Rumor: Pietrus may have other options

by Fantasy Junkie on Jul 26, 2007 11:33 PM PDT in Rumors

Okay great. As soon as I finish writing the post below this one, Rumor: Pietrus May Sign a 1 year, $3.4 mil deal with Warriors, Tim Kawakami writes that he's hearing Pietrus may have other options. Thanks Tim! He writes an interesting blog post. Below is the gist of it, but make sure to read the entire blog post to get Tim's perspective and analysis.

I heard from a member of the Mickael Pietrus camp a few hours ago, and he calmly but firmly thwacked at my conclusion that his client inevitably will have to accept the facts and sign the Warriors' $3.47M qualifying offer.

And he really protested my stance (blogged last night) that the Pietrus camp realizes it has zero realistic option and is resigned to accepting the one-year contract with the Warriors.

Pietrus' agent said that there has been outside interest, that the Warriors have turned down sign-and-trade deals that would've helped them, and that there could still be interest out there in his client-Miami and Cleveland (and possibly Dallas) being the teams at the forefront of that situation, I believe.

Are there other offers? I would think so, but he's restricted and I really can't see a team shelling out big bucks to him over more than a few years. He hasn't proven himself to be worth a long term deal nor a big money deal. All in all, I still think Pietrus is coming back. Teams can wait a year when he's an unrestricted free agent and sign him then. I don't think anyone is in a hurry to sign this guy, he won't put your team over the top.

Do you believe Pietrus' camp that he's got more offers? Is he coming back?

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consider the source, but I wish ...

c'mon, what else is the agent gonna say? TK basically sliced any and all leverage he might have had

I wish there was enough interest that we could move MP, say to MIA in a S&T+Cabbages for JWill cuz then we could have our bkup PG, an expiring contract, and resign Barnes

my impression is that agent doth protesteth too much

by hardcore on Jul 26, 2007 11:39 PM PDT 0 recs

basically

sounds like the agent was trying to save face

by AJC3317 on Jul 27, 2007 12:22 AM PDT up 0 recs

if we wanted

to resign barnes, don't you think we'd show any sign of interest? We have shown MP interest, and even that is barely existant. I think Mullin knows he can get someone better, especially with the TPE.

Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league.

by kenntoe on Jul 27, 2007 5:52 PM PDT up 0 recs

it's possible

it was simply a matter of what options he had - Mullin doesn't have the option of matching and retaining Barnes, he does with MP

by hardcore on Jul 27, 2007 7:18 PM PDT up 0 recs

Other options if W's help out and do a S&T

Which they dont since they dont seem to feel as though they're getting anything worthwhile in return

by DK510 on Jul 26, 2007 11:44 PM PDT 0 recs

Bothersome...

This is what bothers me about today's professional athlete. He gets offered $3.7 million and feels insulted. Mickael Pietrus is lucky to be playing in the NBA at all. He's a completely one dimensional player, and that one dimension is not even good. He's not a particularly good defender, and he does not have a particularly good shot. He's ok spotted up from the corner, but who isn't? He's a good rebounder for a guard, and he's a good ball handler for a center (both unimpressive). I guess the Warriors tendered him an offer just as insurance. He knows their system and didn't absolutely kill them last year (except for his FT shooting). No way will any team pay this guy any money. He needs to shut up and be happy ANYONE wants him. And $3.7 million, that just makes me sick.

Oh, and btw, he also had the worst plus minus on the Warriors last year, was amongst the worst in the league in A/T ratio, and shot 65% from the charity stripe. His totals are super-inflated from the Warriors pace of play. On any other team he'd average 5 pts and 2 reb. What a bum. Ok, i'm done.

by warriordrp on Jul 27, 2007 1:09 AM PDT 0 recs

i agree

except who you are referring too. At least MP has been a legitimate back up and player in the NBA for a few years, who you do know exactly what you get. Though i disagree i think he is a solid in your face defender... who unlike a lot of players actually moves his feet opposed to reaching.

The guy who i think is a clown asking for above the minimum is BArnes. If it wasn't for his agent, who them subsequently fired for the big bucks, who begged and pleaded just for his client to get a look at the Warriors camp, Barnes would be playing at a rec near you. The audacity this guy has to ask for as much money as he is is a joke. The guy is piss poor defender, who makes those soft and one fouls that make you cringe over and over. He is so nonchalant and blunders on rebounding. He acts entitled on the floor and his clownish intimidating is like a 6 year old trying to be the blocks bully. If anyone should take 1 million and be happy with it it is this guy.

