Sasha Blinks, Varejao Continues Stand Off

[raisen]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

Restricted summer, what a bummer
September 22nd, 2007
This was bound to happen sometime. In a trend story in the Sporting News about NBA restricted free agents threatening to go to Europe, Sasha Pavlovic’s agent, Marc Cornstein, makes a half-hearted threat that Sasha may go to Europe instead of taking a qualifying offer with the Cavs. Someone’s frustration with the current situation was going public and Sasha’s side was the first to blink.

I haven’t written here in awhile because, frankly, there was nothing to write about. There still isn’t a whole lot because this bluff by Cornstein — who is a good agent just trying to do his job — isn’t a very good one and the situation is still the same as it was. We’ll talk about that in a minute.

Restricted free agency often turns into a mess and for lots of different reasons. If teams pay the asking price they often are chided for overpaying and not letting the market play out. If a team signs a player to an offer sheet and it gets matched the team often looks like a fool. If the player waits until the end and takes the qualifying offer (as might very well happen with both Anderson Varejao and Pavlovic) there are angry vows made and plenty of hurt feelings. Sign-and-trades are very difficult to pull off and sometimes nullify the effectiveness of the entire signing. In fact, last summer’s seemingly fair resolution when Drew Gooden signed a market value contract for three years is a rarity.

This is also the time of year unsigned restricted free agents — the ones the market has passed by due to their status and sign-and-trade deals have gone by the wayside — get crazy with frustration. Which is why next week there could be fireworks one way or another with Andy and Sasha. Either you’re going to see smiling faces with 11th hour deals or you’re going to hear very tough talk and threats about walking if they are forced into signing one-year qualifying offers. There’s very little chance of it going another than those two directions.

In Sasha’s case, he’s not going to Europe. First off, his $2.8 million qualifying offer would be the most he’s ever made and he’s not going to get that overseas. Also, those training camps have already started and he’s never played at the top level of Eurobasket and he’s not been very good in international competition, either. Not to mention, if he wants to come back to the NBA, he’d still be restricted. The problem with him is the deals swingmen have signed this year are all over the board. Jason Kapono, a great guy for whom I couldn’t be happier, got a crazy contract with the Raptors for the full mid-level. Then there were guys like Morris Peterson and Desmond Mason, wing veterans who are more highly regarded than Kapono or Pavlovic, getting around half of that. Then there’s a guy like Ruben Patterson, who averaged more points and rebounds than Pavlovic and is a much better defender, and he signed for the NBA minimum. Plus, due to his status, the Cavs would be bidding against themselves for Sasha at this point. I am all for players getting paid, but just why would the Cavs increase whatever offer they have made? It isn’t because of the Cornstein threat, I’ll tell ya.

Even Charlie Bell, who was a good player in Europe and had a legit offer from a quality European team on the table, couldn’t convince the Bucks when he tried the same tactic. It wasn’t until his agent, Mark Bartelstein, shrewdly convinced Miami though a media blitz that Bell hated the entire state of Wisconsin, that he got an offer sheet from the Heat. Sasha has no such suitors. By the way, it’s been quite a summer for Bartelstein, who sold the Bucks that Mo Williams actually would leave tens of millions on the table to play in Miami rather than Milwaukee. The Bucks raised their offer and suddenly January on Lake Michigan didn’t seem so bad to Mo. Gotta love it. Now ask me if I believe Andrei Kirilenko is dropping $63 million (that’s um, $1.5 billion rubles by the way) on the table. Yeah, right.

As for Varejao, for him the stakes are higher. His qualifying offer is much lower, just over $1.2 million. If he plays for that my guess is he’ll be leaving at least $4 million on the table for this season alone. If he wants to prove his point and vows to walk next summer, the best he is probably going to get is the mid-level exception from a team (ask guys like Stromile Swift and Vlad Radmanovic). It’s likely the Cavs are offering him more than that now. So, if I were him, despite his strong desire to land a $50 million contract or whatever, I’d pay attention to what Gooden did and take a three-year deal that will likely increase his net worth by 10 times while still putting him in position to command a massive deal when he’s in his prime. But don’t ask me, I’m just trying to be objective.

http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/

 

[Maximus]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

I mean I know Ferry is trying to get the best deal possible but at some point both sides need to come to a middle ground, unless Sasha's camp is being outrageous and refusing to budge which could be the point or vice versa...

This unfortunately is the case with both of them. As of yesterday, Andy wants 10M...not 8M...10M. There is no coming to a middle ground because Fegan hasn't budged, and he and Andy's brother won't let him budge. They have him completely brainwashed....it's sad really. He says he's going to take the QO and walk for a big payday next year. Unless he has a breakout year I just don't see him getting an offer over MLE.

