NBA beat: Free agency likely is Peja's big bank shot

[outsider62]

So if you're in the market for a Ferrari and (for whatever reason) you can't get one, you should settle for a Cadillac but still pay the price of the Ferrari?

Sorry, but that doesn't make much sense.

If it is the same price on the market, you have money and you need that type of car why not? However, I think situation has more in common with Tour the France. What you need is not the car (or bicycle), you need to replace broken part. If shimano is not available you will go for the best of the rest and hope it will be good enough.

 

[outsider62]

Vlade has been Peja's friend for years, as well as his national teammate, mentor and "big brother" figure. I strongly doubt if Vlade would have said anything differently... unless Peja had totally and completely stunk up the court which he didn't.

Yes, he supports his friend, but at the same time he is right about market this year. However, Peja's market value next year will be derived from his performance this year. He will not earn max with two subpar years in a row.

 

[Bricklayer]

Yes, he supports his friend, but at the same time he is right about market this year. However, Peja's market value next year will be derived from his performance this year. He will not earn max with two subpar years in a row.

In the wake of Michael Redd if Peja Stojakovic does nothing more than put up 22 and 5 next year, he will command the max. You can bank on it.

Furthermore, almost regardless of the numbers he puts up, I can virtually guarantee you of one team that WILL offer Peja the max next year: Miami. Eddie Jones' huge contract will be wrapping up and dropping them $16 mil under the cap, and there on the market will be sitting the ultimate complimentary player to Shaq and Wade who just happens to play the same positon that just opened up. I would say the odds of them NOT offering Peja the mega contract are just about nil unless there is some truly special player who is going to be a free agent next year.

And this is how that will go:
Miami, playground with nightlife, one of the modeling meccas of America, great beaches, sun, sand, surf for a guy used to all of those things. Did I mention Peja is a nightlife type of guy and has a model for a wife? Also closer to home, just across the pond. Then legendary NBA center/champion Shaq will call. And so will legendary coach/champion Pat Riley. And they're going to invite he and his wife on down for a visit. And they're going to show him all the glitz and glamour, the palm trees and mansions, the night clubs and restaraunts, and they're going to flash their 8 (or maybe 10 by that time) NBA championship rings at him. And then even if we ARE offering him the max, we are going to be ****ting bricks.

If you're small town Sacramento facing an uncertain future, if you've got an OG who could go nuclear and blow up the locker room, if you've got the only NBA coach who Peja has ever known on the critical list and in danger of actually being fired if the Kings start to struggle. If you're one injury to an injury prone center away from mediocrity, you simply can NOT take that chance and let that pitch be made to Peja. You have to resolve it NOW, one way or the other.

 

[bozzwell]

In the wake of Michael Redd if Peja Stojakovic does nothing more than put up 22 and 5 next year, he will command the max. You can bank on it.

Furthermore, almost regardless of the numbers he puts up, I can virtually guarantee you of one team that WILL offer Peja the max next year: Miami. Eddie Jones' huge contract will be wrapping up and dropping them $16 mil under the cap, and there on the market will be sitting the ultimate complimentary player to Shaq and Wade. I would say the odds of them NOT offering Peja the mega contract are just about nil unless there is some truly special player who is going to be a free agent next year.

And this is how that will go:
Miami, playground with nightlife, one of the modeling meccas of America, great beaches, sun, sand, surf for a guy used to all of those things. Did I mention Peja is a nightlife type of guy and has a model for a wife? Also closer to home, just across the pond. Then legendary NBA center/champion Shaq will call. And so will legendary coach/champion Pat Riley. And they're going to invite he and his wife on down for a visit. And they're going to show him all the glitz and glamour, the palm trees and mansions, the night clubs and restaraunts, and they're going to flash their 8 (or maybe 10 by that time) NBA championship rings at him. And then even if we ARE offering him the max, we are going to be ****ting bricks.

If you're small town Sacramento facing an uncertain future, if you've got an OG who could go nuclear and blow up the locker room, if you've got the only coach who Peja has ever known on the critical list and in danger of actually being fired if the Kings start to struggle. If you're one injury to an injury prone center away from mediocrity, you simply can NOT take that chance and let that pitch be made to Peja. You have to resolve it NOW, one way or the other.

Did Pedja sell his oceanfront apartment in Miami as was rumoured?

 

[Bricklayer]

Did Pedja sell his oceanfront apartment in Miami as was rumoured?

