Voisin: Actions talk differently than Bibby

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http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/92022.html

Ailene Voisin: Actions talk differently than Bibby
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Columnist
Last Updated 12:34 am PST Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1

The Allen Iverson trade speculation might have wounded his feelings. The prospect of reuniting with close friend Chris Webber might have intrigued him. The fact that he is owed a whopping $28 million over the next two seasons might have given him pause, caused him to dissect the chatter in a detached, perhaps even analytical manner.

But who would know?

Mike Bibby never sheds the shield. He guards his thoughts the way Eric Musselman wants him to guard the ball. French textbooks are easier reading than Bibby's life story. So when he responds to trade talks with a shrug and an impassive stare -- the Kings already having removed themselves from the Iverson conversation, so they're saying -- you have to wonder if this is Bibby being Bibby or Bibby being straight.

"I can't worry about things that are out of my control," the veteran point guard said Tuesday night before the Kings were throttled by a mediocre Golden State Warriors club. "That doesn't bother me. I just go out and play. I'd like to sign an extension at the end of the season, stay in Sac. But that's up to Geoff (Petrie) and the Maloofs. Maybe they just want to go in another direction."

At this point -- stuck in the cellar in early December -- the Kings need someone to point the arrow. Or to sign the paperwork. The shooters can't find the rim, the big guys can't find the rebounds. The offense is slumbering, the defense is asleep. Other than that, the Kings are just one dysfunctional family preparing for a road trip and a grueling stretch that, if the current pace continues, figures to put a fast and furious end to their already sluggish playoff aspirations.

That was Matt Barnes kicking the Kings' rear Tuesday night.

Those were the Warriors running the Kings back to Sac.

Next up: Utah, Phoenix, Dallas.

Petrie better start offering the free antacids.

In the meantime, someone (Petrie? Eric Musselman?) must provide some clarity on personnel issues and resolve that increasingly visible strain, the one with all the characteristics of an internal power struggle, that exists between Bibby and Ron Artest.

And then reintroduce Bibby to his local following. Remember? Remember Mike Bibby? The Jazz, the Mavs, the Lakers? The player known for his near-flawless jump shot and impeccable timing hasn't hit a big shot all year. Bothered by thumb and wrist injuries during the opening weeks, the ninth-year veteran entered Tuesday shooting 37 percent, 27 percent from three-point range, with a modest 5.7 assists in 36 minutes, and without any of his old zip.

Something's up. Something's wrong.

Even his on-ball defense -- the flaw in his game that most frustrates his bosses -- has become a larger negative than usual, aggravating Artest, negating the goodwill engendered by his early-season aggressiveness and what appeared to be a response to Musselman's defensive demands. Bibby, who slimmed down during the offseason to improve his quickness, suddenly seems slower, less capable of staying in front of his man or rotating onto shooters. Also absent are the deceptive, stutter-step forays into the lane.

Asked about possible physical ailments, Bibby demurred.

"I'm fine," he said. "I'm fine."

Yet against the Warriors, he looked anything but fine, looked more out of sorts than anything. He missed badly on an inordinate number of jumpers, missed 2 of 6 free throws, converted only 4 of 14 field-goal attempts. And although the Kings' ongoing troubles (stagnant offense, erratic ball movement, lack of a consistent low-post presence, etc.) undoubtedly contributed to this latest outcome, for all his denials, the trade rumors seemed to be a major distraction.

Not that anyone mentioned even remotely in a potential deal involving Iverson should be offended. The 76ers guard remains one of the league's marquee players, and one of its most popular international figures. But the Kings passed on an Iverson deal for several reasons, among them the potentially toxic pairing with Artest and the always present salary cap management. The modern NBA is dominated by cap concerns -- expiring contracts, etc. -- as much as it is by talent. And as much as anything, this is why Bibby's future with the Kings is uncertain; if he opts out at the end of the season, the Kings are free of $28 million over the ensuing two seasons.

The question regarding Bibby inevitably is this: Is there a market out there for a shooting point guard on the cusp of 30?

Maybe this is on his mind.

Something -- or someone -- is.

About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com
 
I'd like to sign an extension at the end of the season, stay in Sac. But that's up to Geoff (Petrie) and the Maloofs. Maybe they just want to go in another direction."


at least this takes care of the speculation whether he is opting out or not because why do You need an extension if Your contract is going for 2 more years.
 
at least this takes care of the speculation whether he is opting out or not because why do You need an extension if Your contract is going for 2 more years.
Well, one reason to opt out is to get a new contract that has Bibby set for a lot more than 2 more years. So if the Kings would offer an extension past the 2 remaining years that Bibby found acceptable, he might not opt out, because he'd have those extra years guaranteed. Right?
 
