Bibby Likely to Opt Out this Summer

[ockingsfan]

looking at the facts, i believe that mike bibby will opt out of his contract this summer...

bibby and his agent put that opt out clause in the contract for a very good reason... they knew he would be hitting his prime at 28 years old and they wanted an opt out clause to capitalize on that... at 30 years old, he would be considered "Old" in NBA terms...

bibby will be 28 years old this summer... a prime age for NBA free agents... he is just hitting his prime and premium point guards are highly sought after in NBA free agency... if chauncey billups re-signs with detroit, bibby will be the prime free agent point guard on the market... he could probably get 5 years/ $70mil or more in free agency this summer....

if he were not to opt out of his contract this summer, he would not be a free agent until 2009, when he will be 30 years old... and at 30 years old, teams become hesitant to sign players, considered to be on the down side of his careers, to big long term contracts....

i am not saying that he won't re-sign with the kings for a bigger, long term contract, but i think he will opt out this summer, in order to get a long term contract... if bibby does opt out, there are a few course of actions the kings can do...

1) Allow him to opt out, freeing up a lot of cap space, the kings would be 10-12mil under the cap if bibby opts-out.... the kings can persue some free agent big men like Anderson V. of Cavs or Darko Milicic.. then trade or sign a FA point guard

2) Trade him before the trade deadline this February... they could possibly land a big man with this trade to a contender, looking for the missing piece, i.e. Cleveland... or possilby to Minnesota along with Miller for Garnett????

3) Make a trade for a backup point guard as insurance for Bibby's possible departure, i.e. Earl Watson of Sonics

4) Sign him to an contract extension before he can test the free agent market... sign to a 5 year/70 mil extension, before he can get away

this could be a long season if the kings continue to play the way they have been lately... it could be an even longer off season if bibby opts-out of his contract...

 

[BMiller52]

I'd be fine if we could somehow turn Mike Bibby into Mo Williams+Darko. Look at what our young core would be then:

Mo Williams-young point guard on the rise, plays a lot like Mike already but not as good on O and maybe more of an all around player

Kev Martin-young SG who plays a lot like Reggie Miller. Potential 20+PPG scorer

Darko-Possible that he could become an athletic Brad/Vlade type of player. Maybe not as good of passers as them. Actually maybe more like Gasol. I watched one of his WC games this summer and he is good in the low post, athletic, and he blocks shots. Nice shotblocker.

Ron'll be in his prime too. He and Darko would be a scary defensive combo. We'll still have Salmons and Price. That would leave us maybe Miller/Reef to trade for the young PF we need.

 

[nbrans]

Yeah, I think he'll opt out as well. Teams are going to pay more for a 28 year old point guard than a 30 year old one, and I think Bibby and Arn Tellem are going to want to lock in that long term deal.

And, frankly, it might be the best situation for both parties if he walks. Bibby can follow the money to Milwaukee or another team with cap room and the Kings can continue the rebuilding project and possibly use the cap room to sign an impact big.

 

[LPKingsFan]

I'd be fine if we could somehow turn Mike Bibby into Mo Williams+Darko. Look at what our young core would be then:

Mo Williams-young point guard on the rise, plays a lot like Mike already but not as good on O and maybe more of an all around player

Kev Martin-young SG who plays a lot like Reggie Miller. Potential 20+PPG scorer

Darko-Possible that he could become an athletic Brad/Vlade type of player. Maybe not as good of passers as them. Actually maybe more like Gasol. I watched one of his WC games this summer and he is good in the low post, athletic, and he blocks shots. Nice shotblocker.

Ron'll be in his prime too. He and Darko would be a scary defensive combo. We'll still have Salmons and Price. That would leave us maybe Miller/Reef to trade for the young PF we need.

Not a bad plan, really, if Mike walks. Without him, according to hoopshype (yes, I know, not the best) we'll be at about $40 million next year. Then let's estimate (conservatively) that the cap will be about $57-58 million--giving the Kings 17-18 mil in space.

Give Darko his $9-10/per, Mo about $7-8/per and call it a summer. Well, of course except for backup center, but what else is new?

Williams/Price
Martin/Garcia/Douby
Artest/Salmons
Darko?/SAR/KT?
Darko?/Miller?

 

[Bricklayer]

If he's going to go, you have to trade him. Odds of signing a BETTER player for his money are virtually nil. Do well to even maintain. But you might be able to get some very interesting pieces via trade. Mike is not an All Star in the West, but he's a Top 10 PG and placed on the right team (I'm sure Cleveland or Houston would kill for him), is right there as a title qualified guy. Only one of those on our roster who's proven actually, but if we're not contending, that's not so important.

 

[nbrans]

If he's going to go, you have to trade him. Odds of signing a BETTER player for his money are virtually nil. Do well to even maintain. But you might be able to get some very interesting pieces via trade. Mike is not an All Star in the West, but he's a Top 10 PG and placed on the right team (I'm sure Cleveland or Houston would kill for him), is right there as a title qualified guy. Only one of those on our roster who's proven actually, but if we're not contending, that's not so important.

I don't necessarily agree that you just trade him if he's going to go. The fact is that the Kings could probably get better players using his cap room signing free agents than they could through trade. Teams are not going to give up much at all for Bibby via trade with the uncertainty of his contract situation (he could just walk at the end of the season), so I don't agree with you that he could net interesting pieces. So you might as well just wait until free agency.

This is a different situation than, say, Mobley walking for nothing. In that case the Kings didn't have the ability to replace him because they were constrained by their cap situation. But with $15 million in cap room the Kings could be players in the upcoming free agency, in which very few teams have any flexibility at all (Orlando, Charlotte, Milwaukee is really it, maybe Memphis) and there are some pretty good players available (Darko, Verejao, Mo Williams, Billups).

 

[Venom]

If he's going to go, you have to trade him. Odds of signing a BETTER player for his money are virtually nil. Do well to even maintain. But you might be able to get some very interesting pieces via trade. Mike is not an All Star in the West, but he's a Top 10 PG and placed on the right team (I'm sure Cleveland or Houston would kill for him), is right there as a title qualified guy. Only one of those on our roster who's proven actually, but if we're not contending, that's not so important.

I like your logic on this, but I don't want anybody from Cleveland or Houston. Then again, Stern might mandate a trade to Cleveland, in which case we get what we can (just kidding). I say let him walk and use the cap space.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

If he's going to go, you have to trade him. Odds of signing a BETTER player for his money are virtually nil.

Agreed 100%. For all his faults he isn't like the other guys we've let walk. Next to quality big men competent point guards are hard to find while good/very good but not great guys at the 2/3 spot are a dime a dozen. I think we'll be hard pressed to do better but if we can't afford to keep him we need to get something for him while we still can, even if it means using him as bait to get rid of our bad contracts without taking any new ones in return.

 

[Bricklayer]

I like your logic on this, but I don't want anybody from Cleveland or Houston. Then again, Stern might mandate a trade to Cleveland, in which case we get what we can (just kidding). I say let him walk and use the cap space.

I'm not terribly intrerested in Cleveland or Houston's stuff either...although draft picks are another question, even late though they would be.

However, I would also add, just off the top of my head, Boston, Atlanta, Seattle (best shooting team ever?), Minny, possibly also teams like Philly, Heat, Memphis, Lakers, Washington could liek to move Arenas to OG...you put a plyer of Mike's caliber out there, for a team serious about resigning him, and there's a lot of interest. Certian detractors on this board apart, thgis is still a Top 50 type player we are talking about, and a guy who was Top 20 last year in scoring. You add another star level player to just about any team and they can get a kick in their win totals.

 

[VF21]

I think we'll do what it takes to keep him. I just don't see Petrie letting him go...

 

[nbrans]

I'm not terribly intrerested in Cleveland or Houston's stuff either...although draft picks are another question, even late though they would be.

However, I would also add, just off the top of my head, Boston, Atlanta, Seattle (best shooting team ever?), Minny, possibly also teams like Philly, Heat, Memphis, Lakers, Washington could liek to move Arenas to OG...you put a plyer of Mike's caliber out there, for a team serious about resigning him, and there's a lot of interest. Certian detractors on this board apart, thgis is still a Top 50 type player we are talking about, and a guy who was Top 20 last year in scoring. You add another star level player to just about any team and they can get a kick in their win totals.

I just think this is extremely unrealistic. What are any of these teams going to give for a half season of Bibby? No one is giving up a pick in a loaded draft for a guy who could walk at the end of the season. The only teams that would want a half-season of Bibby are contenders, or teams looking to make a leap. Contenders aren't going to want to give up much of value because they still want to have a contending team after the trade. So yeah, maybe they'll offer you some junk and a late pick. How does that help things?

None of these teams have big expiring contracts. So basically you're looking at taking on a bunch of junk and maybe -- maybe -- a late first round pick for Bibby, and then there's no room for free agency.

How is that better than just waiting to sign a couple of guys you like in free agency? Is junk and a late first rounder better than, potentially, Mo/Darko?

 

[Bricklayer]

I just think this is extremely unrealistic. What are any of these teams going to give for a half season of Bibby? No one is giving up a pick in a loaded draft for a guy who could walk at the end of the season. The only teams that would want a half-season of Bibby are contenders, or teams looking to make a leap. Contenders aren't going to want to give up much of value because they still want to have a contending team after the trade. So yeah, maybe they'll offer you some junk and a late pick. How does that help things?

None of these teams have big expiring contracts. So basically you're looking at taking on a bunch of junk and maybe -- maybe -- a late first round pick for Bibby, and then there's no room for free agency.

How is that better than just waiting to sign a couple of guys you like in free agency? Is junk and a late first rounder better than, potentially, Mo/Darko?

I think your distaste for Bibby is coloring your assessment of his value. Scoring Mike Bibby is a major coup for some other team -- the equivalent of Rashard Lewis or an equivalent player hitting the trading market. Almost every team will look. Many will offer. And the beauty of getting something back in trade is that it is yours -- the vagaries of the FA market are absolutely no guarantee of anything.

And the opting out of the contract is highly overrated too. The norm there is you just go ahead and resign the guy. Teams take on that risk fairly routinely. And its not as if Mike's new deal will be that much larger than his old one (can't be) -- just be for more years. Whether its us or another team, reupping him is just a question of a few million more. (Silly statement, except in basketball), and anybody who traded for him int he first place will almost by defnition have enough money to resign him.

You;re also over hungup on the draft pick thing. Of course teams will trade their picks, this year like any other. Just all depends what is offered. Will they trade their high lottery picks? No. But few teams indeed are going to think they will nab a player of Bibby's caliber or better with the 22nd pick in the draft, even in this draft. And many teams are in positions where the expereienced veteran bird in the hand (Bibby) is worth more than the kid who is goign to take years to develop to the same level.

 

[nbrans]

I think your distaste for Bibby is coloring your assessment of his value. Scoring Mike Bibby is a major coup for some other team -- the equivalent of Rashard Lewis or an equivalent player hitting the trading market. Almost every team will look. Many will offer. And the beauty of getting something back in trade is that it is yours -- the vagaries of the FA market are absolutely no guarantee of anything.

And the opting out of the contract is highly overrated too. The norm there is you just go ahead and resign the guy. Teams take on that risk fairly routinely. And its not as if Mike's new deal will be that much larger than his old one (can't be) -- just be for more years. Whether its us or another team, reupping him is just a question of a few million more. (Silly statement, except in basketball), and anybody who traded for him int he first place will almost by defnition have enough money to resign him.

You;re also over hungup on the draft pick thing. Of course teams will trade their picks, this year like any other. Just all depends what is offered. Will they trade their high lottery picks? No. But few teams indeed are going to think they will nab a player of Bibby's caliber or better with the 22nd pick in the draft, even in this draft. And many teams are in positions where the expereienced veteran bird in the hand (Bibby) is worth more than the kid who is goign to take years to develop to the same level.

This is exactly my point. This has nothing to do with what I think of Bibby -- I just don't think the Kings are going to get good value for him through trade. If you're not getting a Bibby-esque player with a late draft pick at the 22nd pick, and since we're talking about contenders they're not going to want to give up too much to get Bibby to jeopardize their playoff run, how are you going to get anything approaching equal value?

Better to re-sign him or go to free agency is all I'm saying.

 

[SacTownKid]

The way the market has been the last couple of years I would think him opting out would be a mistake. He is making a ton of money over two years and I find it hard to believe he lets go of that guarantee

 

[Kingzrool]

I like the trade plan. Think - something like the last year boost with Artest. (don't pop my bubble here)
Free agency plans can backfire - see Bonzi.
Bibby is the last of "them", it will be weird when they are all gone.

 

[VF21]

Free agency plans can backfire - see Bonzi.
Bibby is the last of "them", it will be weird when they are all gone.

Two things:

1. Comparing Bibby and Bonzi is like comparing apples and ... ... parsnips.

2. I don't even want to think about when "they're" all gone. I sure wish the Kings or the NBA would come out with a DVD set of the 2002-2003 Kings.