? Never even knew he had the apartment, so no idea.

 

[AleksandarN]

In all honesty I think the Kings and Geoff Petrie are in a good position as far as Peja goes. Webber and Divac are gone Peja has a whole season to prove what he can do as the main guy on the team. Sure Miller and Bibby are here but Peja is every bit as much of the "first option" as those guys are so its his time to shine or not. If he "leads" and shows that he can carry his team when it matters, I don't see a problem with giving him a max contract, if he doesn't then don't offer him the max. The problem that arises is that this is all subjective and different people have different ideas of what "leadership" is and so on. Either way, I'm rooting for Peja to be that guy, don't know if he has what it takes and haven't really seen him show that he does, but I hope that he's it.

GO Peja! and the rest of the Kings too!

I aggree and I think working on his game is doubly important not only for him but for the kings aswell. Only time will tell this summer what is going happen but all I want is an improved Kings team by any means nessary.

 

[AleksandarN]

Right, then we will take Kobe......Let's trade today

I am on board Petrie get it done. We need Kobe on this team to instill the winning attitude needed.

 

[VF21]

? Never even knew he had the apartment, so no idea.

Peja owns a "deluxe condo" on Pointe Drive in Miami Beach.

 

[bozzwell]

? Never even knew he had the apartment, so no idea.

A nice one too.

Your scenario is scary. You could make an argument that he sold his apartment as he will be looking at a mansion in Key Biscane once he gets max deal from the Heat.

 

[AleksandarN]

What has changed is that the "obsessed psychopaths" (i.e. winners obsessed with basketball and victory) were always going to get paid the max. It was they it was designed for. But now the dilitante's are stepping up and getting paid the max too. And so yes, you 100% CAN do better for the money. Peja is now going to be paid the same thing as Amare. As LeBron. As Wade. Somehow I think our $$ aren't going QUITE as far.

How in heck are we going to a Lebron Wade Amare???? Now way we get in a trade for Pedja. And player we get who is on the level or higher talent wise will get paid as much or even more than what Pedja will get.

 

[Bricklayer]

Peja owns a "deluxe condo" on Pointe Drive in Miami Beach.

That makes it even more imperative we don't even let Miami tempt him, regardless of whether he has sold it or not.

 

[AleksandarN]

So if you're in the market for a Ferrari and (for whatever reason) you can't get one, you should settle for a Cadillac but still pay the price of the Ferrari?

Sorry, but that doesn't make much sense.

Yes especailly if you can not get even a Cadillac for anything less than the price of the Ferrari. Like I said market in theNBA will dicate what Pedja and any player of talent level are going to paid. So if you look at this way what are we going to do. Do we use the money and sign Pedja or do we trade him for some one else? I am all for it if it improves the team. What I do not want to see if we trade just for the sake of trading him because of the potential max contract. That way we not going to get better that way.

 

[Bricklayer]

How in heck are we going to a Lebron Wade Amare???? Now way we get in a trade for Pedja. And player we get who is on the level or higher talent wise will get paid as much or even more than what Pedja will get.

You CAN'T get paid more than Peja will, unless you are one of the rapidly disappearing legacies from the CBA of two iterations ago.

And quite obviosuly we are not going to get LeBron, Wade, Amare themselves. And just as quite as obviously, so long as we try to throw Peja out there and pretend he's out match for those players we aren't going to win anything either.

Mentioned before, 2 realistic ways to avoid this financial deadend (way #3 is keep Peja but pay him less, but that's not happening):

1) trade Peja and other pieces to get a max player closer to being worht it
2) trade Peja now for a less than max player who has several years to go before its time for him to get the max, thus putting off the day of reckoning and perhaps allowing us to find a player in that time actually WORTH the max.

$15mil per = 1/3 of the cap for one player. That better be one hell of a player.

 

[love_them_kings]

No, it is not how are contracts negotieted. When you decide if you want to sign a gay you try to judge what role he can play for your team, how efficient he is at that and things like that. Then you look at the market and try to have the best guy for the role with the least money you have to pay. It depends on the market and your concrete situation. So in your imaginary world you would like to pay for obsessed psichopat who is perfect NBA player but in real world such player will probably be out of reach. You still need to fill the position so you go with the best player available for the price you can pay. In other words if we can find another player or two that will cover our needs and we end up having better team I'm all for that. The problem with your logic is that it is not based on market trends and that's what Vlade is talking about: The premium shooters market value this year is max contract. How it will be next year we will have to wait and see. Peja's character is just one parameter that will influence his value but there are much more.

