No Oak Deal Done

[ohara831]

Part of me is OK with it, part of me thinks this was a horrible PR mistake. Maybe Oak and the Bobcats have a gentleman's agreement on how much they will pay depending upon the numbers he puts out this year. Sonething like " we will Max you out if you play 65 games, and are a 20 and 10 producer. If you come up short, you know you have to take less." Honestly though, I doubt that happened. I think that the Cats spending money on Crash, Carroll and J-Rich brought us a lot of good exposure as a team finally willing to pony up the $. I think that most of that good, but hopefully not all of it, was just undone. Just another example of something which will allow the media to paint us as too miserly to pay for the talent to be a contender. Did it make good fiscal sense? I am not sure. Depends on Oak's health and productivity. But, it does hurt our image. And that hurts us fan-wise ($ from ticket sales) and makes it difficult to attract good free agents. I just think it was a mistake. Thoughts?

[x2pacalypse]

can't we still restructure his contract anytime we want during the season though? i thought this was just if we wanted an extension...but now say we can tack on a seperate 5 year 55 million $ contract that starts after his current one ends?

[ohara831]

Tupac: I do not know if that is possible. Is not a restructuring basically a way to skirt the rule that the extension has to be done by 10/31? It's basically the same thing I would think. I think that they are just going to have to wait and see what happens at the season's end. If he has a big year, we can still pony up the money. After all, we can pay more and for more years than anyone else. I would just fear that hurt feelings can lead him to say " I'll take less money to play for a contender now" and stick it to the organization for not having faith in him.

[bobcatsden]

I know spectre disagrees with me, but I maintain that this was a huge mistake.

[spectre]

I know spectre disagrees with me, but I maintain that this was a huge mistake. 


I can't say really, because I don't know what each sides' position was.

*If we drew the line at 10 million per, then absolutely we made a bad mistake.

*If Mek was adamant he wanted a 5 year 85 million dollar extension, then we were correct in not giving in.

Thing is we'll probably never know.  Mek's not one to air this stuff in the media, and you know the 'Cats won't tell Bonnell.

I wouldn't have minded getting Mek at the Jefferson deal (13 per for 5) even though I think that's a little high...but even at that rate I can't fault the organization for wanting to "wait and see".

Would I personally have felt better?  Hell yeah.  I just don't see it as the end of the world, ESPECIALLY since we rewarded Crash as a free agent.  The Bobcats know what Mek's worth to us...in the end they'll pay what it takes to retain him.

BTW..Tupac, can't talk money with Mek anymore until July 1st, 2008 per league rules.

[qchoops]

I will say this about the move: Emeka is still with the Bobcats for this year, and can be easily retained by them for next season as a restricted free agent, by extending the qualifying offer to him (which I believe be in the $7mil range). By not signing him to a large contract extension this summer, it gives the team more flexibility to sign other teams' free agents next summer (like Jamison), and then resign Okafor to a new deal afterwards, circumventing the salary cap. Not saying this is what will happen, but there may be a silver lining?

[spectre]

I will say this about the move: Emeka is still with the Bobcats for this year, and can be easily retained by them for next season as a restricted free agent, by extending the qualifying offer to him (which I believe be in the $7mil range). By not signing him to a large contract extension this summer, it gives the team more flexibility to sign other teams' free agents next summer (like Jamison), and then resign Okafor to a new deal afterwards, circumventing the salary cap. Not saying this is what will happen, but there may be a silver lining?


Brett, doesn't the 150% caphold come into play, or only the QO?

If that's the case, then it'd be absolutely the best thing to do, but I thought the NBA set up the caphold thing to keep things like that from happening.

[Dead_Real]

Sorry if already posted but this is the statement on this situation from the Bobcats.

http://www.nba.com/bobcats/statement_okafor_071101.html

[bobcatsden]

Here's the relevant quote from Bernie:

“Player contracts are very difficult to get done when there is no posturing," Bobcats Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Bernie Bickerstaff said. "Our offer was commensurate with our respect for Emeka as a basketball player, his overall character and what he brings to the Charlotte community. We both had different ideas on economic value, but we both agree that neither were insulting.”

Edit: Is Bickerstaff suggesting that players should posture during negotiations?

[qchoops]

I think the 150% is in play, but 150% of $7mil is still probably going to be less than his new salary will be. Dwight Howard is at $13mil for the first year of his new deal, when it kicks in next year.
It is not a big difference, but with Othella, Primoz, and Brevin's deals all coming off the cap next year, there will be some room to play with.

[spectre]

Thanks Brett. You are right that it could give us a few million to play with...and that could be signifcant next year.

We can't forget the drive Jordan has to win. I really believe that he won't let this franchise become stagnant, and who knows...maybe this was in the back of his mind?


Edit: Is Bickerstaff suggesting that players should posture during negotiations?

I think so...Bernie's always told it like it is. Mek has very little to lose in being a hard negotiator. Even if he misses a third of this season somebody is still going to pay him 10 million per year because of what he brings while on the court. Of course it's possible he could have a career ending injury, but the odds can't be great that that'll happen.

Just like on the flip we really don't have a lot to lose. Bernie said no one insulted the other; so long as that stays the same I feel strongly that Mek will be in Charlotte for the long haul.

[davcbow]

So whats all this mean for Herrmann? :g:

[ohara831]

If I read right, it seems that no one really feels this was a mistake other than myself and bobcatsden. I understand from the business side why it may be fine as we do still hold the big cards and can attempt next year to get the deal done. I just fear the backlash from the general public. The view that "we were too cheap to sign our big man" when other top picks from that draft are getting their extensions. If we struggle this year with the key injuries we already sustained, it could accumulate a negative backlash with the public. Bad ticket sales at the Coliseum and bad press when it comes to luring potential free agents we may target. If it was a matter of a couple mil a year, I do not think the risk was worth it. Someone above said we really wont know what Oak wanted and what was offered, so the difference may be larger. I just think that if we solidified him, that would be 4 key players signed long term. That bodes well for convincing any potential key free agent signings that we mean business and that person may be the final piece to the puzzle. That's how we get to move from an average team to a good team to a team at championship level. That is what I want, and I know that every one of you in BobcatsPlanetland want as well.

