When we look at the SIxers' salary situation next season, it's hard to find a way to wiggle them under the luxury tax with some kind of a trade. There is one thing that could change that equation, though. Willie Green's early-termination option.
Willie isn't the only one on the roster with a player option, but I'd say the odds of Jason Kapono turning down $6.6M for the upcoming season are none (slim has officially left the building). With Willie, though, you can make the case (and I really hope his agent makes the case to him in a very forceful manner).
If Willie decides not to use his ETO, he will be paid $3,976,000 for 2010-2011. Or a little over half of the mid-level exception. After next season, he's a free agent with no guaranteed money due to him, and the very real possibility of a hard cap and limited teams with actual cap space to sign him. If he was to exercise his ETO and become a free agent this summer, however, there would be numerous teams who could use cap space to sign him, not to mention the MLE and bi-annual exceptions available to every team over the cap.
From an agent's perspective, this summer could be the last chance for a decent payday for their clients for some time (and a decent commission for their agents as well). Willie is coming off probably his best season as a pro, I say he should strike while the iron is hot.
Here's a look at the math:
If Willie opts out, the lowest amount he could possibly sign for next season is $1,223,166, the veteran's minimum for a guy in his 8th season in the league. That means he'd be risking essentially $2.7M, assuming he's guaranteed a job in the league, at the minimum salary. When you look around the league, though, you have to figure someone would be dumb enough to offer him more than that, right? I mean, is it out of the question that someone would be willing to commit $7M for three seasons of Willie? Opposing announcers certainly seem to love the "instant offense" Willie could bring to a team off the bench.
I say the gravy train is about to be derailed, and this is your last, best chance to cash in, Willie. Exercise that option. Opt out of your contract. Opt out of Philadelphia where the ungrateful fans will never appreciate you. Just opt out.
By the way, if anyone knows Willie's agent personally, please pass this post along to him. Think about it, Mr. Agent. If you can find a team willing to sign Willie for 3 years/$7M that could mean an extra $300K for you, or more. If you wait for the new CBA, he could be a minimum salary player the rest of his career.
A second by the way, if you heard someone yelling at Willie to opt out as the final buzzer was about to sound last night, that was me.
Yeah, i doubt it very much, but nice try brian ;)
A man can dream, can't he?
Sure it's better than my dream involving the barenaked ladies, april fools day and a snow ball from the joker - not a fun one
ohpleaseohplease. This would be awesome. However, I don't think it will happen. What do you (realistically) think the chances are? 30%?
Probably 3%. I just hope his agent is super-greedy and super-persuasive.
If some team could grossly over pay eddie house before the ETO deadline for willie that would help a lot - have at it danny ainge
Oh, and since opening day is almost upon us, thought you guys might enjoy this.
How about that Joba - he's really panning out ain't he?
He's on the Marreese Speights workout plan, apparently.
Hey - at least Speights has a 'repeatable motion' in his shot...can't be a pitcher if you can't repeat your motion consistently.
He only has to repeat it about 20x per outing now.
And hence the 'great joba' becomes nothing more than a single inning relief guy cause he can't repeat his motion consistently even 20 times :)
We'll see. Maybe some day he'll be as effective as the great Brad Lidge.
Mock if you willl - but when rivera retires - yankee fans will know the joys and pain of the 'standard' closer - the most overrated and stupid 'fixed' position in baseball...
Lidge was hurt last year and shouldn't have been pitching but he 'toughed it out' - just like Iguodala - you should admire lidge for that - even though he wasn't performing at his best he went out there to try and help his team win - who cares if he wasn't at 100%
I admire anyone who sucks ass every other season and then blames it on injuries.
Yes, I see...so this whole injury thing it's situational to you - got it.
Enjoy 3rd place
Ah, so you're one of the people who needs more than one year's evidence that the '08 Rays were a fluke. Gotcha.
Are you one of those people who thinks aging players don't get worse? That Derek jeter is immortal and won't have the inevitable career slide? That Mariano rivera somehow can fight off aging?
The good news is that Jeter could drop 100 points in OBP and still be better than Rollins was last year, or about 150 points in OPS. Or was Rollins playing hurt too?
Rollins doesn't even belong in the same sentence as his Idol Derek Jeter. Brad Lidge sucks balls. But hey i am rooting for the Phillies to kick the mets asses again.
it's the same League where Darko got a 21 mill/3 yr contract AFTER he had already showed that he was a bust, so there is always hope
You can't teach height baby - but yo ucan easily find average (for the NBA) gunners who can't get to the line and have crappy 3 point range
Mo Peterson's agent is laughing at your last comment
Wow - he's over paid
haha, that was own. btw who here are fans of basketbawful?
remember ricky f'in davis?
Mr. Green:
If you do not opt out and there is a lock-out you will be paid nothing that year. Why not test the market?
If there's a lock out - no one gets paid
its one more year. what difference does it make at this point in the rebuilding process? this team is going nowhere untl brand leaves anyway/
It makes a difference because comcast seems pretty vehement about not paying the luxury tax and are currently over thel uxury tax limit for next season (projected) willie opting out means they don't have to trad eosmoene else, say lou williams who can contribute a lot better than willie, for cap space
I don't know why you guys are hating. Anybody who knows anything about basketball (Eddie Jordan) knows that I am one of the top defenders on the team, can shoot 50% and still get as many points as shot attempts, and rock a sick +7.9 player efficiency rating. You guys would be lucky to resign me for 11 mill a year. If not, I'm going to make you regret it just like you did when you let Todd McCullough go. Why are we not making the playoffs this year? You guessed it, because I didn't start as many games this year as I did last year.
Brian was right, as an NBA season pass watcher opposing announcers love jerking off the explosive Willie Greene.
Andray Blatche called himself out on Tuesday for failing to trust his teammates enough down the stretch. The Wizards fell in Houston, their franchise-record 16th consecutive loss.
"I’m going to take full responsibility for the loss," Blatche said. "I tried to do things I shouldn’t. I thought there was no way we could lose that game." He's maturing before our eyes, and this on the heels of a monster performance -- 31 points (13-of-23 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), 10 rebounds, three assists, four steals, and three blocks.
Hate all you want Mggee but this guy is better then any pf or center that we have, and it's not even close.
He will be the most improved player btw.
Yes - the guy who just last week refused to go back into a game or listen to any of his coaches has shown so much maturity in the last week we should pencil him in for most improved and super stardom.
He is no more mature than DeMarcus Cousins - he's just been in the NBA much longer...so let's hold of on praising him less than a week after he refused to play in a game...shall we?
Sammy is much better than Blatche.
how soon people forget what a stiff sammy really is.
What? Sammy has been a well above average center over the last 5 seasons or so.
Show the man and the center position some respect.
He's been an average center for 5 years
He's not above average - it's just that the center position is so diluted.
He has very little offensive game and still hasn't refined a damn thing in his game.
Tall guys get over paid - in relatoins i guess sam earns his money as much as tyson chandler and more than eddy curry but he's average
You don't appreciate what a Center does.
Wow talk about jinxing Brad Lidge.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2010/news/story?id=5044213
Except that it's been known for a week or so that he'd be staying down in florida when the season starts
If we could get rid of Willie and Jordan this off season, it would be great off season!