or more rebounds, block ALOT of shots from the weak side, and finish after catching the ball on the blocks. NOT necessarily a big strong guy, but someone very physical who loves to mix it up with a nose for the ball. Like a Dennis Rodman or Ron Artest... I nominate GERALD WALLACE...and who knows, maybe its huntin' season for Artest after the dismal season he had. He'd love Nellie. I dont see those two not getting along because real always recognizes real. AL JEFFERSON would be very nice too, and is one of the few players i would trade Monta for. He is only 22 yrs old and has a VERY polished low post game.

Monta is not a dime a dozen gaurd by the way. Alot of you guys are saying that, but hes not. The kid is blessed with so much GOD GIVEN TALENT and hes so young, so much room to expand. I dont see how you think we can just go get ourselves another Monta Ellis with the snap of a finger.
Anyways, with that said, I hope you good Warrior fans see my reasoning and agree with me. My question to you ALL is this...
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN A NEW WARRIORS UNIFORM NEXT SEASON?

by jswinder on May 28, 2007 3:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs