Larry Bird wants $5 Mil and Part of the Team?

#2
Honestly doesn't sound that unreasonable, however I have no idea what other GM's make lol. But doesn't the fact he wants a piece Of the team show that he likes the direction of the franchise?
 
#3
Vivek did buy an additional 7% of the team (the day the sale was finalized), so I believe the record of $532 doesn't actually indicate the "world record."

I say "F"-it pay the man!
 
#4
"Honestly doesn't sound that unreasonable, however I have no idea what other GM's make lol. But doesn't the fact he wants a piece Of the team show that he likes the direction of the franchise?"


That's true, I was only looking at it from a much greedier angle.
 

rainmaker

Hall of Famer
#5
I doubt Vivek would go after guys like Bufford and Bird without being willing to shell out near 5M per for them. And when you hire a first time NBA coach and pay him roughly a little over 2M per, paying 5M for one of the more experienced GM's on the market and one who was just the architect of team which took Miami to 7 games in the ECF, 5M per sounds just about right.

Welcome to an era where we have an owner who isn't strapped for cash.
 
#6
Vivek did buy an additional 7% of the team (the day the sale was finalized), so I believe the record of $532 doesn't actually indicate the "world record."

I say "F"-it pay the man!
I totally agree. Let's for once think big. Larry Bird is one of the few HOF'ers with success on the floor, on the sidelines and in the front office. He reminds me of Jerry West. Low key, brillant basketball IQ with vision.

The dude's track record in my opinion is better than any other candidate available.
 

gunks

Hall of Famer
#7
Vivek did buy an additional 7% of the team (the day the sale was finalized), so I believe the record of $532 doesn't actually indicate the "world record."

I say "F"-it pay the man!
+1!

Although, its easier for us to say...We wont be the ones paying :p
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#11
And a piece of the team? Um sorry, yes that IS unreasonable if true. GMs are employees BTW. In fact that isn't having a GM, its having a part owner who also meddles in personnel. The only examples of that I can think of might be Riley (I forget, but maybe) or Pop (maybe). The difference being that neither of those guys was given a chunk of the team when they showed up. They earned it with a decade of success beforehand, became part of the family, then got raised up.

However, this is again Vescey. And so once again, take it with the whole salt shaker.

Come to think about it Jordan may have had that in Washington. Disaster that that was.
 
#12
These are some of the most notable transactions of Larry Bird as Front Office Exec of the Indiana Pacers

August 27 2003
Fired head coach Isiah Thomas.

September 3 2003
Named Rick Carlisle head coach and Mike Brown assistant coach.

July 15 2004
Traded forward Al Harrington to the Atlanta Hawks for guard Stephen Jackson.

Draft 2005
Selected forwards Danny Granger (17th overall pick)

January 25 2006
Traded forward Ron Artest to the Sacramento Kings for forward Predrag Stojakovic.

January 17 2007
Traded guards Stephen Jackson and Sarunas Jasikevicius and forwards Al Harrington and Josh Powell to the Golden State Warriors for guard Keith McLeod and forwards Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy and Ike Diogu.

April 25 2007
Fired head coach Rick Carlisle.

July 9 2008
Traded the draft rights to guard Jerryd Bayless and forward Ike Diogu to the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Jarrett Jack, the draft rights to guard Brandon Rush, forward Josh McRoberts and cash considerations; traded forward Jermaine O'Neal and the draft rights to center Nathan Jawai to the Toronto Raptors for guard TJ Ford, forward Maceo Baston, center Rasho Nesterovic and the draft rights to center Roy Hibbert.

Draft 2009
Selected forward Tyler Hansbrough (13th overall pick).

Draft 2010
Selected forwards Paul George (10th overall pick) and Ryan Reid (57th overall pick) and guard Lance Stephenson (40th overall pick).

August 11 2010
Traded forward Troy Murphy to the New Jersey Nets for guard Darren Collison and forward James Posey from the New Orleans Hornets.

January 30 2011
Fired head coach Jim O'Brien and named Frank Vogel interim head coach.

