Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus - No Contracts Yet

by Fantasy Junkie on Jul 13, 2007 9:26 AM PDT in Links

Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus have not yet signed contracts even though the signing period started on Wednesday. Most likely, both will sign with a team who can use their mid-level exception. It was raised to $5.36 mil this year and that's probably the highest either of the two will get. It's my guess that, they'll probably get something in the range of $3.5-4.5 mil/year. Teams in the recent past have been reluctant to hand out lucrative contracts to 2nd and 3rd tier class of free agents. Janny Hu breaks it down.

League sources said Toronto, Dallas and Miami were among those interested in Pietrus, but the Raptors committed their midlevel exception to sharpshooter Jason Kapono, and the Heat are still hoping to lure point guard Mo Williams away from Milwaukee.

Talks with Golden State have been slow-moving and interest in a multi-year deal might be lukewarm on both ends. Happy Walters, Pietrus' agent, said the Warriors "have not been very responsive" since tendering a one-year offer of about $3.5 million last month.

Warriors vice president Chris Mullin confirmed this week that he has been in contact with both Pietrus' and Barnes' representatives, but no deal appears close with the latter, either.

Matt will be dunking on Dirk next year, but in which uni?

As far as what Matt Barnes is doing, he's home in Sacramento starting up a basketball camp while waiting on contract offers to start rolling in. None of have arrived yet.

"Right now, there's nothing happening," he said. "I was thinking the midlevel exception was realistic, but my agent has been telling me teams have questioned whether the success I had was because of (Warriors coach Don) Nelson's system and whether or not I could have the same success in another system. "It's pretty frustrating because I thought I had a good year," said Barnes "It was not a great season, but it was good. And from what other players have received, I thought I'd be right there in that mix. But Golden State has not come around to what I thought they might, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens."

One option is that he could go to the Blazers with their need for a small forward.

Portland also could shop for a small forward or point guard among other free agents. Players such as Golden State forward Matt Barnes and Denver guard Steve Blake could fill needs for the team.

I think the Warriors sign Barnes and let Pietrus walk. Barnes will get anywhere from 3.5 to 4.5 mil per year and Pietrus will probably get the same. Where do you think Barnes and Pietrus will sign?

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I think

Barnes will be a Warrior. He will realize that its worth it to stick around after all the hoopla of what team wants him vs. how much they will pay him. In the long run, it will all be relative as far as pay and he will just give in the proverbial towel so to speek all while playing for a team/coach he likes, a city that wants him as well as him making more $$$ than he ever has at around 3.5-4.5 million/year. Matt, don't get greedy dude, come back-we want you! Pietrus, well dude, its another story for you according to the fans here in the Bay. S&T is in the future for you...

by gabezgsw on Jul 13, 2007 9:59 AM PDT reply actions

Taken from that Flick "Jerry McGuire..."

Show Me The Money! (He's worth it!)

New "Re-sign Barnes" tribute webpin LOL!

by Tony.psd on Jul 14, 2007 1:10 AM PDT up reply actions

hmm

barnes= a warrior

pietrus is going to the rockets! jk i dont know im just throwing in a team that nobody named.

by djchuckdeez on Jul 13, 2007 10:05 AM PDT reply actions

MP2

Will goto a team that we'll face in the second round of next years playoffs, where he'll randomly and unexpectedly become unstoppable from behind the arch and carry his team past our squad in the fourth quarter for 4 games.

Barnes will be a rocking a DUBs uni.

Through thinNthinN?

by k759 on Jul 13, 2007 10:27 AM PDT reply actions

Barnes had a great season...

The Dude dropped over a hundred 3's this season! I hope he stays with Golden State... every 3 dropped had the crowd goin' crazy. Good times!

by Tony.psd on Jul 13, 2007 10:45 AM PDT reply actions

Barens

Barens is young and I don't see any reason why he can't get better coming off of his first real season. And the playoff performace is another reason he is valuable. He showed up even bigger where other guys wilt under the pressure. And now he has that playoff experience. If they can get him for 3-4 million I think he is a steal

by Zig on Jul 13, 2007 11:06 AM PDT reply actions

I agree the playoffs really helped us see the play

ers we need to hold onto and barnes is one of them. We need pressure players and Barnes was as good as anyone outside of bd and jax.

THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE W'S

by dallaswarrior on Jul 13, 2007 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions

I see that

Varejao and Pavlovic are both free agents. I might prefer both of those guys over Barens if I had a choice

by Zig on Jul 13, 2007 11:14 AM PDT reply actions

Pietrus to the....

Seattle Supersonics. I know I've mentioned this before, but as Sonics fan I'd like to have Pietrus as our starting two guard. The sonics have a trade exemption and could use the two extra number two picks or perhaps even a future #1 to entice the Warriors into a S/T. Wonderkid Presti and Co have been working on adding more defensive minded players to surround Durrant with. Pietrus fits there want-to-be Spur image.

