Peja Stojakovic: King For Life?

G_M · Jun 17, 2005

I know people are saying that the source is credible. But, it makes no sense to me. Perhaps something was lost in translation. The Maloofs have not commented publicly on players salaries since Webber's deal.

I know it's a popular time to dump on the Maloof's but I would wait a little longer in this case.

Bricklayer · Jun 17, 2005

bigbadred00 said:

And that would be reasonable. Too much toward the end for a one dimensional player. But that's the way it works with escalating salaries. But if you are averaging anything more than $12 mil or so a season for Peja, you are getting ripped off. You max out Peja, and have Bibby and Miller on the team that's 75% of your salary cap right there. You have no room to sign anybody. You are stuck. And if you think somebody else is going to trade for a maxed out Peja you are insane. Unless of course we want to get back Anfernee Hardaway or some such.

mr. moustache · Jun 17, 2005

Bricklayer said:

I don't know. I think he's going to get the max whether he deserves it or not. You know someone would pay him the max. Also, doesn't hurt to talk up a player you're going to trade now or later.

DocHolliday · Jun 17, 2005

If you want to give someone a max deal go get someone who is worth it. Peja isn't. At the current max deal of 7 years he'd be 35???? Forget that.

Bricklayer · Jun 17, 2005

mr. moustache said:

You've talked yourself into a corner (not you personally, the Kings) -- I mean, what the hell sort of businessman leads off with their best offer? When it shouldn't even be their best offer? And then to top it off you've talked a potential trading partner into a corner too, so that they have no room to negotiate under max.

JB_kings · Jun 17, 2005

If you have to stop and think hard about giving a max deal to a player, then obviously that player isn't worth a max deal. You max out guys like LeBron, Amare, Kobe, Duncan. Peja is not in that level of talent.

stevetaebo · Jun 17, 2005

Ginobilli = $52 million, six-year contract.
Ginobilli > Peja
Peja < $52 million, six-year contract.

Jerryaki · Jun 17, 2005

Yeah, i'm on board with the peja-not-worth max mentality. unless through some stroke of ridiculous luck he becomes an absolute beast next season, but what are the chances of that?

I am however taking some solace in the fact that his animosity towards the franchise has died down. A happy Peja playing a complementary role in the franchise for the next couple of years is a good thing.

Bibby_Is_Clutch · Jun 17, 2005

Bricklayer said:

Jose was kind enough to do the math last time this topic came up -- max contract for Peja:

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.

That is just totally and completely insane for a man who just gave us 20pts and 4rebs. And people were complaining about the Webber contract? Wait till they get a load of a 35yr Peja earning $23 million a year.

Maybe its time for me to dust off that old 76er sweatshirt an ex gave me while I was in Philly.

There is no way he deserves or will get that kind of money.

Rowdyone · Jun 17, 2005

Bricklayer said:

This was my first reaction as well. Me second one was that if he get's a max contract it should be from the guys we trade him to.

piksi · Jun 17, 2005

stevetaebo said:

Manu is a good player but not as good as Pedja

Packt · Jun 17, 2005

I've said before, that if it came down to a max deal for Peja or trading him away, I'd trade him away; preferable this year, so that we don't even have to deal with the situation. I just don't trust the organization for whatever reasons when it comes to dealing with Peja. If there was some kind of intangible with him, like cluth shooting, leadership, or if he was a FA draw, I'd think about it. But as it is, he is no way a max dollar player. You’re putting the franchise on the line if Peja is your 130 mill guy. He's an above average defender, but for that kind of money, he has to be better than that. He has to continue to put up points, make stops consistently, and he better rebound like he was J.Lo.

I can understand giving players in the past big contracts because the team was on the rise and we wanted to keep it intact; the pieces all fit together. Right now we are in a situation where the team is very much in disarray, and to give a player like Peja who contributes his share to our inadequacies is, to be blunt, stupid.

