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http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/119768.html
Will Bibby still be here?
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Wednesday, February 7, 2007
The original plan was for Mike Bibby to opt out of his contract at season's end and sign a longer deal with the Kings -- or go elsewhere.
But that sure bet was before the team slumped and Bibby slumped and the market began to read more like a gamble.
"I called (the Kings) as a courtesy, and we had a candid conversation about it," Bibby's agent, David Falk, said about the possibility of Bibby opting out of his contract. "I just told them that it had been our expectation that we would exercise the out," he said. "But right now, unless something happens, it's unlikely that we would opt out. The risk is too great."
It's a risk because the Kings are last in the Pacific Division at 20-26 and his client is on pace for a career shooting low.
"This season, to put it in an optimistic light, has been a disappointment," Falk said.
Bibby still can declare himself a free agent after the season, leave a guaranteed $28 million on the table and hope to get a longer deal from Sacramento or another team to top that. The time is right: He will be 29 when bidding opens July 1, putting him in position to get a deal now and maybe even another one after. The time is not right: He's shooting 38.9 percent.
Except that July is forever away on the Kings' timeline. They actually are down to days of considering a pivotal move, with the trade deadline Feb. 22 and the threat of losing Bibby for nothing in the summer if they don't swap soon. Not that they need reminding, but no true point guard is in line behind him, and it's a weak draft for the position.
What Bibby decides is best for him will greatly affect the Kings, and what the Kings decide is best for them will greatly affect Bibby. Each will have to play off the other, for a couple of weeks or a few months, and the risks will be many.
So joined are the sides that it is unlikely a trade could be completed without approval from Bibby/Falk. No team would relinquish the assets it would take to acquire Bibby without an indication of whether he would like the new location or have the moving van idling outside the arena in a July 1 dash out the door.
So joined are the sides that Bibby/Falk, if no trade comes by Feb. 22, might need cooperation from the Kings to get the big contract in the summer. In an offseason when few teams are projected to have major salary cap space -- and Sacramento could be one of them -- it might take a sign-and-trade deal. Even that might be a tough sell since the Kings won't take back bad contracts to better someone else.
"As far as trades go, if there's something that would make sense for us, either short term or long term, and I'm not talking specifically about Mike, I think we would be inclined to do one," Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie said.
The potential of Bibby leaving for nothing in July will not have an impact in February, in other words. Besides, if he walks, the Kings could get approximately $16 million under the salary cap, depending on other roster decisions and the eventual cap number. Having the money and spending it, though, are not necessarily the same thing.
Bibby, for his part, refers questioners to Falk.
"It's all up to him," Bibby said. "He knows the business better than I do. He told me I play basketball, he does that stuff, so I'm going to leave it up to him."
OK, then. Falk.
His stance has changed, from the early-season approach that Bibby likely would opt out and get four, five or six years from someone that easily would surpass the $28 million. Getting the jackpot in the summer of 2007 would mean more money and, importantly, the security of getting a deal done and not having to risk serious injury and wait another two years to become a free agent again.
"It had been our intent going into the season to use the out and get a deal done for Mike to stay here for a long time," Falk said.
The direction might change again, of course, if Bibby heats up and increases his value and some team falls short in the playoffs and decides it will go deep to add a veteran point guard with a fit-in personality and who has had some of his best moments in postseason pressure.
Indeed, Bibby/Falk still could opt out and get a better deal in Sacramento, though it's very unlikely the Kings would make such an investment while standing on the doorstep of a roster renovation. The sides could talk about a deal at much less than the $13.5 million Bibby has coming next season and $14.5 million in 2008-09, but for more years in an outcome that would provide the player security and the team flexibility in eventually trading him at a reasonable price tag per season.
More unlikely still, Bibby/Falk and Petrie/Maloofs could negotiate an extension until March 1, at which point the next window opens July 1. The sides may talk, but chances are slim the Kings will lock themselves into any extension at this point, with so much still to be played out and the future calling a franchise that is having little fortune turning the veteran mix of Brad Miller, Ron Artest and Bibby into success.
In the meantime, they wait together for what comes next. Whether next is Feb. 22 or July 1 is the uncertain future they share.