As a warrior season ticket holder like to see them bring both guys back by signing Pietrus to his option salary of 3 million and then us the mid-level exemption to keep Barnes. However, it doesn't look like things are going to shake out that way. Furthermore, I think with Jackson, Monta, Ellis, Barnes, Belinelli, and Harrington that the Warriors are covered at the wing position or the old fashion 2 and 3 positions. Also, as far as Pavlovic and Varejao go, I'd stay way Varejao, because he's going to command at least 7 million a season (which is what Darko signed for). Though Pavlovic would be an intriguing addition, because I think he'd fit into Nellie's system well. However, I do not think he'd sign to be a backup wing player to Monta, Barnes, or SL MVP Belinelli.

by mcwalter44 on Jul 13, 2007 12:38 PM PDT reply actions

I agree with the consensus

The Warriors will sign Barnes and let Pietrus go. At least that is probably their intentiion.

My guess is that they are letting the market dictate Barnes' salary (unlike their billiant negoitiations with Adonyle Folye, for instance). If there was competition for Barnes, they probably would have already signed him. The free agents in demand have already been signed. The Warriors can now sign him for a couple of million/yr. less, probably $4 mil/yr.

Pietrus will either be included in a sign and trade or may end up taking the Warriors $3.3 million qualifying offer.

by San Francisco Slim on Jul 13, 2007 1:32 PM PDT reply actions

Barnes will stay

I think the Warriors haven't offered him a good contract because they're pursuing other needs first like KG or Mikki Moore. I hate to say that we don't need Barnes, but I think Harrington is a natural 3 rather than a 4, and if we got a defensive minded PF through free agency, then we could have Baron, Jax, Harrington, free agent, AB. With all the big 4s and 5s in the west, it's hard to sign Barnes or Pietrus when neither of them can guard a Duncan, Amare, and Boozer. I think if there are no good options to fill our defensive rebounding need, then we will most likely resign Barnes.

I can see Pietrus going to the Blazers since they'll have some cap room after buying out Francis' contract. Barnes can only play in an up-tempo offense(or so everyone says), so I can really only see him staying with the Ws, signing with the Kings, or maybe Houston now that Adelman is there.

by Mdawg851 on Jul 13, 2007 1:33 PM PDT reply actions

The Warriors

can sign Barnes without worring about it messing up a possible trade, since it would be exercsing their mid-level exception option. Nellie loves Barnes. They're singing him. Just waiting to get the price right.

Also, Harrington will never play 3 under Nellie. Not athletic enough. And Pietrus won't go to Blazers. They'd sign Udola first, plus they have Webster and are going to re-sign Outlaw. They also drafted McRoberts, who will get some PT at both forward spots.

by San Francisco Slim on Jul 13, 2007 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions

They let both walk

and they sign Toby Baily to a minimum contract. That being said, I agree with the "pressure player" argument and hope they can keep Barnes for 2-3 million per.

I have no interest in signing Pietrus. He hasn't really improved at all since he's been in the NBA. He and Dunleavy are similar in that regard and signing him for around the MLE number would be a bad move for any team. He's worth exactly the qualifying offer of 1-year $3.5 million.

by bloodsweatndonuts on Jul 13, 2007 2:57 PM PDT reply actions

Pietrus..

Pietrus won't sign with the Blazers.

Blazers just signed Steve Blake.

Pietrus's options are lowering and lowering.

If Miami signs Mo Williams, I think the Warriors could get a steal out of Pietrus.

by BTT on Jul 13, 2007 5:51 PM PDT reply actions

HEre's what will h appen

If you look at the numbers pietrus is the better player,

he shot a better fg and three point percentage, plays better defense, is more athletic, just as much of a moron as barnesy fife when it comes to on court decision making, has just as poor handles, but plays more physical. MP has upside still, barnse hit his ceiling and then some.

So what will happen " Pietrus -

With the opportunities diminishing, he likes the dubs and had his best year and will resign and accept the qualifying offer.

With the signing of AZ, and the MP ....barnes backed himself into a corner. Showing his true stripes as a person, dumping his manager out of greed who busted his ass to get barnes even a look last off season and he has admitted this himself, he will get his. No team wants him, he has no offers ....there are reasons the guy bounced from team to team..... he was a brief starter in new york two seasons ago only to be quickly be waived... the guy has a serious attitude problem.... and no noe wants him..... he points figners...blames teammates etc...

so forced into a corner BArnes will eventually resign with the Warriors for about 2.5 mil a year.... slightly under MP's qualifying offer of 3.3

PERsonally i dont want him back..... i dont want to see the nonchalant, acting like he is entitled, soft fouling player back

And i hope someone is stupid enough to offer that big offer so he moves on and we never hear from him again.... like brian cardinal. Though i did like custodian.

by boogielew on Jul 13, 2007 6:16 PM PDT reply actions

Barnes vs Pietrus

After seeing Marco B play in the S-league on NBATV, the Warriors will be smart to let Matt Barnes go and sign Pietrus. The reasoning is that we traded JRich and the Ws need the athleticism of Pietrus which JRich had possessed. BelliNelli plays more like and has the body type of Barnes: tall and lean. The 07-08 Warriors need the muscle of the Frenchman to balance the baller who is BelliNelli.

by jerryEast44 on Jul 14, 2007 3:00 PM PDT reply actions