Well, one reason to opt out is to get a new contract that has Bibby set for a lot more than 2 more years. So if the Kings would offer an extension past the 2 remaining years that Bibby found acceptable, he might not opt out, because he'd have those extra years guaranteed. Right?

why not wait 2 seasons and then get extension if he likes it here so much ?
 
why not wait 2 seasons and then get extension if he likes it here so much ?
Maybe, because he'd be older and not get as much as he might be able to negotiate now. Altho, if his year continues to be this awful......

Either an extension past the current two years, or an entirely new contract elsewhere, this would be the contract that carries him through to retirement or close to it.

Actually, I make no claim to knowimg what Bibby or any other player is thinking. ;) I was just trying to imagine why Bibby would be talking an extension with the Kings rather than straight opting out.
 
Bibby only gets a 10% raise if he opts out and signs an extension this season.

He can get more money next season, from the Kings, or anybody else that can afford him.
 
?
Bibby only gets a 10% raise if he opts out and signs an extension this season.

He can get more money next season, from the Kings, or anybody else that can afford him.

??

Bibby can only sign an extension if he waives the ETO.
 
?

??

Bibby can only sign an extension if he waives the ETO.

I thought the ETO had already passed, being he only has one season left after this one?

The ETO would have passed last season I thought, if he had one in his contract? No?

Somebody like Dirk...or Jermaine O'neal can use the ETO two seasons before their current deal expired. I thought that was the ETO purpose?

I didn't think Bibby even had a ETO. Maybe I missed it?

I thought it was just excersise the option or not.

And could I add any more question marks? lol
 
I thought the ETO had already passed, being he only has one season left after this one?

The ETO would have passed last season I thought, if he had one in his contract? No?

Somebody like Dirk...or Jermaine O'neal can use the ETO two seasons before their current deal expired. I thought that was the ETO purpose?

I didn't think Bibby even had a ETO. Maybe I missed it?

I thought it was just excersise the option or not.

And could I add any more question marks? lol

Bibby has a two-year ETO I believe.

Okay, here we go:

08/15/02: The Kings re-signed Mike Bibby to a 7-year, $80.5 million contract.

Then, per http://www.dfw.net/~patricia/contracts

Mike Bibby ............ 8/16/02 7 $80.5 million p-opt '07

I don't think she differentiates between player options and ETOs. I did see a mention of Bibby and an ETO somewhere. I'll try and find it...
 
Last edited:
Okay, Patricia's own definition of p-opt seems to indicate that Bibby's situation has to be different.

She says:

p-opt = player opt-out (player has the option to become a free agent) - the year after p-opt is the year the player would be a free agent if he
opts out.
 
I must be missing something. What is an ETO?

It gets really confusing. Check out this site:

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm

50. What are option clauses? What kind of option clauses are there?

An option clause allows a contract to be extended for one additional season after the date it is scheduled to end. For example, a five-year contract with an option for the sixth year means that if the option is exercised, then the contract extends through the sixth season, but if the option is not exercised, then the contract ends after the fifth season. Options must be exercised by the July 1 that precedes the option year, except player options for players who would become restricted free agents, which must be exercised by June 25. Once exercised, an option cannot be revoked (for example, a player cannot invoke an option on June 20th and change his mind on June 25th). Conditional options are not allowed -- the existence of the option may not be contingent on some condition, such as the number of games the team wins or the points per game the player scores.
There are three types of options:
  • Team Options give the team the right to invoke the option year. There can be only one option year (except in the case of rookie scale contracts), and the option year can't be for a lower salary than the previous season.
  • Player Options give the player the right to invoke the option year. There can be only one option year, and the option year can't be for a lower salary than the previous season.
  • Player Early Termination Options (ETO's) give the player the right to terminate the contract early. An ETO can't occur prior to the end of the fourth season of the contract (which implies that the contract must be for at least five seasons).
A contract may not contain more than one option in the same season (for example, the last season cannot contain both a player option and a team option). A six year contract may contain an ETO following the fourth season and an option (either player or team) following the fifth season.