Draft 2011
Selected forwards Kawhi Leonard (15th overall pick) and Davis Bertans (42nd overall pick)

June 24 2011
Traded the draft righs to forwards Kawhi Leonard, Davis Bertans and Erazem Lorbek to the San Antonio Spurs for guard George Hill

July 6 2011
Named Frank Vogel head coach

December 14 2011
Signed forward David West
 
#13
And a piece of the team? Um sorry, yes that IS unreasonable if true. GMs are employees BTW. In fact that isn't having a GM, its having a part owner who also meddles in personnel. The only examples of that I can think of might be Riley (I forget, but maybe) or Pop (maybe). The difference being that neither of those guys was given a chunk of the team when they showed up. They earned it with a decade of success beforehand, became part of the family, then got raised up.

However, this is again Vescey. And so once again, take it with the whole salt shaker.

Come to think about it Jordan may have had that in Washington. Disaster that that was.
well, Jordan was never known as having an eye for talent
Larry Bird on the other hand is a different story.

As far as $5m/year, I have no problem having Vivek pay whatever he deems appropriate for a GM. Since it doesn't count against the cap, if he's got the money, let him shell it out.

I would however like to know the reasoning behind getting a piece of ownership.
 
#14
Bird is probably the only guy I'd consider giving(?) an ownership stake to. He seems like he would be 100% committed to the team and would probably end up as a team president in the future, with a groomed GM under him. But yeah, Vescey.
 
#15
last year's GM of the year Masai Uriji has just signed a 3 million dollar per year deal that puts him in the upper echelon of GMs as far as salary is concerned. so 5 million seems to be quite a bit. not the thing you'd want to be pinching pennies over, though.

apart from that: is there any source beside Vecsey reporting this? I have trust issues with that guy.
 

HndsmCelt

Hall of Famer
#17
First as i have said repeatedly I think Bird was a good GM and a wise choice, but more importantly it sends an unmistakeable message: the new Sacramento ownership is Serious about wining. If they land Bird do not be surprised to see to top Free Agents taking the Kings seriously.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#18
Fact or fiction? I put little faith in anything Vecsey writes. However, it has been reported by many other sources that Ranadive had contacted Bird about the GM job, whatever that means? So already knowing that, its not that far fetched to believe he's meeting with Bird. When I hear something from Amick, then I'll put more faith in the rumor.

By the way, I watched a video of Malone's first day on the job, and it showed Malone and Ranadive walking across the parking lot, into the building, and into the elevator, and there was a third person with them. None other than Sam Amick. Amick seems to gained entrance to their inner circle. I don't remember seeing Jason Jones anywhere!
 
#19
And a piece of the team? Um sorry, yes that IS unreasonable if true.
Not necessarily unreasonable, if he's willing to make it part of his "salary"... say a 5 year contract at $3M + 1% team ownership per year would equal the $5M that's being thrown around (that's using the same valuation for the 7% of Cook's share). I'm sure other terms could be thought of / negotiated. It would be no different than allowing him to buy into a minority ownership role.

Now, if he's saying "$5M per year plus gimme xx% ownership up front" or something like that, then yea... that would be unreasonable.
 

funkykingston

Super Moderator
Staff member
#21
Fact or fiction? I put little faith in anything Vecsey writes. However, it has been reported by many other sources that Ranadive had contacted Bird about the GM job, whatever that means? So already knowing that, its not that far fetched to believe he's meeting with Bird. When I hear something from Amick, then I'll put more faith in the rumor.

By the way, I watched a video of Malone's first day on the job, and it showed Malone and Ranadive walking across the parking lot, into the building, and into the elevator, and there was a third person with them. None other than Sam Amick. Amick seems to gained entrance to their inner circle. I don't remember seeing Jason Jones anywhere!
It's probably easier to get articles done if you don't have to leave your office to talk to people or do research.
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#25
#30
wow just put Leslie on "follow". Have non freaking idea what that tweet is supposed to mean, but she seems like an interesting follow for sure.

Is she calling Larry Bird a pig because he's asking for % of team?