[dnbman]

Ohara, it's definitely a highly questionable PR move. However, offering a guy who's proven to be brittle this season a massive extension can also be a bad PR move.

I think the bottom line is that waiting is in everyone's best interest. The Bobcats will pay fair value either way (more or less), while Emeka will get what the market will bare. However, Emeka can now earn a bigger contract and we can see that he can play most of a season.

If he would have played 82 games a season for the last three years, it would be a different story. As it is now, there are question marks about giving him lots of money. Plus, if we wait until next summer, we could sign a free agent with only a portion of his salary (I think 125% of his previous year's salary) counting against the cap. That gives us more room to sign one of the bigger free agents next summer.

Obviously, creating a situation where Okafor could leave is scary. However, if he were to bolt, there are some very nice consolation prizes next summer.

[ohara831]

Read an article at ESPN on the issue. I feel much better now. Oak was practicing and said to reporters that it was no big deal. He said Charlotte wants him and he wants to stay here. They will work it out after July 1, 2008. Meanwhile, he said "Charlotte made a fair offer." That is good. There are no hard feelings, and they cannot be too far apart. But if it was "a fair offer" why not take it? Is Oak or his agent the ones being "unfair"? I really hope he does well this year and stays healthy. Pray he does not get hurt, for the team's sake as well as his. He likely walked away from a a whole lot of money for the chance to make more. In the world of sports and huge contracts, sometimes it backfires. I like Oak as an individual, a man of compassion and care, and I just don't want to see him regret not inking the deal.

[ohara831]

Very solid argument Dnbman. Makes sense to me. That and the fact that Oak is cool with things and says he still wants to be here and Charlotte wants him, I am not as concerned as I was earlier today.

[spectre]

Ohara an insider article I presume? Any way to paste the portion pertaining to us? If not that's cool...I appreciate the part you did pass on.

Geesh...Bonnell ya think we might like to know Mek's side???

[dnbman]

Very solid argument Dnbman. Makes sense to me. That and the fact that Oak is cool with things and says he still wants to be here and Charlotte wants him, I am not as concerned as I was earlier today.


Since it's hard for me to imagine spending that kind of money, I think of it like buying an expensive piece of consumer electronics.

You'd rather pay $1,500 for something that's going to do what you want it to do and not break than buy a $1,000 piece of junk that may or may not work.

[spectre]

Contract issue unlikely to affect Okafor (http://blogs.charlotte.com/inside_the_nba/2007/11/contract-issue-.html)

This ought to calm everyone's nerves down.

Mek is a class act.

[dvdbumpus]

Mek is probably just banking on this season to grab some extra contract at the end of the season, kind of like Arenas or Stephen Jackson a few years back.

I don't think it's really a big thing, because we can offer him more than any other team, will pay more than any other team, and leaves us with possibilities, especially with trades, etc. What if Okafor got hurt again? Would you want to have a guy that gets hurt every year making Dwight Howard money? Not I, as much as I love Okafor.

Bottom line: if he stays healthy and produces(producing I don't see the issue) he's in for a max deal.

[rallydurham]

Extending Okafor at this point would have been a huge mistake no doubt about it. Most of the points have already been touched on but I mean really what do we gain by re-signing Okafor now? Unless he agreed to a low $ contract, absolutely nothing.

On the other hand the potential downsides are large:

1) injury

2) maxxing out our cap space before free agency when we could sign someone else first and THEN extend okafor

3) his play regresses or stays stagnant

4) limit our flexibility if we field great trade offers

[Wallace15]

I like the fact the EO50 didn't agree to the extension because he's wanting to prove everyone that he's worth the max. I just hope he doesn't sustain a injury that's gonna hurt his chances at getting it. He did turn down A LOT of money though.

[TheBeagle]

This is sort of a best-case scenario here:

1. If Mek stays healthy and has a career year, he deserves the money that will come his way, hopefully from us.

2. If Mek can't stay healthy, he'll have shown that he isn't deserving of a max contract, and we won't be saddled by a injury-prone cap-eater ( a la Larry Johnson's massive-at-the-time contract and subsequent chronic back pain circa 94-95).

3. For once, a player who wants to earn his money and prove his worth and not look for the quick payday. Hopefully folks will read the Bonnell article spectre was kind enough to paste here, and what looked like a bad PR move, will be the opposite.

How 'bout a 20 board, 5 block game to start the season?

[ohara831]

Yeah, but wow. We were in the area of $13 mil and he is wanting around $17 mil. I think the Cats were really fair to him at $13 mil. Maybe they compromise around $15, but that is a whole lotta money to throw to one man. If he proves to be a much stronger scoring threat this year, he may earn it. But from the past, I think the Cats were more on target. Agree with me or not?

[Dunk]

I thought $13M was a pretty good number. He's performed well (not quite an in the top echelon) but he's also been limited in the number of games he's played. If he was pulling 22/10 for 80 games a season then you max him out. But he isn't and hasn't.

[spectre]

On a side note...reports have Iggy wanting 74 million for 5 years.

I like Iggy a lot, but I'd definitely take Crash over him...esp. for 4-5 million per year.

[chabber]

If we offered him $13M then that is plenty. I don't know that I'd even want to sign him for more than that other than the fact that we'd have a huge gaping hole down low. We did right by not going any further. Let him prove that he can be worth $13M+.