Nash agrees to terms with Phoenix

[wyvrn]

All about the benjamins. Nash was quoted during the season that Dallas didn't need a max deal to keep him in town. I guess he was lying. I don't blame Nash for taking the contract, but it really sucks for fans when a player for whom you have great respect turns out to be a fraud. Enjoy the money Nash, because Phoenix isn't going to win a championship anytime soon. Man I hope Dallas gets Shaq now and just pounds Phoenix when they come to town...

 

[vi edit]

So I guess this means Kobe isn't coming to the Valley of the Sun?

 

[wyvrn]

Apparently not. Phoenix doesn't think it will have near enough to sign him. I doubt Kobe leaves LA though, the management there is slobbering all over him.

 

[Stark]

so much for him playing the rest of his career with dirk. i guess that means diggler can move to LA in the upcoming shaq trade and go back to making movies in the san fernando valley

 

[wyvrn]

Now that Nash is gone, I wouldn't mind Dallas trading Dirk. Devin Harris and Daniels can both play the point, and Dallas could sign a guy like Fisher, who has championship experience, as a backup. Add Shaq in the middle, Finley at SG, and Howard starts at SF. Walker could play PF or we could trade him and/or Stack for a better PF in 60 days. Either way, that is a much better defensive team than last year, and probably nearly as good offensively. Finley is the best shooter on the team percentage wise anyway.

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: Stark
so much for him playing the rest of his career with dirk. i guess that means diggler can move to LA in the upcoming shaq trade and go back to making movies in the san fernando valley

dirk can't go to LA, cubes won't let him. And even if the mavs can dirk to LA for Shaq they wouldn't because then that leaves them with an aging center and no other talent around him

 

[badluck]

Do you even follow NBA basketball? Nash saw the writing on the wall. It's not like it was hard to see. Remember who the Mavs drafted in the 1st round?

 

[isekii]

I doubt Kobe will leave either.
They're offering him I believe 140mil.

 

[wyvrn]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: Stark
so much for him playing the rest of his career with dirk. i guess that means diggler can move to LA in the upcoming shaq trade and go back to making movies in the san fernando valley

dirk can't go to LA, cubes won't let him. And even if the mavs can dirk to LA for Shaq they wouldn't because then that leaves them with an aging center and no other talent around him

Finley is an All-star. Daniels and Howard were great in their rookie seasons. Harris is the #5 pick in the draft, and easily better defensively than Nash. Walker and Stackhouse are still decent players and can at least be traded for something in return. Then you have a great role player in Najera. I'd say there is still some talent on this team, YOUNG talent especially. Podkolzine is a huge project, but the best thing for him would be to have Shaq showing him some moves and allowing him to ride the bench as he learns.

Do you even follow NBA basketball? Nash saw the writing on the wall. It's not like it was hard to see. Remember who the Mavs drafted in the 1st round?

Yes but your argument is stupid . First of all, Dallas drafted Harris as a backup. Most teams don't start rookies at the point. They have been really missing having a backup point since they traded Van Exel, and Nash has been getting waaay too many minutes which is going to shorten his career. Add to the fact that he insists on playing in Canada during the offseason, and you see why Nash's stats usually go down in the playoffs every year. Dallas was protecting it's PG position more than anything, which they have a legitimate right to do. The fact that Cuban was with Nash at the first second of FA proves that they wanted him. But Nash was the one who lied about the max contract to keep him here. He could have kept his word and taken the Dallas deal, but of course he didn't.

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: wyvrn
All about the benjamins. Nash was quoted during the season that Dallas didn't need a max deal to keep him in town. I guess he was lying. I don't blame Nash for taking the contract, but it really sucks for fans when a player for whom you have great respect turns out to be a fraud. Enjoy the money Nash, because Phoenix isn't going to win a championship anytime soon. Man I hope Dallas gets Shaq now and just pounds Phoenix when they come to town...

Its about contract length, Nash wants 5 years with the option of a sixth. Cuban only wanted to give a 3-4 year contract.

 

[wyvrn]

Its about contract length, Nash wants 5 years with the option of a sixth. Cuban only wanted to give a 3-4 year contract.

That's called a max contract, as in max years and money. Nash said he didn't need a max contract. Dallas offered him 4 years at 10 mil per. That was a fair offer, given Nash's gung-ho style of play and likelihood of dropoff after 4 years. Sure Nash can get more elsewhere, and Cuban was right not to match. But I still have a problem with Nash LYING.

edit: The only reason I can see Nash leaving is if Cuban told him they wanted to sign and trade him to LA for Shaq. Then I wouldn't blame Nash for wanting to chose his new team, that's his right as a FA. But with the information we know so far, Nash looks like a fraud.

