Jadran Sport: Kings will pay Stojakovic the maximum wage

[SCKingsfan]

He'll either blow everybody away or blow himself out of the leagues elite.

\

Well, let's not provide a max contract before we know.

 

[Rowdyone]

Just because Peja has been "underpaid" for several years doesn't mean he deserves a max contract when this one is up. The perception that he's underpaid (which, I think, an arguement can be made that his "clutch" performance vs "piling on" performances are terribly one sided, "clutch" coming out on the short end) is too readily accepted. Let's face it, Peja is very little better today than say, in his second year. He's like the .300 hitter in baseball that only hits bad pitches, never hitting the pitcher's pitch in clutch situations for RBI's that truly effect the outcome of the game. If the Kings do reward him with a max contract at least he will become more easily tradeable!

 

[Just_Lurkin]

*agreeing with the general feeling*

signing peja to a max contract would be like getting rid of one "albatross" just to begin incubating an egg for the the newer one

 

[EmKingsFan4]

who is Joe Malouf

And just where is this place, Sacrmanto?

 

[Bricklayer]

He's like the .300 hitter in baseball that only hits bad pitches, never hitting the pitcher's pitch in clutch situations for RBI's that truly effect the outcome of the game.

That's actually one of the better analogies I've seen made re: Peja -- a mistake hitter. Won't beat the best teams or best defenders, doesn't rack up RBIs or cltuch hitting stats, but preys upon weak and inattentive defense with the pressure off. He is Wade Boggs (probably dating myself with my choice of player).

If the Kings do reward him with a max contract at least he will become more easily tradeable!

However, not sure that this necessarily follows. Means you can get bigger contracts back, and therefore maybe better players. Maybe. But also means that the other side has to think he's worth the price tag. Think the interest in him is likely considerably higher right now as a relatively (relatively -- its still a lot) modest ending contract than it will be as a max deal.

 

[Kev.in]

ALLAN HOUSTON!!! you can't compare Peja to Allan Houston unless Peja suffers a career destroying knee injury like Houston! Peja would without a doubt get a max deal from another team.

Who is this other team that's going to drive the price for Peja up to the max? Off the top of my head, the only teams I can think of who'll have enough cap space to do so are teams like Atlanta and Charlotte, two of the weakest teams in the league.

And the Knicks screwed up giving Houston all that money even when he was healthy. That's where the comparison comes. The fact that Houston's now got a bad knee is only an example of what the worst case scenario is when you have a marginally talented team and you put yourself hopelessly over the cap by maxing out a player who doesn't deserve it.

 

[Jose]

A max contract for Peja would be:

$13,152,000 for the 1st year

and if you look at a 7 year contract (maximum length allowed) at max salary, with the 12.5% increase for Bird Rights players (which Peja is), his contract would come out to:

Year / Salary
--------------
1 / 13,152,000
2 / 14,796,000
3 / 16,645,000
4 / 18,726,188
5 / 21,066,961
6 / 23,700,331
7 / 26,662,872

For a grand total of: 134,748,852 over 7 years...

 

[VF21]

IMHO Peja should get a good contract, but NOT a maximum one. I don't think the Maloofs are going to be quite so willing to open the purse strings without restraint.

Bottom line, Peja is not worth the maximum. He is not capable of changing a game all by himself and I personally don't think you should give a maximum to someone unless they can.

After this past season, however, I'm not about to try and predict what will or won't happen...

 

[VF21]

all you guys ripping the writer's english, remember that this is an international source.

And the writer is not a professional. The site is about sports, written "by fans for fans." A few spelling errors may have occured in translation.

REMINDER: It's not about how someone spells something or the grammar they use. A lot of our members have English as their second, third or even fourth language. Let's not judge a post by whether or not the spelling and/or grammar are correct.

Thank you.

 

[Evenstar]

peja is worth a good contract, but nothing near a max. he doesn't rebound, and he doesn't show up in the playoffs ( for the most part)

that's not worth of max IMO.

 

[Bricklayer]

A max contract for Peja would be:

$13,152,000 for the 1st year

and if you look at a 7 year contract (maximum length allowed) at max salary, with the 12.5% increase for Bird Rights players (which Peja is), his contract would come out to:

Year / Salary
--------------
1 / 13,152,000
2 / 14,796,000
3 / 16,645,000
4 / 18,726,188
5 / 21,066,961
6 / 23,700,331
7 / 26,662,872

For a grand total of: 134,748,852 over 7 years...

Those last two or three years are just totally out of control. Between that contract + Mike's + Brad's, that's 3/4+ of the cap right there. Leaves you pinned, and at a level below where you're trying to go.

 

[thesanityannex]

maybe this max contract will be the torch under his a** he needs to step it up and become an elite player. this same torch may burn him and lead to a year of mediocrity.

 

[Bricklayer]

maybe this max contract will be the torch under his a** he needs to step it up and become an elite player. this same torch may burn him and lead to a year of mediocrity.

Burn us is more like it.

You don't drop a $134,000,000 contract on somebody and hope that they suddenly get magically better and earn it.

 

[VF21]

This is the type of lunacy that has to be addressed in the next CBA. Paying anyone $134 million is ridiculous. NO ONE is that good.

 

[thesanityannex]

Burn us is more like it.

thought that part was implied.