Sasha wants full MLE and hasn't budged either. I agree with BW, there is zero chance he goes to Europe...it would gain him nothing. It would actually be a setback for him as a player and he would be in the same restricted position when he returns.

 

[Jon]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

On the thought that Sasha might be the next EuroJordan if he went to the Euroleague, I did some searches to see what the last EuroJordan earned. From what I can tell, Anthony Parker was earning $1.2M/yr playing for Maccabi. His buyout was $1.5M and Maccabi's entire payroll was around $10M.

So it does seem unlikely that a Euroleague team would or could pay Sasha the $5M+/yr it would take to tempt him out of the NBA, but maybe some of their teams have crazy billionaires with nothing better to do with their money over there too?

It's just a matter of time, though, if Stern and gang are successful and the sport keeps growing overseas.

 

[TheISHT]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

The dude has no offensive game to speak of. If I were Ferry I'd tell AV and Sasha to go line up any sign and trade deal for what they're asking and I'll do it.

No team would pay Andy 10 million. No team would pay Sasha 5 mill. They ride the coat tails of LJ. I'd rather have Charlie Bell than Sasha and I'd rather have Gooden @ 8 than AV at 10.

 

[chiefwahoo]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

In Sasha’s case, he’s not going to Europe. First off, his $2.8 million qualifying offer would be the most he’s ever made and he’s not going to get that overseas. Also, those training camps have already started and he’s never played at the top level of Eurobasket and he’s not been very good in international competition, either. Not to mention, if he wants to come back to the NBA, he’d still be restricted.

I rest my case...

 

[Maximus]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

On the thought that Sasha might be the next EuroJordan if he went to the Euroleague, I did some searches to see what the last EuroJordan earned. From what I can tell, Anthony Parker was earning $1.2M/yr playing for Maccabi. His buyout was $1.5M and Maccabi's entire payroll was around $10M.

So it does seem unlikely that a Euroleague team would or could pay Sasha the $5M+/yr it would take to tempt him out of the NBA, but maybe some of their teams have crazy billionaires with nothing better to do with their money over there too?

It's just a matter of time, though, if Stern and gang are successful and the sport keeps growing overseas.

As I said the other day Sarunas is going to eventually sign with Greece for the largest contract in Euro history. It will be 2 years for 9.8M.

 

[The Voice]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

Sasha won't sign with Europe, he'd be dumb to. That money sounds good to him now, but if he signs a 1 year deal with the cavs. He will be offered more then the cavs are offering him, plus he was a starter last year. Why would he throw that away?

 

[CBBI]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

I'll go ahead and say it, if the Franchise leaves, I leave.

 

[The Oi]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

I'll go ahead and say it, if the Franchise leaves, I leave.

If the franchise leaves...I will move where he goes.

 

[imahustla]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

This guys wants $10 million a year???

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[LyXo]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

As for Varejao, for him the stakes are higher. His qualifying offer is much lower, just over $1.2 million. If he plays for that my guess is he’ll be leaving at least $4 million on the table for this season alone. If he wants to prove his point and vows to walk next summer, the best he is probably going to get is the mid-level exception from a team (ask guys like Stromile Swift and Vlad Radmanovic). It’s likely the Cavs are offering him more than that now. So, if I were him, despite his strong desire to land a $50 million contract or whatever, I’d pay attention to what Gooden did and take a three-year deal that will likely increase his net worth by 10 times while still putting him in position to command a massive deal when he’s in his prime. But don’t ask me, I’m just trying to be objective.

The question now becomes:

If Drew Gooden figured it out, then how stupid is Varejao?

 

[imahustla]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

how stupid is Varejao?

Just look at the youtube video above your post to find out...

 

[aaronr]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

Andy, as shown by CavalierAttitude's clip and the $10 million demand reported by Max, is not the brightest bulb. Somebody needs to sit him down and make him understand he's a role player who's damn lucky to be playing with Lebron. Maybe Lebron could sit him down and tell him what side his bread is buttered on.

 

[CleveRocks]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

There will be no setting down. If Andy believes he is the next Dirk, and signs the QO with a lot of negative sputter, I would trade his butt to Seattle in a heart beat.

 

[Maximus]

Re: Sasha Pavlovic Considers Playing In Europe

Maybe Lebron could sit him down and tell him what side his bread is buttered on.

We need to get him in town...that's a big part of the problem. He is out of the country and Fegan is trying to isolate him. If he would get back here, some of the people he is tight with here could reason with him and get him to move on his ridiculous demands. Sadly, Fegan is not concerned at all about what is in Anderson's best interest.
Andy is a kid that is easily influenced...unfortunately it's his brother Sandro and Fegan doing the influencing.