 

[HndsmCelt]

First of all Bibby opting out and Bibby LEAVING are two entirely differnet things. One of the virtual GM geegs can give us the actual numbers I recall Bibby's contract being prety darn fa but not quite max money, givne his career he DOES have every reason to belive that his market value will be higher than the 7% increase he would get in extension but he is likely to get his best offer from the Maloofs, unless of course they are looking to take the team in a new direction.

Of course if Bibby does opt out AND if the Maloofs are looking for a new direction (eg defense) they may very well trade him and his expiring contract. At this point Im prety sure resinging Bibby is not even in the top 25 things to do list for Petrie.

 

[gofastws99]

All Gone?

Two things:

1. Comparing Bibby and Bonzi is like comparing apples and ... ... parsnips.

2. I don't even want to think about when "they're" all gone. I sure wish the Kings or the NBA would come out with a DVD set of the 2002-2003 Kings.

Know what you mean, wish my 70's A's were not all gone, wish the Raiders were not all gone! But they all do. WE (the fans) just have to live with it. When the owners and or coaches mess up, WE live with it. So I sit here in front of my TV and yell or, just pop a top. And hope tomarrow will bring a better day. Because no matter what I do, I still have to go to work and I probably will not get a raise if the KINGS win or lose. So, see you all tonight!!!! WE will do it again. Hate it when I work so late. Everyone's gone to bed.

 

[tyrant]

((tisk tisk at some of these members)). i wouldnt let mike bibby go. he's a quality point guard. i would do whatever it takes to re-sign him. we could always dump miller, rahim, thomas, corliss, price, garcia. martin would be outstanding trade bait right now. with his numbers. im sure there are alot of teams that would take a package including rahim, thomas, martin and another one of our crappy bigs. we could clear space with that with a trade and bring in someone that'll solve our problems. think about it. who are we going to get thats better than bibby.

 

[Troy]

I like your logic on this, but I don't want anybody from Cleveland or Houston. Then again, Stern might mandate a trade to Cleveland, in which case we get what we can (just kidding). I say let him walk and use the cap space.

I'd say the same. Teams aren't going to give that much with the uncertainty. We were very lucky to get Artest, but his stock was so deflated with him being out of the league for as long as he was the season before and then asking/demanding to be traded from the Pacers. Peja walked on the Pacers and they were left holding the bag, had All Star type players in Artest and then Peja for a good price under $8M or so and not having an easy time getting a player like that for that price.

We would be major players in the offseason if Mike walked, but then again it's not easy replacing a player like Mike. I'd be all for getting a Chris Paul, Daron Williams, Livingston young dynamic PG who is a true PG more than Mike who is really a small SG/combo guard with a huge defensive liability. While I live Price and Salmons, we would want another PG maybe even a older experienced one like a Sam Cassell so we have the mix of youth and experience which you need to win it all. Look at Miami, Dallas, SA they have a great group of young and older experienced players and have the who game inside and out (Dallas and SA especially).

 

[BMiller52]

((tisk tisk at some of these members)). i wouldnt let mike bibby go. he's a quality point guard. i would do whatever it takes to re-sign him. we could always dump miller, rahim, thomas, corliss, price, garcia. martin would be outstanding trade bait right now. with his numbers. im sure there are alot of teams that would take a package including rahim, thomas, martin and another one of our crappy bigs. we could clear space with that with a trade and bring in someone that'll solve our problems. think about it. who are we going to get thats better than bibby.

We already have 2 better players than him on our team. And they're younger too.

 

[thatguy]

I guess I'm one of the few that doesn't think Bibby will opt out. $28 million guaranteed is a lot to walk away from and (yes I know it is still early in the season) so far, he hasn't been playing in the 'contract year' mode. And, yes, I know that means nothing either. As for being 30, Steve Nash signed a 6 year/$63 million at that age. And before we get all puffy, realize that this was pre-MVP Nash and I still don't really equate the two.

 

[pejafans]

why a overpaid player opt out?

 

[AriesMar27]

trading bibb by the deadline would be great if we got a player that we need in return and we ship out thomas as well...

i would love to do a trade with atlanta if we could get a couple of their young players for bibby... but none of them make enough to be traded this season... and i dont think that you can s&t players for s&t players...

