“I thought about where I could be in a position as good as with the Phoenix Suns and the answer was nowhere,” Diaw said. “I just want to go out there and continue doing what I did last season – giving my teammates good looks and knowing they’ll be doing the same for me.”
Yes. Barbosa and Diaw are made of good stuff. I'm so happy the Suns extended them both.
In fact, the whole Phoenix team seems to be made of good stuff, starting with Steve Nash. I give Steve Nash a lot of credit for creating the positive atmosphere on this team.
__________________ You have to live life like you don't know any better.
This is really great news. Despite some good moves by the Suns for second-team players, this has not been a real positive season in Phoenix--Cards, ASU, Amare on and off. If Boris works on defense he can be an extraordinary player, almost a Magic Johnson playing front-court--and I still remember him subbing for Kareem his rookie year. I hope Sarver sold the $45 Mil figure by saying, "Take a reasonable salary and I'll pay some luxury tax to keep the core together for a while." Savor the moment, at any rate. And you're right, Mainstreet, Nash is worth his weight in gold--for those who appreciate team ball, there's no doubt who deserved the MVP.
This is pretty close to what I have expected for months. $40 million was probably too low considering that Barbosa got $33; but $50 million was still pretty steep for a center who averages only .19 rpm. $45 million feels like a reasonable value and makes Boris tradeable if it becomes necessary (a sad but true aspect of every signing). What is more important, it takes away a potentially significant distraction.
Guys who are in "contract years" can be motivated to play better than otherwise, but they can also create problems if they don't get the minutes. With KT and Amare (and even the Jones boys) competing for inside minutes; it could be a problem if Boris felt D'Antoni was trying to diminish his value. I'm not sure how big a problem that could have been, but this eliminates it as a concern.
Wow, it's official now, yay! It won't surprise me if the total dollar figure turns out to be higher than first reported (as happened with the leaks of Nash's and Quentin Richardson's contracts, as well as Marion's extension). If it starts at $9 million, that will end up being pretty high (around $53/5 I think), but even so it's probably a good idea.
Next summer will be very interesting, since there's no way the Suns can afford to keep all of their assets. But they are in good shape for this year right now, so that's excellent news.
iirc Nash's contract was actually lower than initially reported and Q's contract was the same(but the cap was lower than they thought which is why they had to adjust Nash's).
Anyway it's being reported that Diaw's contract is a flat 9mil per year with no raises, which is pretty odd.
Let's give BC some credit for insisting Diaw be include in the JJ sign and trade. Besides the difference in salary committment between the two (25 million???) the Suns got two first round draft picks and the TE created begat JR. Yes, BC made some mistakes, but he always rolled the dice to try to make the Phoenix Suns better... the same as his father. I honestly don't think the Suns would have made it to the WCF's last year with JJ instead of Diaw. I understand David Griffin was part of the decision making process as well, as mentioned in the Suns' news conference yesterday regarding the Diaw extension.
See comment from Paul Coro article, Arizona Republic, October 20th, 2004:
"Diaw, a supposed afterthought Bryan Colangelo insisted on in the Joe Johnson trade, has turned into an indispensable passing big man for Phoenix. Atlanta, Diaw's former team, could not find a role player in Diaw, yet Diaw joined Jason Kidd and LeBron James as the only players to average six rebounds and six assists last season."
Let's give BC some credit for insisting Diaw be include in the JJ sign and trade.
Sure, I guess. Though I don't think he really had to insist that hard, do you? He was considered by nearly everyone in the Hawks organization as a bust.
__________________ One thing remains clear: While the Suns still have one eye on the prize, the other is focused squarely on the bottom line.
Wow, it's official now, yay! It won't surprise me if the total dollar figure turns out to be higher than first reported (as happened with the leaks of Nash's and Quentin Richardson's contracts, as well as Marion's extension). If it starts at $9 million, that will end up being pretty high (around $53/5 I think), but even so it's probably a good idea.
Here are a few more details from AZ Republic
Quote:
That put Diaw in position for a unique contract. It pays him $9 million annually rather than including raises based on a 10.5 percent hike of the first year. The fifth season in the contract is a player option - more attractive because Diaw could seek a new deal after four years.
How unreal would it be for Atlanta to get like the second or third pick in next year's draft and the Suns trade Marion to them for the pick.
I just wish I could find some crazy idea of trading Marion to Atlanta for JJ next season... and JJ had that front loaded contract.
Please don't take me serious about the JJ idea. I just enjoy irony. I like Marion as well.
The point is that we can move one of our higher priced players for a young stud at a lower salary. We have all the pieces to have tremendous flexibility.
Still, I really wouldn't want to trade Marion and that Atlanta pick for anything less than the #1. And its probably true that most teams that win the lottery this year will not want to trade that pick under ANY circumstances.
There are a number of other options. We're not the Knicks, we have quality players with tradeable contracts and a boatload of picks to throw in to get almost any deal done.
(Oct. 19, 2006)
But it's not Sarver I was wrong about; I've never been particularly down on him. It was the team's posture with respect to the luxury tax. This probably means that Kurt Thomas will be packaged with one or more draft picks next summer in order to shed salary.
Quote:
Originally Posted by elindholm
(Oct. 20, 2006)
Next summer will be very interesting, since there's no way the Suns can afford to keep all of their assets. But they are in good shape for this year right now, so that's excellent news.
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