Rookie "scale" contracts for first round draft picks contain team options for the third and fourth seasons (team options for the third season exist only for players drafted in 2005 or later), which must be exercised by October 1 of the prior season No other options are permitted in rookie scale contracts. See question number 41 for more information.
Here's a summary of the differences between an option and an ETO:
  • Options can occur only when one season remains on the contract, while ETO's can occur when two seasons remain if the contract is for six seasons.
  • Options can be included in any multiyear contract, but ETO's are allowed only with five or six year contracts.
  • Options can be held by the player or the team, but ETOs are always held by the player (i.e., there's no such thing as a team Early Termination Option).
  • Option years may not have a lower salary than the previous season. ETO's have no such restriction.
  • A contract with a player option can be extended when the option is not exercised. A contract with an ETO may not be extended if the ETO is exercised.
There is an interesting twist regarding player options. What happens if the team waives the player before he invokes his player option? Can the player invoke the option after he is waived, thus guaranteeing his salary for the option year? To head off this situation, all contracts with player options must indicate whether the player receives his salary for the option year in the event the contract is terminated.

Player options were previously used as a way to give the player more money. A long-term deal was agreed upon with a player option after the player obtained Larry Bird rights. The player invoked the option, became a free agent, and then the team & player signed a new contract for more money using the Bird exception. However, since the current CBA prevents ETO's before the end of the fourth year or more than one option year, the usefulness of this tool is now very limited.

There's a lot more there, and it can really boggle your mind.
 
^Yeah, everything I've read indicates Bibby has an ETO this year on the last two years of his deal.

The Kings, Magic, Bobcats, Grizzlies and Bucks will have cap room and both the Bucks and Grizzlies really need a point guard. There's probably going to be some mucial chairs between Chauncey Billups (if he doesn't re-sign with Detroit), Bibby and Mo Williams, with one team out of Kings/Bucks/Grizz/Pistons losing out.
 
So this last offseason and this coming one? Cause he can't have one the following obviously since he'd be a FA.

Hmmm...I honestly don't know. I thought it was just a player option but I could be wrong.

Bibby's contract expires in 2009. That would mean he has an option at the end of the 2006-2007 season and the 2007-2008 season I believe.
 
^Yeah, everything I've read indicates Bibby has an ETO this year on the last two years of his deal.

The Kings, Magic, Bobcats, Grizzlies and Bucks will have cap room and both the Bucks and Grizzlies really need a point guard. There's probably going to be some mucial chairs between Chauncey Billups (if he doesn't re-sign with Detroit), Bibby and Mo Williams, with one team out of Kings/Bucks/Grizz/Pistons losing out.
I'd love Mo Williams.
 
Bibby's contract expires in 2009. That would mean he has an option at the end of the 2006-2007 season and the 2007-2008 season I believe.
You're right. I thought he expired a year earlier.

Hmmm...that makes his situation pretty interesting, especially with the way he's played so far.
 
You're right. I thought he expired a year earlier.

Hmmm...that makes his situation pretty interesting, especially with the way he's played so far.

In some sense, though, even though he's struggling this is the year to be a free agent since it's such a weak class.

2007: Vince Carter, Chauncey, Bibby, Mo, Darko, Verejao.

2008: Marion, Brand, Artest, Kevin Martin, Iggy, Ben Gordon, etc. etc. etc.

A lot of those 2008 guys will probably get locked up by their current teams, but still, probably less competition for free agent money this year than next year.
 
i admire mike for playing hurt, but it might be time to suck it up and sit him for a few weeks. i think it can only help at this point int time because the situation the kings are in is spirialing our of control.

a healthy mike bibby would make this team a LOT better then it is now with the pieces we have.

i'd also like to see mike retire a king.
 
they protest too much

http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/92022.html

Ailene Voisin: Actions talk differently than Bibby
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Columnist
Last Updated 12:34 am PST Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
... "That doesn't bother me. I just go out and play. I'd like to sign an extension at the end of the season, stay in Sac. But that's up to Geoff (Petrie) and the Maloofs. Maybe they just want to go in another direction."

...
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com

reminds me of when Peja said he would like to retire as a King.
 
Nothing wrong with wanting to sign an extension, he's not threatening or complaining or anything. Mike's got one of those hardball-playing agents anyway. Its all just strategy to try to lock up another contract, no big deal.

What a stupid title for an article too, I can't believe that got past the editors. We should start a fire Voisin thread too, she's pretty bad. Her favorites and grudges game is pretty played out in this town. I lost track, who is the current holder of the rippling muscles these days?
 
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