Re: cap and FAs

[krai@gis.net]

>Either that or let Toine become unrestricted(risky thought)

Why risky? Is someone going to offer 50 mil/yr to Walker in '99, if we
don't "insult" him with a 20 mil/yr offer this summer? Sure, in this league
of Paul Allens, and others shelling out "Garnett money" at the slightest
provocation, anything can happen. If it does, good luck to the idiot owner.
If ThanksDad is stupid enough to give in to this extortion, then it'll
serve him right.
It should clear to anyone by now that all Antoine is concerned about is his
image. "It's all about respect, man". Exactly. The money doesn't even
matter - what's important is that EVERYBODY know that Antoine Walker is one
the highest-paid (="most respected" in his mind) NBA players. It's not
enough for him to know that he's a star  - he wants it heralded on every
street corner, and money is one the ways to do it. Do you think he would
agree to defer the big payoff a la Jordan, so the team can sign the
additional players  it needs to win a championship? Ha! He badly needs the
approval of others, in the form of star treatment. That's what the debacle
with the officials, the oft-selfish play, the wiggle, and the embarassing
crusade to get on the All-Star team are all about.
He is an immensely talented but narcissistic player, who is smart enough to
spout the "team" talk that the reporters and fans want to hear.  Don't be
fooled by it. He's only "team-oriented' insofar as its success improves his
own image. If Pitino can somehow harness this vanity to achieve the team's
goals, then fine. If not, let someone else have him on their cap. If we're
going to pay this insane amount to someone (and it is we, the fans, who pay
the bill in the end), then it should be someone who places the team's needs
above his own, in addition to being a great player.


K. Kveraga