 

[Bricklayer]

This is the type of lunacy that has to be addressed in the next CBA. Paying anyone $134 million is ridiculous. NO ONE is that good.

Well, the max deals are all based on league revenues/salary cap I think. And that system has always been the most fair in professional sports (stateside at least) with the 60/40 (or whatever) player/management revenue split. Basically, if the player doesn't earn the cash, then the owners do. You could restrict a max deal, but the players as a whole are still going to earn the same amount.

 

[Jose]

This is the type of lunacy that has to be addressed in the next CBA. Paying anyone $134 million is ridiculous. NO ONE is that good.

As far as I know the max amounts won't be addressed, but part of what will be addressed is the max limits. So you won't be seeing any more of the monster 6 or 7 year contracts. More likely around 4 years (if the owners get their wish).

 

[VF21]

Bricklayer:

Okay, then I'll revise my statement:

If there's a team out there willing to pay Pedja $134 million, I'll help him pack and personally carry him to the airport. Should the Kings pay that much? No way in hell.

Jose:

I certainly hope they make some adjustments to the length of the contracts. They could always adapt some different kinds of options and extension provisos...

 

[Jose]

One more thing... Peja has one more year in his contract before he can exercise his player option and become a free agent if he wants to... Why would we drop this (or any) amount of money on him this summer????? I would think it would be best for both Peja and the team to play out next season and see what his true value will be.

 

[LPKingsFan]

One more thing... Peja has one more year in his contract before he can exercise his player option and become a free agent if he wants to... Why would we drop this (or any) amount of money on him this summer????? I would think it would be best for both Peja and the team to play out next season and see what his true value will be.

Because sometimes impending free agency becomes a distraction, and it's best to get the player to sign an extension before so you don't have to deal with all the free agency madness. That said, Peja's a peculiar one so the Maloof's might be better of waiting and seeing how he fares with whatever squad emerges from this offseason.

 

[DocHolliday]

*spits out water* WHAT!!!!!!???????? Umm isn't he league maximum what Kobe got?? Somewhere in the neighborhood of 140 Mill for 7 years? Umm If the Kings do this, this will be one of the worst contracts EVER in the history of basketball. Worse thatn the Chris Webber contract. When they signed him to that contract he was almost, and I say ALMOST worth it. He WAS a superstar and an impact player. They could not forsee his future injuries.

Peja is not a 20 million dollar a year player.

If they are willing to give anyone a leage maximum go out and get Ray Allen, or Kevin Garnett. Someone who is a true superstar.

 

[Jose]

Because sometimes impending free agency becomes a distraction, and it's best to get the player to sign an extension before so you don't have to deal with all the free agency madness. That said, Peja's a peculiar one so the Maloof's might be better of waiting and seeing how he fares with whatever squad emerges from this offseason.

That's what I mean... I don't see any reason to rush into signing Peja, especially into an expensive long term contract. He's got one more year in his contract to prove he's worth superstar kind of $$$... otherwise, he's just worth as much as any other 3-point specialist in the league.

 

[VF21]

If they are willing to give anyone a leage maximum go out and get ...Kevin Garnett. Someone who is a true superstar.

Amen!

 

[ReinadelosReys]

Any way you slice it, Peja is not a Max-deal player. I would lead the hunt for Petrie, Joe and Gavin if they give Peja that much money.

 

[Warhawk]

Any way you slice it, Peja is not a Max-deal player. I would lead the hunt for Petrie, Joe and Gavin if they give Peja that much money.

(As mentioned previously) - Unless that contract is then traded to get something really worth the $$$. I hope we can keep him, but at a reasonable price.

 

[Bricklayer]

That's what I mean... I don't see any reason to rush into signing Peja, especially into an expensive long term contract. He's got one more year in his contract to prove he's worth superstar kind of $$$... otherwise, he's just worth as much as any other 3-point specialist in the league.

I don't think we want to put ourselves in that positon next year -- all the power shifts to Peja in that situation and we are trapped either paying his price or wastching him walk with no compensation. That, IMHO, would be a disaster -- we've bled too much talent already. If you're actually interested in keeping him, you have to get him locked up now while you still have the power to simply trade him if the price is too high.

 

[AleksandarN]

I think he will get the deals that all top SF fowards have whether that is right or wrong it is the reality of the market. And for a lot of people saying who would pay that money you will be surprise I think alot team would like to get him. even if they do not have cap likely through a sign and trade like we did with Brad. Anyway he will not get resigned untill they is a new CBA. I heard the next contracts will limited to 5 years which I think is about time.

 

[piksi]

Ineresting how we use words like "underpaid" or "overpaid" talking about millionares who only serve purpose to "entertain" All the number thrown around here - lunacy -anyways.

I figure Pedja would be around Bibby's salary which makes them both extremely overpaid.

Generally, I would do it like in Europe - "You win - You get paid"

 

[Padrino]

I heard the next contracts will limited to 5 years which I think is about time.

i hope this is the case. 6 to 7 year inflated contracts become far too difficult to move. and anything less than 5 years really discourages player loyalty to any specific team. it'd be tough to build a championship contender in any city if your players just keep moving around because of short-term contracts. so, i hope the cba gets squared away soon, and properly. alotta factors to consider, tho.

 

[Padrino]

Generally, I would do it like in Europe - "You win - You get paid"

but there's guys out there like latrell sprewell who have families to feed.