That said, MP should sign for his tendered offer.... i would love this.... that would force Barnes to sign elsewhere. Hopefully. Or at the least sign for his value just under 2 million.

I love that Mullin is letting these guys shop themselves with no takers. I love that Mullin is not doing any sign and trades. Why the other teams are offering crap. Who needs a slow James Posey.... we cartainly dont.... offer us dorrell wright.... and i would consider a s/t... dallas offer up d harris and i would consider a s/t with you.....

I welcome MP back at that price. AS it forces Barnes to either sign for cheaper or sign elsewhere. BE happy you are in the NBA moron. You couldnt make it on any other team and teams are recognizing that Nellie's system made you ..... you ingrate barnes.

by boogielew on Jul 27, 2007 1:33 AM PDT up 0 recs

Asking for the Market Rate

I'm not a MP fan. I think he is too goofy to play at a high level despite his physical talent -- if he had Lou Deng's work ethic he'd be an all-star.

An NBA salary comes after players take great risks -- how many guys who try to play pro make it? The salary offsets the risk.

It's low odds to make an NBA team and usually the number of years they can play at a high level is low.

When a guy does make it, he expects to get paid a fair wage compared to his peers.

Does anyone think asking for a salary equal to your peers is asking too much?

I happen to think MP is not as good as he thinks but looking around the NBA, 3.7M isn't a "fair" wage for his past contributions and defense.

It's fair due to MPs circumstances and screwy play under Monty. The sign and trade offers have to be in the Warrior's best interest, not just for MP.

He should sign a two year deal at the qualifying offer with year two his option to leave. That way he can prove his value for next year as a FA. If he gets hurt, year two will give him an opportunity to rehab and still "feed his family".

by joe sez on Jul 27, 2007 10:14 AM PDT up 0 recs

i agree

yup

by djchuckdeez on Jul 27, 2007 1:19 AM PDT 0 recs

hey

Why don't we do a sign and trade with him for KG??? Even if Minnesota doesn't want him, maybe give him like a 1 year deal, 10 mil contract so Minnesota gets an expiring contract.

by DaAzNJRiCh on Jul 27, 2007 2:43 AM PDT 0 recs

Not possible

Won't work. If we sign Pietrus to that much money, he's a BYC player and we'd still not be able to use much of it to match KG's salary. If we signed him to a $10 in a sign and trade, he'd only be worth half of that in terms of giving us space for KG's contract.

At a lower dollar value, it's not such a big problem, but the bigger the raise, the harder it is to trade the guy because of the CBA rules regarding big raises.

by jae on Jul 27, 2007 9:43 AM PDT up 0 recs

JAE

I hope I'm not out of line asking this, but how is it that you seem to know the CBA by heart? Few fans are that hardcore but maybe you are. If you don't feel comfortable telling me feel free to ignore this (maybe because you work in the league or whatever). Thanks.

by olympicmike on Jul 27, 2007 11:38 AM PDT up 0 recs

the CBA

I don't work for the league, though if they're interested, I'm easy to find and I've got a salary in mind already.

I read Larry Coon's CBA FAQ, for some sections that didn't make sense, I read the original document (though that rarely helped--Larry's quite good at distilling information) and I've got pretty good retention of information, so I have more than a vague idea of what's in there. And when I don't remember something, I just go back to one of the documents and search on the terms, so it doesn't take long.

But the real key is that the CBA can be condensed into a few of principles:

-It's probably not allowed. If you start with this default assumption, you're going to be right more often than not. Searching for a way to allow a move is the key. [This is the thing that bothers me about most sportswriters. If I can take the time to research the stuff and I'm not paid a cent, and it doesn't take that much time, why the #$%@ can't someone making their living covering the league take the time to avoid printing something that's clearly not going to fly by league rules? I'd put my understanding of the CBA up against 99% of the 'professional' writers any day.]

-Where things are allowed, they're generally written in a way that tries to prevent salaries from rising (e.g. not giving someone a big contract just to make them tradeable).

-players want job security. All concessions to the players start with the notion that they want to keep their jobs and would rather guarantee that they'll get paid, regardless of who pays them, over anything else.