With that said, you don't find 6'10 shooters like Peja everyday, and it'll be hard to lose him. But I can accept losing him due to contract issues. If another team wants to give him a bigger and better contract, let them.

hrdboild · Jun 17, 2005

Ginobili signed his contract before his All Star season so that's not a good comparison. Peja will get more than he did, regardless of "talent".

bigbadred00 · Jun 17, 2005

Ginobili signed the deal after his 2nd season in which he came off the bench. I for one thought it was a high contract for someone who did it. This year he has definitely proved his worth. Much like Ron Artest who has an extremely low contract for his production, he's "underpaid" in comparison to market value, a fact that most players in the league do not hold a candle to.

Bricklayer · Jun 17, 2005

Manu's deal is much like Peja's deal that is finishing up now. Very well timed by his team. Still wish we had been able to make that offer -- I wanted him more than any other free agent last year. Setting aside the talent; the hustle, inspiration, and clutch intangibles with him make him worth far more than his mere numbers.

And just for arguments's sake regarding who has the bigger impact:

Manu '04-'05 per48min:
26.0pts (.471 .376 .803) 7.2rebs 6.3ast 2.6stl 0.6blk 3.8TO

Peja '04-'05 per48min:
25.2pts (.444 .402 .920) 5.4rebs 2.6ast 1.5stl 0.2blk 1.9TO

Paying Peja $10 million a year would be fair, given the insane market. Paying him $12 million a year might be necessary. Paying him nearly $20 million a year??? (what max works out to)

6th · Jun 17, 2005

JB_kings said:

Amen and Amen!!!!

I am sick sick sick at the escalating salaries. Who is paying for this? The owners?.....................Heck NO! The fans?.............Heck YES!!

The Maloofs would price too many more fans right out of ARCO. Oh, and you want us to pay for a new stadium too?.........forget it.

Peja is NOT and NEVER WILL BE a max player. We should not be paying max dollars to someone who shoots and doesn't do much of anything else. His hustle rating (on a scale of 1 - 10) is maybe (on his best day) a 2. I love Peja's ability to shoot the basketball and score. I hate his lack of ability to do it under pressure. He is not consistent in the playoffs (except for when he is consistently bad).

This whole article makes me just want to say...

ACK!!!!!!

GoGoGadget · Jun 17, 2005

Jerryaki said:

I'm not.

That's just further confirmation of some of my concerns regarding the Webber trade. I don't like the icky feeling I have that it has become more important to appease the golden boy than to act in the team's best interests.

bigbadred00 · Jun 17, 2005

Idk if per 48 is a great stat. Since Manu only has to play 30 minutes a game he can give a lot more energy (which he obviously) does than the average Joe Player and especially Peja. Peja plays significantly more minutes a game and can definitely add to being less effective per 48 but is effective for the game. They also paid Manu before he had an outstanding year. Manu at the age 26, 12.8 PPG in nearly 30 MPG and got a relatively large some of money for that kind of production. I'm not saying now he isn't worth it. Again, I don't know if he'd fit on the Kings team. Yes he's a good player and a good defender when Timmy is sitting behind him and Bowen and Parker are to his left and right, but would his antics which can be viewed a defensive liability at times work on the Kings where defense is not a major focus. Energy, hustle and "clutch" are definitely +s when it comes to Ginobili.

But then again people forget he didn't really do much to help his team win the Lakers series last year. And the year before in his rookie year, he had 3 very poor playoff series (2 of which he shot below 35% from the field). This year he has been effective in the playoffs until this year. And I'm not doubting his talent, and his energy, but some commentators are making him see the be all to end all, he's not this. He's a good 2nd fiddle who if pressured (as we've seen lately) is faltering under the pressure. Can he respond? Will have to see. Nonetheless the Spurs got 1 hell of a deal with Manu even if he isn't MJ, he's Manu.

Jerryaki · Jun 17, 2005

GoGoGadget said:

Sure, i'd agree with that, but i don't know how much of a tough situation webber put himself in with peja. Basically, i feel that that has happened and nothing can change it; so peja being at least somewhat happier is something positive.

