Mike James doesn't want long deals...

[Kings113]

Toronto Star - Mike James has a new strategy as he approaches free agency.

"If I sign for less years I'll probably ask for more money," James said after Raptor practice yesterday. "That's probably the way I'll go for the remainder of my career: Sign three-year deals with a player option on my third for the simple fact that I don't want to lock myself into nothing long-term.

"I believe I'm always going to get better and I don't want to lock myself into a deal that I outplay maybe a year or two from now."

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1145137833872&call_pageid=969907729483&col=970081562040


If he continues similar to his play in Toronto (6th man or starting), he'll be fine with what he wants to do.

 

[Padrino]

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1145137833872&call_pageid=969907729483&col=970081562040


If he continues similar to his play in Toronto (6th man or starting), he'll be fine with what he wants to do.

this may very well be...but what if he doesn't? there's little chance of him getting that much better every year (or every three years) he plays for the rest of his career. with this approach, mike james more or less comes off as a selfish prick who won't commit to a team long term because of individual goals. i think its important for players to challenge themselves individually, but mike james has been running his mouth for the past two months straight, and while he's putting up numbers to back up his words, there's gonna be a point where his talent and/or luck runs out. if he suffers a major injury, what then? how much money is he gonna make after a three-year deal if he blows a knee? the guy is a cocky sonuvabitch, and at some point its gonna come back and bite him in the ***.

 

[Kings113]

Wow, getting a little rattled over a guy breaking out and enjoying it (along with to the doubters)?

I really doubt he doesn't play well for the rest of his career... starting or not (6th man). Injury, well of course, but he's a really good shooter, ball handler, and is a solid passer. So should still be able to do most of those things fine (since he is a good slasher as well). He showed what he could do in Houston and Milwaukee last year, to a smaller extent Detroit, and of course even moreso this season with the Raps. I just like his story, and has proven himself as a quality player the last year 1/2 or so.

As far as all the talk about the money and contracts go lately, he'll be getting a good deal in the summer, regardless. Even if he was still in Houston as their 6th man, when he was traded there at the ASB, he'd still be getting a nice deal this summer. Also, from a number of interviews I've seen (aside from ones in print, where it was pretty obvious too) he doesn't come off as a cocky guy.

Just how I feel about Mike.

 

[Padrino]

Wow, getting a little rattled over a guy breaking out and enjoying it (along with to the doubters)?

I really doubt he doesn't play well for the rest of his career... starting or not (6th man). Injury, well of course, but he's a really good shooter, ball handler, and is a solid passer. So should still be able to do most of those things fine (since he is a good slasher as well). He showed what he could do in Houston and Milwaukee last year, to a smaller extent Detroit, and of course even moreso this season with the Raps. I just like his story, and has proven himself as a quality player the last year 1/2 or so.

As far as all the talk about the money and contracts go lately, he'll be getting a good deal in the summer, regardless. Even if he was still in Houston as their 6th man, when he was traded there at the ASB, he'd still be getting a nice deal this summer. Also, from a number of interviews I've seen (aside from ones in print, where it was pretty obvious too) he doesn't come off as a cocky guy

rattled? no. i never doubted mike james skill myself. i'm very happy for him and the raptors. but he comes off as very pompous in interviews. i haven't heard much about how bosh and villenueva take a lot of the pressure off james because they're constantly being doubled and they kick out to him. james gives so much credit to himself, and he deserves some credit, and he'll be rewarded by some team in the form of a contract. i just wish he'd shut up. that's all. egocentrism in the nba is not uncommon, but most guys not named stephon marbury are able to control it. mike james is having a break out year on a reallllly bad team. he's still not kobe bryant. he's not lebron james. he's gonna get paid regardless, so he should pay his team the respect of shutting up about what his contract status is. they know what the status is. colangelo knows what the status is, and he'll deal with it appropriately in the offseason.

 

[Kings113]

I think everyone knows what'll go down, he'll opt out (has the player option) and sail the free-agent world. Along with continue to be quality player, as he has proven the last couple seasons .

Still don't know what you mean by him being cocky or an egoist, just doesn't really come off that way. Only thing I guess is he's gotten a bit excited over his situation, and so what? With his career story, so be it.

 

[6th]

I think everyone knows what'll go down, he'll opt out (has the player option) and sail the free-agent world. Along with continue to be quality player, as he has proven the last couple seasons .

Still don't know what you mean by him being cocky or an egoist, just doesn't really come off that way. Only thing I guess is he's gotten a bit excited over his situation, and so what? With his career story, so be it.

Gotta agree with Padrino. While I like James, I think he does come across as having an ego much bigger than he has yet earned.

He may very well get what he wants, but teams like to lock players in for long term deals. That way if they continue to improve, the team is getting a deal. The player likes it because he has financial security---even if he goes down with a career ending injury (or one that diminishes his value). It is a risk either way. I will be interested to see how this one goes.

 

[Kings113]

I think he just knows what he's gonna get, which he will - a good deal in the summer. He and his agent can control what they want to do.

 

[VF21]

Talk about a tempest in a teapot...



I like his attitude as far as not wanting to be locked into a long-term deal. Why? Because it pretty much spits in the face of the player's union AND most agents. If he continues to play smart and healthy, he'll get legitimate offers and he'll be able to feed his family AND have some control over his future.

I hope more players adapt his outlook. It could be good for the game...

 

[Bricklayer]

James is being not terribly bright now. Of course his fesity belief in himselfactually used to be one of the things of which former teams grew tired. But when you're 30, coming off your breakout year, to NOT sign for as many years as possible in a market that may support you at $8mil a season or so is pretty nutty. Far from constantly geting better at that age, he'll be lucky if his game is not beginning to fall off by his next contract, let alne injuries creeping up on him. And teams will be getting nervous of his age and tightening up on the pocketbooks.

 

[DeAtHrOw]

James is being not terribly bright now. Of course his fesity belief in himselfactually used to be one of the things of which former teams grew tired. But when you're 30, coming off your breakout year, to NOT sign for as many years as possible in a market that may support you at $8mil a season or so is pretty nutty. Far from constantly geting better at that age, he'll be lucky if his game is not beginning to fall off by his next contract, let alne injuries creeping up on him. And teams will be getting nervous of his age and tightening up on the pocketbooks.

I am with you on this. If I were him I would look to lock into a 5-6 year deal worth $40-45 million. It would be a miracle for him to repeat season he's had next year let alone improve on it.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

So, he's basically declaring himself a mercenary... I hate players with that attitude out of general principle.

 

[SacTownKid]

Yeah, James needs to keep his mouth shut. I am sure his Agents hair is falling out as we speak.

 

[ParniValjak]

this may very well be...but what if he doesn't? there's little chance of him getting that much better every year (or every three years) he plays for the rest of his career. with this approach, mike james more or less comes off as a selfish prick who won't commit to a team long term because of individual goals. i think its important for players to challenge themselves individually, but mike james has been running his mouth for the past two months straight, and while he's putting up numbers to back up his words, there's gonna be a point where his talent and/or luck runs out. if he suffers a major injury, what then? how much money is he gonna make after a three-year deal if he blows a knee? the guy is a cocky sonuvabitch, and at some point its gonna come back and bite him in the ***.

Well said. Is there a more annoying, up himself player in the NBA right now?

I like what he has done this year but he is really starting to give me the ****s lately with his ramblings.

 

[¿¿¿]

can we say...T.O.?

How much more money do you really want? Greed is ruling the NBA right now.