I realize that, and I wasn't saying that the Kings won't pay him the max (I'm sure they will), I'm just saying that in my mind the guys that deserve the max contracts are the ones that go above & beyond the call of duty, not the ones that just show up and do their jobs.

 

[VF21]

I realize that, and I wasn't saying that the Kings won't pay him the max (I'm sure they will), I'm just saying that in my mind the guys that deserve the max contracts are the ones that go above & beyond the call of duty, not the ones that just show up and do their jobs.

Word.

 

[nbrans]

Word.

Peja just showing up? Not going above the call of duty? It's one thing to question his abilities, but don't question his effort. That's baloney. Peja is one of the hardest working players in the NBA. You may not like his game, but don't confuse that with "not going above the call of duty."

 

[AleksandarN]

You CAN'T get paid more than Peja will, unless you are one of the rapidly disappearing legacies from the CBA of two iterations ago.

And quite obviosuly we are not going to get LeBron, Wade, Amare themselves. And just as quite as obviously, so long as we try to throw Peja out there and pretend he's out match for those players we aren't going to win anything either.

Mentioned before, 2 realistic ways to avoid this financial deadend (way #3 is keep Peja but pay him less, but that's not happening):

1) trade Peja and other pieces to get a max player closer to being worht it
2) trade Peja now for a less than max player who has several years to go before its time for him to get the max, thus putting off the day of reckoning and perhaps allowing us to find a player in that time actually WORTH the max.

$15mil per = 1/3 of the cap for one player. That better be one hell of a player.

The first one is very unlikely unless we give up alot to a max player.
The secound one does not improve the team and it puts us in a situation where we HOPE to get a player down the road who is on the same talent level or higher than Pedja. A resigned Pedja is still tradable in my books. Because like you guys said that if the market is that Pedja is going the max reguardless from some one then they willbe teams who would want Pedja reguardless of max or not. So resigning Pedja still leaves us with the option of tradeing him aswell.

 

[Bricklayer]

The first one is very unlikely unless we give up alot to a max player.
The secound one does not improve the team and it puts us in a situation where we HOPE to get a player down the road who is on the same talent level or higher than Pedja. A signed resign Pedja is still tradable in my books. Because like you guys said that if the market is that Pedja is going the max reguardless from some one then they will teams who would want Pedja reguardless of max or not. So resigning Pedja still leaves us with the option of tradeing him aswell.

Teams might want Peja for max IF HE WAS COMING TO THEM FOR FREE (not costing them any players). But now, exactly how much would they trade to get him?

In any case, signing him now, or trading him now, its imperative we do SOMETHING now. You will proabbly still be able to trade Peja after that for about another 3 years before teams will be wary of the age and bloated contract. Assuming good health of course.

 

[AleksandarN]

Teams might want Peja for max IF HE WAS COMING TO THEM FOR FREE (not costing them any players). But now, exactly how much would they trade to get him?

In any case, signing him now, or trading him now, its imperative we do SOMETHING now. You will proabbly still be able to trade Peja after that for about another 3 years before teams will be wary of the age and bloated contract. Assuming good health of course.

I aggree that a decision needs to be made this summer. Also alot of teams who need a player like Pedja are over the cap anyways and the way I see it they would still have to trade for him.

 

[VF21]

Peja just showing up? Not going above the call of duty? It's one thing to question his abilities, but don't question his effort. That's baloney. Peja is one of the hardest working players in the NBA. You may not like his game, but don't confuse that with "not going above the call of duty."

Going above the call of duty means working hard to improve your game; it means spending time away from the court studying your opponents, doing everything you can to bring every possible advantage to the table.

You may not agree with my assessment. That's fine. It's not baloney just because you don't happen to agree.

I never said I don't like his game, BTW. I have OFTEN (capitalized for emphasis) said that when he's playing his best, he is poetry in motion. What I have said is I don't like some of the things that have happened. I didn't like his public demand for a trade. I don't like that he's so nonchalant about the team. He isn't hungry; he isn't a warrior. He's a soft shooter. And, if after 7 years, he hasn't changed then I don't think he's going to change. As I said in another thread, I've decreased my expectations as far as Peja goes - he'll never be much more than a very good shooter who plays adequate one-on-one defense.

