I’m sure you’ve all seen this story already, but in case you didn’t, Jeff Green has basically echoed Kevin Durant saying he prefers to stay right where he’s at.
“This is a great city to play in. The basketball atmosphere is great, and it’s a great place to raise a family. So I wouldn’t mind.”
Honestly, Green’s contract situation is probably the most underrated, underdiscussed thing about this summer. More than likely Durant’s extension will directly influence Green’s. I would assume, the more Durant gets, the less Green does.
Now obviously Uncle Jeff isn’t going to get paid like KD. The question is, what’s a fair extension for Green? In his third year, his numbers dipped some from last season, but his team is playing much, much better and he’s a large part of that. Especially as of late in February and March, where he’s picked up his game some. Some have asked what a proper extension would be is. I’m thinking in the area of $7-9M a year is acceptable, especially in the new NBA economy. If Green were up for an extension three years ago, he’d probably have gotten a bigger number. But the cap is set to drop and mid-level players are going to start making less.
Obviously you don’t want to lose him, but you also don’t want to get roped into overpaying and saddling yourself with a potentially bad contract (see: Aldridge, LaMarcus). Green is an extremely valuable piece to the Thunder with his glue guyness, his strong leadership and the chemistry he ties the team together with. You absolutely don’t want to lose him. He’s part of the long term plans for this franchise and part of what’s working right now. I think it would be wise to make a strong effort to keep him, and by the way it sounds, he wants to.
Does anyone know if Krstic has exercised his next season's player option on his contract?
Kev :
it would stink if Collison left – if any guy is underrated, it’s him . . .
I couldn't agree more Kev
it would stink if Collison left - if any guy is underrated, it's him . . .
@Sammy
What makes you so sure Krstic will be gone? If we sign him back for a smaller yearly rate, or even the same (with the following years declining in payrate), I would still enjoy having him on the team. He could still be a decent backup option if say Serge takes off or we lose Collison.
@Joe
The decision to bring back Collison would have a lot to do with:
a) The development of Mullens, White, and the upcoming draft picks
b) Collison's continued effectiveness through the end of next season
c) How Presti spends his cap space this summer.
d) How much other teams are willing to pay for his services. It's known that some stat savvy teams have long coveted Collison.
Krstic will also be gone next summer, so OKC would have two frontcourt rotation spots to fill. I have to think that at least one of those will be addressed this summer.
What is really fortuitous is that whatever amount the Thunder sign Green and Durant to, it doesn't kick in until after next season, at just the same time that Collison's deal (close to 7 mil) expires. My guess is that Collison won't get 7 million more going forward, so if he is to stay, he will have to take less money as he's getting at about 30 years old. Plus Etan's contract and Harps contract are gone this year, so the money is there.
I hope Collison will resign, but it will have more to do with who they draft this off season and what the teams plans are for D.J.White.
Holy cow what a shot by Evan Turner.
Just offer him enough to keep him but still have room to resign RW when his time comes.
clarkem :
How cool is this
http://espn.go.com/nba/
Nice article. I really want some video of Presti rapping now.
How cool is this
http://espn.go.com/nba/
@justin
Ahh i see. I wasnt sure if the entire offer sheet had to match(X amount of dollars for each year) or if just the total number had to be the same.
@andrew
They didn't. Portland signed him to that offer sheet. Utah could either match it or let Millsap go.
If i would venture a guess I would say he will get a 5 year/40 million dollar deal. Start it at ten million, and decrease each year by a million... I doubt the second part would happen though... Also, I am a little confused by millsaps contract.. Why would Utah give him so much in the first year causing themselves to have to scramble to get under the luxury tax during the season?
I don't think there's any chance Green signs for less than the MLE - he'll get what they think is fair market value unless he switches agents.
There's a perception around the league and media that Green is part of the 'core' but he's nowhere near as important to this team as Durant or Westbrook. Will a team pay him like Russ is going to get paid? It's possible. If that's possible, his asking price may go up.
i hope he will sign for 6 or less
Boots :
And throw in a baby carriage in the new contract as a bonus since Uncle Jeff is planning on popping out kids soon (apparently)
wait he is a women?
And throw in a baby carriage in the new contract as a bonus since Uncle Jeff is planning on popping out kids soon (apparently)
@Keith
Even better would be if it's structured like Paul Millsap's deal, with that gigantic bonus in the first year..
I think green has room to grown and develop still. Plus, he has shown many times this year he is able to make a big play when the time comes. I don't know if you can put a price on having more than one person having the ability to give us a win when the game is on the line, making the other team think twice about doubling up on Durant.
I like both justin and Keith's contract figures.
7 million a year, decreasing contract that coincides with KD's increase. That is, I believe KD starts around 13 million (25% of cap at 53 million cap) with 1.3 million increases. Green should get a contract of equal length to KD that averaged 7 million a year but that goes down by 1.3 million each year.
It locks both guys together on the team, keeps the duo price from increasing over time (limiting options and perhaps injuring single year affordability near the end of the contracts), and pays Green what he's worth. Further, it means Green will be getting around 10 million in his first year, so he does get a big payday right off the bat for future security.
I think a deal like Paul Millsap's would be the best, four years $31 million. Sounds about right. Maybe even less. Maybe 5/35 like Trevor Ariza.
The key to all this is determining exactly how much of the team's success this season is Jeff Green responsible for. That will tell you how much he's worth. Obviously, different people will have different opinions. We'll see what Sam Presti's is come sumemrtime.