It could be worse, we could have this situation and him still demanding to be traded.

hrdboild · Jun 17, 2005

Remember there's also a chance a max contract will be significantly less than it is now. Depending on what happens with the CBA negotiations.

Packt · Jun 17, 2005

Jerryaki said:

His trade demands last year were discouraging because we were looking to win now, and needed him. If he was demanding a trade today, it would not be upsetting since we're after all re-tooling. In fact, Peja asking for a trade today would make reaching a decision on him much easier. If he doesn’t want to be here, that’s our answer right there.

Jerryaki · Jun 17, 2005

Packt said:

Good point. But having yet another person not want to be in Sacramento is too discouraging for me right now.

At least Matt barnes wants to be here...

KKSloga · Jun 17, 2005

Bricklayer said:

I will have to agree with Brick on his assessments on paying Pedja and also I share the disappointment that we did not go after Manu. However to suggest that he is clutch is ridiculous. Have you ever seen him go to the freethrow line at the end of a game. He almost always misses.

SactoGreg · Jun 17, 2005

If I'm Geoff Petrie, I wouldn't hold any discussion with Peja or his agent about an extension or a new, multi-year deal. Heck, he has one more year left, and at $7.6 million, he is a decent bargain. Let him play under the pressure of a "contract" season and see how he responds.

I would, however, entertain any offers to move Peja before his current deal expires. Realistically, he's viewed as one of the best players the Kings really have to offer, so he would attract intriguing offers...

Bricklayer · Jun 17, 2005

SactoGreg said:

That is SUCH a risk though. It puts us in the position of potentially losing Peja for nothing at all, which would be disaster, or of having him say "pay me the max or I'll leave" and again, us being pinned into either vastly overpaying him or losing him for nothing at all. In other words, precisely the Allan Houston position the Knicks were in in 2000.

I don't think you ever really want to willingly go into the final year of a major player's contract without him being signed to an extension unless you anticipate having the cap room to resign a similar palyer. The whole power shifts dramatically to the player, and as a franchise you are really over the barrel.

P.S. KKsloga, I was unaware that Manu had a penchant for bricking clutch FTs. Let's just say then that he seems to have a real feel for the moment.

Fillmoe · Jun 17, 2005

Peja doesnt deserve a max contract..... that would be a stupid move by the Kings organization! it would just be the CWebb situation all over again but this time with a lower caliber player.......

SactoGreg · Jun 17, 2005

Bricklayer said:

It is a risk.

Perhaps a good one just as much as a potential disaster.

If the relationship with Peja remains good (and I have to believe it is now), there's no reason he wouldn't be willing to be involved in a S&T next season. The Kings will have Bird rights with Peja, so they will still be able to offer more than any other team without affecting their already inflated salary cap.

It may be moot regardless, as the possible lock out situation may really screw things up significantly, especially with Peja's deal expiring next season. Heck, it's quite possible Bird rights and other exemptions may be affected by the negotations!

It's a risk for many reasons, but I just don't think Peja is worth what he would probably demand...

Circa_1985_Fan · Jun 17, 2005

I think that $10 million a year is about right for the best shooter in the world who cant rebound a lick. I think that if he wants more that there definetely should be some incentives in there, like if he averages 6 or more rebounds he should get an extra million or two.

loopymitch · Jun 17, 2005

I'm sorry, Peja's too inconsistent to get max. I've never beena big fan of his but his play in the post season for the most part speaks for itself. Come on maloofs!!! He can have a raise but max is just absurd IMO. I thought the reason for getting rid of Chris was to help us financially and then to pay Peja max??? I just don't see it. We need to take that money and get some defenders/rebounders.

AleksandarN · Jun 17, 2005

Ok what about a deal worth 5 years for 62.5 mil. Something like this

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]$10,500,000[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]$11,500,000[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]$12,500,000[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]$13,500,000[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]$14,500,000[/font]

Peja Stojakovic: King For Life?

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