I'm not confused. I've watched on TV and in person - yes, he may run around the court a lot but he doesn't dive for the loose balls, he doesn't fight for rebounds, he doesn't make any real attempts to drive inside, etc.

 

[bozzwell]

One option regarding Pedja that noone has mentioned as far as I can tell is this:

- Make him a "restricted" free agent by guaranteeing max deal. Pretty much what one of the Maloofs hinted at. Kings are the only team that can offer Pedja a six year contract and a consequantly a six year max schedule. So, anyone who wants Pedja would have to arrange a sign and trade. If he only draws interest from the teams that can offer us very little in return as they are looking to Pedja as a final piece (i.e. Miami) then we would need complex, three way deal or some such.

Bulls' GM John Paxson pulled off a good deal with Crawford (he was restricted I believe) and is looking to do the same with Curry by announcing that they will match any offers (Curry is restricted FA too) so there are situations where this can really work. If Kings are serious about giving Pedja max deal then it could be prudent to wait until the last minute as there will be more options next year:

1) Pedja plays lights out and we offer him max deal and keep him (or sign and trade him with other pieces/picks for a stud).
2) Pedja continues in the same wane as last year - still a max player to some (due to crazy market conditions) and we force the hand of any suitors by offering max deal in a sign and trade scenario.
3) Pedja bombs out and we keep him for less then max, so we gain some financial flexibility and start search for real stud.

Of course there a risks. But we're already in uncharted waters by trying to build around a core of nearly-man and without a single superstar and it will be a rough ride from now on whatever we decide to do.

 

[6th]

I'm not confused. I've watched on TV and in person - yes, he may run around the court a lot but he doesn't dive for the loose balls, he doesn't fight for rebounds, he doesn't make any real attempts to drive inside, etc.

Exactly! I have had to watch while my favorite player who dives for the loose balls, fights for rebounds, and drives to the inside a lot is traded. Peja, who does little more than shoot the ball (and very well, I might add) stays here and probably will get max contract. There is definitely something wrong with this picture.

 

[outsider62]

In the wake of Michael Redd if Peja Stojakovic does nothing more than put up 22 and 5 next year, he will command the max. You can bank on it.

Furthermore, almost regardless of the numbers he puts up, I can virtually guarantee you of one team that WILL offer Peja the max next year: Miami. Eddie Jones' huge contract will be wrapping up and dropping them $16 mil under the cap, and there on the market will be sitting the ultimate complimentary player to Shaq and Wade who just happens to play the same positon that just opened up. I would say the odds of them NOT offering Peja the mega contract are just about nil unless there is some truly special player who is going to be a free agent next year.

And this is how that will go:
Miami, playground with nightlife, one of the modeling meccas of America, great beaches, sun, sand, surf for a guy used to all of those things. Did I mention Peja is a nightlife type of guy and has a model for a wife? Also closer to home, just across the pond. Then legendary NBA center/champion Shaq will call. And so will legendary coach/champion Pat Riley. And they're going to invite he and his wife on down for a visit. And they're going to show him all the glitz and glamour, the palm trees and mansions, the night clubs and restaraunts, and they're going to flash their 8 (or maybe 10 by that time) NBA championship rings at him. And then even if we ARE offering him the max, we are going to be ****ting bricks.

If you're small town Sacramento facing an uncertain future, if you've got an OG who could go nuclear and blow up the locker room, if you've got the only NBA coach who Peja has ever known on the critical list and in danger of actually being fired if the Kings start to struggle. If you're one injury to an injury prone center away from mediocrity, you simply can NOT take that chance and let that pitch be made to Peja. You have to resolve it NOW, one way or the other.

On top of that Riley was Vlade's first coach. The problem may be that Shaque may just broke down next season. This one he was not far from that. He still put good (but not great any more) number on offense, but he can't defend anymore. Anyway, If he doesn't your scenario makes too much sense...

 

[bozzwell]

On top of that Riley was Vlade's first coach. The problem may be that Shaque may just broke down next season. This one he was not far from that. He still put good (but not great any more) number on offense, but he can't defend anymore. Anyway, If he doesn't your scenario makes too much sense...

It makes even more sense as the Shaq slows down each year. Shaq's cotract is about to be restructered (Shaq has option for another year @30mil) to give Shaq more years (5) with more money overall but less of a cap hit this year. When Jones is an FA and Shaq is even slower Miami will be primed to overpay a reliable shooter to help Shaq and Wade get some rings.