Also, I don't players arguments that they want the security of a long-term deal. First of all, if Nash is any good in 4 years, he'll will get another contract from someone. Basically, players are trying to get longer deals in case they get hurt and can't play. But that is a moral issue, taking money on a contract when you aren't fullfilling your obligations, and I don't blame Cuban for offering a shorter deal to Nash. Phoenix is going to get burned on the tail end of that contract because either Nash gets hurt or at 34 years of age, is not going to be the same player he is now.

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: wyvrn

Its about contract length, Nash wants 5 years with the option of a sixth. Cuban only wanted to give a 3-4 year contract.

That's called a max contract, as in max years and money. Nash said he didn't need a max contract. Dallas offered him 4 years at 10 mil per. That was a fair offer, given Nash's gung-ho style of play and likelihood of dropoff after 4 years. Sure Nash can get more elsewhere, and Cuban was right not to match. But I still have a problem with Nash LYING.

He didn't lie, the Suns didn't sign Nash to a max contract. They signed him to a five-year deal worth 65. The first year salary is the same that Cuban offered - 10 million.

 

[badluck]

Originally posted by: wyvrn

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: Stark
so much for him playing the rest of his career with dirk. i guess that means diggler can move to LA in the upcoming shaq trade and go back to making movies in the san fernando valley

dirk can't go to LA, cubes won't let him. And even if the mavs can dirk to LA for Shaq they wouldn't because then that leaves them with an aging center and no other talent around him

Finley is an All-star. Daniels and Howard were great in their rookie seasons. Harris is the #5 pick in the draft, and easily better defensively than Nash. Walker and Stackhouse are still decent players and can at least be traded for something in return. Then you have a great role player in Najera. I'd say there is still some talent on this team, YOUNG talent especially. Podkolzine is a huge project, but the best thing for him would be to have Shaq showing him some moves and allowing him to ride the bench as he learns.

Do you even follow NBA basketball? Nash saw the writing on the wall. It's not like it was hard to see. Remember who the Mavs drafted in the 1st round?

Yes but your argument is stupid . First of all, Dallas drafted Harris as a backup. Most teams don't start rookies at the point. They have been really missing having a backup point since they traded Van Exel, and Nash has been getting waaay too many minutes which is going to shorten his career. Add to the fact that he insists on playing in Canada during the offseason, and you see why Nash's stats usually go down in the playoffs every year. Dallas was protecting it's PG position more than anything, which they have a legitimate right to do. The fact that Cuban was with Nash at the first second of FA proves that they wanted him. But Nash was the one who lied about the max contract to keep him here. He could have kept his word and taken the Dallas deal, but of course he didn't.

Dallas chose not to match the contract he signed with Phoenix. The Mavs have been shopping Nash about as much as Imelda Marcos shops for shoes. There was no secret to this. I think it is evident that the Mavs brought Harris in so they would have a solution at PG when they dumped Nash and others onto the Lakers for Shaq. Most teams don't move up to #5 in the draft to get a back-up point guard (I could see your point if it was a high school kid). The Mavs brass said one thing publicly, but the truth was that Nash was a goner if they could find someone to take him....

 

[wyvrn]

He didn't lie, the Suns didn't sign Nash to a max contract. They signed him to a five-year deal worth 65. The first year salary is the same that Cuban offered - 10 million.

Well it is max salary at least, right? That is a semi-good point, but I still think Nash was lying about taking less to stay in Dallas. 10 million a year for 4 years is a very good deal for him. He isn't the best point guard in the league, he is a defensive liability, and he plays a style that is likely to shorten his career. Plus he is good friends with Dirk and they have a pick and roll that is devastating to other teams. It's not like Dallas was that far off, so it HAD to be the money.

As far as trades, they were all rumors. Every player is rumored to be in trades on radio talk shows, but Cuban himself said 99% of possible deals will never happen. So what?

edit: gotta study, check back later.

 

[badluck]

Originally posted by: wyvrn

He didn't lie, the Suns didn't sign Nash to a max contract. They signed him to a five-year deal worth 65. The first year salary is the same that Cuban offered - 10 million.

Well it is max salary at least, right? That is a semi-good point, but I still think Nash was lying about taking less to stay in Dallas. 10 million a year for 4 years is a very good deal for him. He isn't the best point guard in the league, he is a defensive liability, and he plays a style that is likely to shorten his career. Plus he is good friends with Dirk and they have a pick and roll that is devastating to other teams. It's not like Dallas was that far off, so it HAD to be the money.

As far as trades, they were all rumors. Every player is rumored to be in trades on radio talk shows, but Cuban himself said 99% of possible deals will never happen. So what?

edit: gotta study, check back later.

Nash said, "It's exciting, but it's also bittersweet," Nash told ESPN.com. "I'm really sad to leave my teammates, but I'm glad to be going somewhere where they really wanted me."

He made those comments about taking less money when he felt like he was part of the team. I'm telling you...it wasn't hard to see that he was being shopped. If Cuban wanted him, he could have matched the contract and made the commitment to him. I guess I can only say it so many ways.....

