Garcia was signed to a 5 year 30 million dollar extension last offseason, which kicks in this year and now counts against the cap. How is that decision looking now?
I was against the extension last year. I thought that the extra flexibility in not having his contract on the books would be very important through last season and into this offseason. Without Garcia's extension, we'd be looking at having 11-12 million in cap space as opposed to the 6-7 million we project to have now. The extra cap space could have proved very lucrative the way that teams are looking to cut costs this offseason. A package of the number 4 pick and 12million cut off the payroll instantly (and possibly one of our youngsters) is the type of deal that brings back superstars. It would be nice to at least be in a good situation should one of these guys become available.
On the other hand, we probably won't have a real chance at any superstars this year either way, extra cap space or not. Even assuming we did, its no sure thing that we'd pull the trigger on a deal just because its there, or that the Maloofs are willing to take on any extra salary. In this case, you start to see the benifits of locking up Garcia a year early and not taking any chances of losing him in free agency. On a team like this, you can't just lose talent for nothing. I think the extension helped Garcia on the court this year as well, and allowed him the credibilty to step up as a leader, which this team desperatly needed.
Value-wise, Garcia had a good year, although I wouldn't consider it in any way a breakout type of season, which is what you are hedging against when extending a guy the way we did last year. Stats were basically the same this year as last year. He would still be restricted this summer, so we would be able to match other offers, but if we were to want to use the cap space, we would have to renounce Garcia, effectively losing him in any cap space deal.
What's the verdict.
Is there a team out there that would offer Garcia more than we would match? More than he is scheduled to make now?
Would Garcia be as good of a leader without the extension? As good of a player?
Are we going to miss out on a trade or free agent because of the contract?
Was it ultimately non consequential, as we would be best off to sign him this summer for the same 30 million that we got him for last year?
I was against the extension last year. I thought that the extra flexibility in not having his contract on the books would be very important through last season and into this offseason. Without Garcia's extension, we'd be looking at having 11-12 million in cap space as opposed to the 6-7 million we project to have now. The extra cap space could have proved very lucrative the way that teams are looking to cut costs this offseason. A package of the number 4 pick and 12million cut off the payroll instantly (and possibly one of our youngsters) is the type of deal that brings back superstars. It would be nice to at least be in a good situation should one of these guys become available.
On the other hand, we probably won't have a real chance at any superstars this year either way, extra cap space or not. Even assuming we did, its no sure thing that we'd pull the trigger on a deal just because its there, or that the Maloofs are willing to take on any extra salary. In this case, you start to see the benifits of locking up Garcia a year early and not taking any chances of losing him in free agency. On a team like this, you can't just lose talent for nothing. I think the extension helped Garcia on the court this year as well, and allowed him the credibilty to step up as a leader, which this team desperatly needed.
Value-wise, Garcia had a good year, although I wouldn't consider it in any way a breakout type of season, which is what you are hedging against when extending a guy the way we did last year. Stats were basically the same this year as last year. He would still be restricted this summer, so we would be able to match other offers, but if we were to want to use the cap space, we would have to renounce Garcia, effectively losing him in any cap space deal.
What's the verdict.
Is there a team out there that would offer Garcia more than we would match? More than he is scheduled to make now?
Would Garcia be as good of a leader without the extension? As good of a player?
Are we going to miss out on a trade or free agent because of the contract?
Was it ultimately non consequential, as we would be best off to sign him this summer for the same 30 million that we got him for last year?