 

[VF21]

We already have 2 better players than him on our team. And they're younger too.

Two players on the team who are better than a healthy Mike Bibby? Whoa...

I am trying very hard to keep from making the following comment:

Have you lost your mind???? Were you partaking of the same stuff MO is in trouble for?

This is just getting silly.

 

[ezekielbear]

Mike makes a boat load of money...and I can't see him making more in FA land.

Add in the Kings have his Bird Rights...and his less then great stats (a bit early but still)...Mike wouldn't be the smartest to opt out.

But if he or his agent think they can get more money...you never know.

 

[Troy]

I guess I'm one of the few that doesn't think Bibby will opt out. $28 million guaranteed is a lot to walk away from and (yes I know it is still early in the season) so far, he hasn't been playing in the 'contract year' mode. And, yes, I know that means nothing either. As for being 30, Steve Nash signed a 6 year/$63 million at that age. And before we get all puffy, realize that this was pre-MVP Nash and I still don't really equate the two.

While I don't hate Mike, I sure wish we signed Nash when we could, this guy is just awesome. I watched the last game eventhough I knew the Kings didn't have much of a chance to see Nash and the high throttle offense of the Suns. Mike is making way too much $ to opt out, if he does we will move on and have a good deal of $ to shop around.

I'm really hoping we can get Anderson V, Boozer, Wilcox type young athletic PF. I think we are good at 1-3 and should use the $, if we have the $ on the 4-5 as in a starter and off the bench. Brad is the starter and needs to start pretty soon, you can see how the offense pics up when he plays and he gets immediate assists to KMart and others with his passes and the nice pics he sets, he also spreads the floor with hit shooting that should hopefully return to him soon. SAR can sub in for 4/5, but he is not a starting 5 in the NBA as is K9 not a starter, especially in the West at the 4. If we have any hopes of anything beyond the 1st round, if we even make it this far this year, we need to rework this situation at 4/5.

I could see Salmons and Price playing PG as well as Cisco off the bench, we do need some veteran leadership here which we are lacking to deepen our bench, but we do have the youth at 1-3. The problem is attracting a good leader vet to the Kings, SA and Dallas, Miami etc have such an easy time with the starters they have and the vet person knowing they have a good chance to end their career on top with a trophy and ring, we cannot quite offer that, but you never know, if we can guarantee playing time and a vital role with the youngins as a mentor that might do it.

 

[tyrant]

VF21 agrees with me. what players on our team is better than a healthy mike bibby? none. ron artest is a small forward. he doesnt count. look at point gaurds in the league today. those who ARE better than bibby are dam near untouchable. keep bibby, bring in a big man and make 1 final run for the title with bibby. the pure shooter. he got heartbroken in 2002. i wanna see one more run.

 

[Troy]

VF21 agrees with me. what players on our team is better than a healthy mike bibby? none. ron artest is a small forward. he doesnt count. look at point gaurds in the league today. those who ARE better than bibby are dam near untouchable. keep bibby, bring in a big man and make 1 final run for the title with bibby. the pure shooter. he got heartbroken in 2002. i wanna see one more run.

Rework at least the PF position with a dynamic young powerful Wilcox, Anderson V of the Cavs, or Boozer of the Jazz and you could make some noise. Also bring in a shoot blocker(s) off the bench behind the 4/5 and we could have something here. I'm all for not paying Bibby more than he is now, his salary is getting out of hand and going up $1M a year. He is making $12.5M this year if I remember correctly and $13.5M next year. Brad is making just under $10M and is regarded as a top Center in the league and does a good job on the offensive side and has his moments on the Defensive end. Bibby is a huge defensive liability and is not a pure PG, but a shot 1st small SG. This is a good place for him because we know GP loves shooters and hated in a away to lose Peja. We do need more shooters, but our PG needs to distribute more and get the team in sync, and limit the 1 on 1 style we get into too much.

 

[BMiller52]

VF21 agrees with me. what players on our team is better than a healthy mike bibby? none. ron artest is a small forward. he doesnt count. look at point gaurds in the league today. those who ARE better than bibby are dam near untouchable. keep bibby, bring in a big man and make 1 final run for the title with bibby. the pure shooter. he got heartbroken in 2002. i wanna see one more run.

So Ron Artest doesn't count because he's a small forward, even though it's about which 2 players I'd rather have than Mike?

Factoring in contract, age, and defense I'd rather have Kevin than Mike too.