Just these few principles explain 99% of everything else in the document. The bulk of text is just there to cover specific obvious ways to get around this as well as specific clever loopholes once used that are now gone.

by jae on Jul 27, 2007 1:20 PM PDT up 0 recs

Thanks

When you put it that way it sounds pretty simple. I'm sure that the simple act of reading Larry Coon's CBA FAQ and researching the parts you don't understand would demystify the whole thing pretty quick. I think most of us are intimidated by technical writing/legal writing but I think I might read the thing myself just so I don't have to ask you to explain stuff all the time. lol. I do think most of us have a very basic understanding but I give you props for digging deeper and educating yourself on the subject.

by olympicmike on Jul 27, 2007 2:11 PM PDT up 0 recs

Playin it Right

Pietrus is restricted and mullin is playing it the way the business should be played. As fans its easy to get emotionally attached to players(not saying I am with piet) but its a business and these guys are getting paid rediculously so playing hard ball is the way to go. who cares if someone gets there feeling hurt, grow up

Listen to the wise, be patient.

by raypress23 on Jul 27, 2007 10:14 AM PDT 0 recs

Dude blew 2 huge FT

He does not have a strong mental aspect to the game. He is of the old Warriors that fold under pressure. Hate to say it, but that's what wins playoff games. I think we should agree that we can get to the playoffs and play our disruptive game and advance if we can hit at least 80% from the stripe and 30% from downtown. If you can't do that, you do not belong on this team. Icewater in the veins should be the criteria if one is to play for the 07-08 dubs.

by eshock on Jul 27, 2007 12:28 PM PDT 0 recs

Don't know why you're hating on barnes so bad....

when you're matt barnes and you've been where he's been, he knows that nothing is a sure thing for guys like him in this league...he's been playing on year-long or ten days for most of his career, so i don't fault him for looking for long term financial security...he has not publically complained, bitched, or talked shit about mulson, i just think he is looking for what is in HIS best interest, b/c this could be his only long-term, high money guaranteed payday for playing basketball...if you were in matt's shoes you'd take your time as well, you'd do what was best for you and your family....

His stock was sky high coming out of the playoffs, and maybe now he's realizing that the deals aren't what he hoped they be, so he's deciding what is the best realistic deal he can make for his future....don't know what's wrong with that,

if you don't like him as a player that's fine, but calling him an ingrate for doing his due dilligence seems a little over the top for me....peace, dan

by BeLEGENDelliAllDay on Jul 27, 2007 1:17 PM PDT 0 recs

um what?

BArnes is doing his due dilligence? You make no sense. He is conducting inspections on who? what? He is getting his research together huh, on whom? I think it is actually the opposite.... teams are doing their due dilligence on him and finding him and his history paper thin and not worth his asking price.

I think Barnes is fine as a player. But he is a bench player. He is a journeyman who hasnt taken much of a journey. He is not a great player, i wouldnt even call him average. He was out of the league, if not for his agent ( who he completely screwed over showing true barnsey colors) and Nellie's system and willingness to play him through the countless errors, blunders and turnovers he made ( i realize nelson really didnt have anyone else to turn too and barnes had moments when he shined just looking at the big picture with barnes) this point would be mute. He would be out of the league.

I call him an ingrate for his treatment of his agent. For, instead of taking a page from Azubuke's book and doing something positive for himself and the team, barnes is all about barnes. I wanna see Barnes repeat last season's performance, in fact excel beyond it, in a different teams uniform and in a different system. Only then would i be a true believer that barnes is anything but smoke and mirrors and what his past coaches and gm's saw him is the truth.

I dont hate barnes, i would love to see the warriors retain him at his true value. Slighlty over what he made last season on a one year deal and let him prove he can perform as he did last season. He deserves somewhere in between what AZ signed for and Pietrus's tendered contract. He certainly does not deserve more than Pietrus who actually has been in the NBA the past 4 years.

by boogielew on Jul 27, 2007 1:36 PM PDT 0 recs

What?

This is a business first man. Think of this like any other job. He's trying to make the most money possible on a career that has a very short shelf life. Few people fault him for that (his own teammates recommended he sign with an agent like Fegan so that he can get his dollars).