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: wyvrn

He didn't lie, the Suns didn't sign Nash to a max contract. They signed him to a five-year deal worth 65. The first year salary is the same that Cuban offered - 10 million.

Well it is max salary at least, right? That is a semi-good point, but I still think Nash was lying about taking less to stay in Dallas. 10 million a year for 4 years is a very good deal for him. He isn't the best point guard in the league, he is a defensive liability, and he plays a style that is likely to shorten his career. Plus he is good friends with Dirk and they have a pick and roll that is devastating to other teams. It's not like Dallas was that far off, so it HAD to be the money.

As far as trades, they were all rumors. Every player is rumored to be in trades on radio talk shows, but Cuban himself said 99% of possible deals will never happen. So what?

edit: gotta study, check back later.

Max salary is around 14-15 million depending on the tenure of the player signing the contract. Players such as Garnett, Shaq, and Michael Jordan are under grandfather clauses and qualify for more. Teams signing another teams free agents are limited to six-year deals; teams re-signing their own free agents can use seven year deals.

 

[PlatinumGold]

isn't Nash going BACK to pheonix?

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
isn't Nash going BACK to pheonix?

as far as the verbal agreement goes, yes~

 

[RagingBITCH]

We all knew Nash wasn't going to stay in Dallas. If he really wanted to stay a Mav for life he never would have opted out of the last year. Cuban even said that he wasn't shelling out any more max contracts which is what Nash wanted. It didn't matter what Nash brought back for Cuban to match in all reality. Now it's really up to Cuban to resign Daniels - he's no Steve but he has very good potential, only a glimpse of which we saw in last year's playoffs when he rose up.

But we really need to land Shaq or someone. Our team is a total mess of players right now. We have more people than we know what to do with. Stackhouse, Laetter, Harris, the guy we got from Utah, in addition to the useless Walker, useless Bradley, then Dirk, Finley, and the others. If we don't land at least someone else or trade the excess that we have we're even more fvcked than last season, which was a total disaster.

 

[wyvrn]

Hopefull we can either get Shaq, or at least get Dampier in a sign and trade. I would still like our core then.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Yep How old is Dampier anyway? I was reading something on him but forgot to read that. Oh yea - Shaq's wife said she would love for Big Diesel to play in Dallas I just wonder how many realplayers we still have left though - if we keep Dirk and we have Shaq - who do we really have left? Assuming Finley and Walker were part of the deal, no one with the real experience or caliber to compliment Shaq. We have our own twin towers in Shaq and Dirk, but I'm pretty scared for the team other than that.

 

[Boogak]

For once Cuban did the wise thing and did not pony up ridiculous amount of money to keep one of our own (see M. Finley and R. LaFrentz). As much as I love Nash, there's no way he's worth $65 mil for 5 years. I don't blame him for opting out of his existing contract (he was making no where near the money he was worth, only bout $4 million per year or so IIRC) but at most I think he's a max money player for 3 years tops, the guy is 30 years old and is injury prone. He is also a huge defensive liability and once again got outplayed by Bibby in the playoffs.

 

[wkabel23]

Nash, Johnson, Stoudemaire, Marion

Looking good

 

[adelphi]

nash is overrated anyway....dallas has many offensive player so he pretty much is guarantee an assist whenever his whirlwind of hair chargin into the lane and chuck it to any of his teammates...
put him w/ the knicks and nobody can finish

i think tyrone lue and mcgrady in the backcourt w/ yao in the front will be hilarious to watch

kobe will balk and refuse to respect/guard lue in 05 playoffs vs rockets
(lue's prolly too fast for fisher too)

 

[billandopus]

Also, I don't (buy) players arguments that they want the security of a long-term deal. First of all, if Nash is any good in 4 years, he'll will get another contract from someone. Basically, players are trying to get longer deals in case they get hurt and can't play.

Superflous answer.

Of course players talk in diplomatic-speak when discussing contracts. The longer the term the better because at 30 years old he'll be decline(ing) ... maybe very slowly a la Stockton if he's lucky. But declining nonetheless.

Of course they try to get longer, more lucrative deals in case they get hurt or if their play drops. They still get paid. That's the whole point.

The whole "Nash ... any good in 4 years get another contract from someone" makes no sense at all.

Are you telling me that there's a good likelyhood that Nash will keep his play at a very, very high level after 4 more years in the NBA at the age of 34 going on 35 playing the point guard position - and will get the same or better quality of contract in 2008-9?

Are you nuts?

That's what Cuban is thinking and that's why owners want to keep contracts on the leaner side. Players want to get the fattest contract they can. If they can still play and get a good contract later on in their mid-thirties then even better.

You can be sore about Nash leaving Big D and I don't blame you. But from a professional athlete perspective you can't blame him for taking a 5 year 65 million dollar contract with a partial guarantee for a 6th ... considering that Dallas refused to match and never offered him an extension while locking up Finley and Dirk to max extensions.

Better get Harris ready in a hurry.