Re: cap and FAs

[skmishra@dlsun660.us.oracle.com (Shailendra K. Mishra)]

> From owner-celtics@igtc.COM Wed Apr  1 10:26:32 1998

> 
> >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.

Why is that owner an idiot? Do you for a minute think that he won't be making 
money by bringing a star player to his team. Take for example the knicks or the 
Bulls, they have the highest payroll, are they losing money?  No one in this 
business is for loosing money, and it doesn't matter if it's Disney or Ted 
Turner or Wayne Huizenga. These company's or owner have found a more creative 
way to make money and in some cases when it didn't pan out (like in Huizenga's 
case) they have also done a fire sale.

> If ThanksDad is stupid enough to give in to this extortion, then it'll
> serve him right.

Again I don't see the problem. Walker or his agent have not even made an offer 
far less demand anything. He and every other player will be paid what his market 
value is so what is the problem.

> 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.

Very few players have taken a discount to stay with their team and not one of 
them is ranked in the top ten. The only reason one finds there salarys to be low 
by today's standard is because they were negotiated a while ago.

> 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.

You mean do it year to year. Jordan is being paid 30-36 mill/year. I am sure if 
the Celtics wish to negotiate the contract that way and pay the necessary 
penalty of a short contract, a contract could be negotiated. The question is can 
Paul Gaston handle that kind of contract and also get additional players.

> 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. 

We don't know that and the upcoming negotiation for his extension will bring 
that to light. So why not wait and see what happens rather than assume things.

> 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.

What can Pitino do? he didn't exactly give the celtics any discount for coming 
and coaching them. 
> 
> K. Kveraga
> 
>