Will Bibby still be here?
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Wednesday, February 7, 2007
The original plan was for Mike Bibby to opt out of his contract at season's end and sign a longer deal with the Kings -- or go elsewhere.
But that sure bet was before the team slumped and Bibby slumped and the market began to read more like a gamble.
"I called (the Kings) as a courtesy, and we had a candid conversation about it," Bibby's agent, David Falk, said about the possibility of Bibby opting out of his contract. "I just told them that it had been our expectation that we would exercise the out," he said. "But right now, unless something happens, it's unlikely that we would opt out. The risk is too great."
It's a risk because the Kings are last in the Pacific Division at 20-26 and his client is on pace for a career shooting low.
"This season, to put it in an optimistic light, has been a disappointment," Falk said.
Bibby still can declare himself a free agent after the season, leave a guaranteed $28 million on the table and hope to get a longer deal from Sacramento or another team to top that. The time is right: He will be 29 when bidding opens July 1, putting him in position to get a deal now and maybe even another one after. The time is not right: He's shooting 38.9 percent.
Except that July is forever away on the Kings' timeline. They actually are down to days of considering a pivotal move, with the trade deadline Feb. 22 and the threat of losing Bibby for nothing in the summer if they don't swap soon. Not that they need reminding, but no true point guard is in line behind him, and it's a weak draft for the position.
What Bibby decides is best for him will greatly affect the Kings, and what the Kings decide is best for them will greatly affect Bibby. Each will have to play off the other, for a couple of weeks or a few months, and the risks will be many.
So joined are the sides that it is unlikely a trade could be completed without approval from Bibby/Falk. No team would relinquish the assets it would take to acquire Bibby without an indication of whether he would like the new location or have the moving van idling outside the arena in a July 1 dash out the door.
So joined are the sides that Bibby/Falk, if no trade comes by Feb. 22, might need cooperation from the Kings to get the big contract in the summer. In an offseason when few teams are projected to have major salary cap space -- and Sacramento could be one of them -- it might take a sign-and-trade deal. Even that might be a tough sell since the Kings won't take back bad contracts to better someone else.
"As far as trades go, if there's something that would make sense for us, either short term or long term, and I'm not talking specifically about Mike, I think we would be inclined to do one," Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie said.
The potential of Bibby leaving for nothing in July will not have an impact in February, in other words. Besides, if he walks, the Kings could get approximately $16 million under the salary cap, depending on other roster decisions and the eventual cap number. Having the money and spending it, though, are not necessarily the same thing.
Bibby, for his part, refers questioners to Falk.
"It's all up to him," Bibby said. "He knows the business better than I do. He told me I play basketball, he does that stuff, so I'm going to leave it up to him."
OK, then. Falk.
His stance has changed, from the early-season approach that Bibby likely would opt out and get four, five or six years from someone that easily would surpass the $28 million. Getting the jackpot in the summer of 2007 would mean more money and, importantly, the security of getting a deal done and not having to risk serious injury and wait another two years to become a free agent again.
"It had been our intent going into the season to use the out and get a deal done for Mike to stay here for a long time," Falk said.
The direction might change again, of course, if Bibby heats up and increases his value and some team falls short in the playoffs and decides it will go deep to add a veteran point guard with a fit-in personality and who has had some of his best moments in postseason pressure.
Indeed, Bibby/Falk still could opt out and get a better deal in Sacramento, though it's very unlikely the Kings would make such an investment while standing on the doorstep of a roster renovation. The sides could talk about a deal at much less than the $13.5 million Bibby has coming next season and $14.5 million in 2008-09, but for more years in an outcome that would provide the player security and the team flexibility in eventually trading him at a reasonable price tag per season.
More unlikely still, Bibby/Falk and Petrie/Maloofs could negotiate an extension until March 1, at which point the next window opens July 1. The sides may talk, but chances are slim the Kings will lock themselves into any extension at this point, with so much still to be played out and the future calling a franchise that is having little fortune turning the veteran mix of Brad Miller, Ron Artest and Bibby into success.
In the meantime, they wait together for what comes next. Whether next is Feb. 22 or July 1 is the uncertain future they share.