There are guys like Jerome James have a good playoff run and then hit the payday EVERY YEAR. Sadly for Barnes and Pietrus, many GM's are attributing their productivity to Nelson's system (and they may be right). However, he's doing the right thing for himself and his family to chase the dollars. He's hardly made any money at his job thus far...

Besides, the guy has a "Believe" tattoo on his neck and he's from Northern California. He probably would like to stay here and play under Nelson (especially cause he'd get minutes). But still, you always gotta holla at the almighty dolla.

by sadleavy on Jul 27, 2007 2:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

furthermore

I get why barnes is going for the money. I think it is a shameless way to step on people like his former agent to get it. The guy is a soft clown.

I just think the guy is plastic. Fake. All seeking publicity. No substance. You mention the "believe" tat. I would have given it more credence if it was done in the off season rather than something to get notice of himself much like the mohawk. I think he "believes" ...believes in getting paid. I also think he is a victim of listening to too many people on how to succeed.

Again nothing wrong with that, get paid and play for another team.

Good call Jerome James...... exactly what i am thinking, a one year wonder. PLaying for that big deal.

I love that Smuch signed with Miami. Another option closed to MP. The likliness grows he is a Warrior once again. And the less money the dub's will have available for BArnesy Fife.

by boogielew on Jul 27, 2007 5:17 PM PDT up 0 recs

average

Since the active roster contains 12 players, only 5 of whom start in any given game, there are more "bench players" than starters. As a result, the average NBA player is a bench player.

In 06-07, the average NBA player played just under 24 minutes a game, scored about 9.7 points, got 4 rebounds, 0.5 blocks and 0.7 steals and dished out 2.1 assists while turning the ball over 1.4 times in that 23 and some-odd minutes.

Barnes last year? 23.9 minutes, 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, 1 steal, 0.5 blocks and 1.4 turnovers. Pretty close to average. Ridiculously close to average. It's hard to find a more average player in so many different ways. Where he wasn't average, he was just a shade above.

Last year, Barnes was above average, perhaps not much above average, but above average.

The notion that Barnes only played well because of Nelson might be true, but several of Nelson's 'finds' in the past have done fine when the played for someone else. Mario Elie and Vincent Askew were both non-roster players who contributed to the Warriors similar to the way Barnes did. Both continued to help out other teams afterwards. If it's all smoke and mirrors, we ought to invest in some more smoke and mirrors.

by jae on Jul 27, 2007 7:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

numbers are numbers

Numbers are Numbers.... i can't argue that.

It is the lack of intangibles that take away from Barnes being average. The finger pointing when he makes errors, the arguing with refs, the phoney intimidation, the jacked up shots like he is the man, the failure to make that extra pass, the stupid spin move, the nonchalant ball handling (give it to a guard already), the inconsistency, the clown act, the casual rebounds he loses out of bounds, the ridiculous soft "and one" fouls he makes every game, the lack of ball handling skills, the inconsitencies on defense. He was fine til he had a few good games and then he non chalanted that rebound that cost us a game, he started jack up shots like a volume shooter, he had a way longer leash than MP, Ellis AZ etc ever had. I could go on about his negatives the problem is i dont see that many positives.

A few games he stepped up in. A good bench guy and that is it. A good but replaceable bench guy.

by boogielew on Jul 27, 2007 8:47 PM PDT up 0 recs

Heat just signed Smush Parker...

What do you all think? Heat going to be trying hard to offload J. Will now? Think this will significantly affect possible Pietrus sign/trade to the heat?

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_22891.shtml

by Joe Frank on Jul 27, 2007 2:01 PM PDT 0 recs

Typical...

It's official...

Wizards = Warriors East
Heat = Lakers East

by sadleavy on Jul 27, 2007 3:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

Parker

Parker's gonna be a backup, the Heat can't be thinking of him as starter material...can they?

That said, Parker is getting paid out of the MLE, so Miami's got nothing left to pay anyone anymore.

Questions? Complaints?

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

by OptionZero on Jul 27, 2007 4:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

i would suppose

this means Posey is definitely gone.

Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league.

by kenntoe on Jul 27, 2007 5:55 PM PDT 0 recs

pietrus

pietrus for $3.4 million dollars!? what a ripoff! we should be getting barnes for around 3 million/year. lets focus on getting barnes back first and then worry about pietrus later. please mullin?