 

[Bricklayer]

One option regarding Pedja that noone has mentioned as far as I can tell is this:

- Make him a "restricted" free agent by guaranteeing max deal. Pretty much what one of the Maloofs hinted at. Kings are the only team that can offer Pedja a six year contract and a consequantly a six year max schedule. So, anyone who wants Pedja would have to arrange a sign and trade. If he only draws interest from the teams that can offer us very little in return as they are looking to Pedja as a final piece (i.e. Miami) then we would need complex, three way deal or some such.

Bulls' GM John Paxson pulled off a good deal with Crawford (he was restricted I believe) and is looking to do the same with Curry by announcing that they will match any offers (Curry is restricted FA too) so there are situations where this can really work. If Kings are serious about giving Pedja max deal then it could be prudent to wait until the last minute as there will be more options next year:

1) Pedja plays lights out and we offer him max deal and keep him (or sign and trade him with other pieces/picks for a stud).
2) Pedja continues in the same wane as last year - still a max player to some (due to crazy market conditions) and we force the hand of any suitors by offering max deal in a sign and trade scenario.
3) Pedja bombs out and we keep him for less then max, so we gain some financial flexibility and start search for real stud.

Of course there a risks. But we're already in uncharted waters by trying to build around a core of nearly-man and without a single superstar and it will be a rough ride from now on whatever we decide to do.

You are counting on Peja's greed for that 6th year outweighing otherwise equal 5 yr. offers friom more attactive locales. I sincerely hope that's the case if we ever put ourselves in that position, but am not so sure. I'm certainly not sure enough to put it to the test given the consequences of being wrong. OOPS!

 

[AleksandarN]

You are counting on Peja's greed for that 6th year outweighing otherwise equal 5 yr. offers friom more attactive locales. I sincerely hope that's the case if we ever put ourselves in that position, but am not so sure. I'm certainly not sure enough to put it to the test given the consequences of being wrong. OOPS!

I honestly think Pedja will get 5 years tops. Mind you it will be maxed 5 years but I can not see the Maloofs giving him a maxed 6 year contract.

 

[outsider62]

It makes even more sense as the Shaq slows down each year. Shaq's cotract is about to be restructered (Shaq has option for another year @30mil) to give Shaq more years (5) with more money overall but less of a cap hit this year. When Jones is an FA and Shaq is even slower Miami will be primed to overpay a reliable shooter to help Shaq and Wade get some rings.

They need reliable shooter in PO not regular season. Peja has something to prove this season to earn max from Miami.

 

[bozzwell]

You are counting on Peja's greed for that 6th year outweighing equaloffers friom more attactive locales. i am not so sure. I'm certainly not sure enough to put it ot the test given the consequences of being wrong. OOPS!

Not so much Pedja's greed as trying to project where potential suitors would be in a year's time. Take your Miami scenario for example. If Heat does not win the whole thing this coming season, with Shaq one year older they will be not only a potential suitor but a suitor willing to sit down and be convinced by GP that they need to work out a deal. Throw in a bunch of other teams that are either so far over the cap that they can only deal but not sign FA's or really terrible teams with cap room and lottery picks (i.e. Atlanta) and you may be able to swing a deal where Pedja gets max money and a goes to a team on his short list and Kings get some combination of picks, players or cap releif (if Pedja is packaged with his max contract in hand and another bad contract in tow).

Is it really much riskier then signing Pedja to a max deal this off season? He can still get injured or continue moping around and we'd have to pay him all the same and he'd be pretty much untradeable.

 

[Bricklayer]

I honestly think Pedja will get 5 years tops. Mind you it will be maxed 5 years but I can not see the Maloofs giving him a maxed 6 year contract.

Well if that's true, and it would be prudent given his age, then even more reason it has to be done now. Because if we drew that line it would mean we would have NO advantage when trying to resign Peja next year.

 

[bozzwell]

I honestly think Pedja will get 5 years tops. Mind you it will be maxed 5 years but I can not see the Maloofs giving him a maxed 6 year contract.

I think that if Pedja and his agent were going to accept 5 year offer or (for example) 4 year offer with 5th year player option and 6th year mutual or team option they would have contract in place and ready for signing by now. That one is just too easy for the Kings not to do it right away.