Nets ownership realized it couldn’t hope to entertain visions of sugary playoff plums without doing the right thing for their ruthless rebounder.
GIVEN how much both sides want and need each other, Jayson Williams’ contract negotiation with the Nets should have been over before it began.
Given the team’s melodious makeup and the jolt Williams gives the franchise and its fans, you’d think nobody would’ve played hard to get.
Given the firm figures established by the new collective bargaining agreement and how close we are to Tuesday’s momentous commencement exercise (when free agents are allowed to sign and teams are permitted to make trades) you’d have to believe this isn’t exactly the time to bluff.
Yet they do. For some reason, when two NBA parties get together to negotiate, what should fair always starts out ridiculously unfair.
In this case – to everyone’s credit – before egos got completely warped out of shape, and their relationship unraveled beyond repair, the undeniable became obvious:
Nets ownership (for a while there I thought Roy Boe was back in business) realized it couldn’t hope to entertain visions of sugary playoff plums without doing the right thing for their ruthless rebounder; and Williams recognized when enough really is enough.
According to sources on both sides of the table, a deal was reached in principle (six years, $86.6 million) yesterday afternoon. The Nets had been offering roughly five years at $65M while Williams’ agent, Sal DiFazio, had demanded seven years guaranteed at $104M.
Bad news on the door steps of the Hornets, Bulls, Pistons and Suns.
“We were hoping Jayson would get angry and stay angry at the Nets’ lowball offer,” said a team official whose organization had a high degree of interest in him. So much so it was prepared to renounce a couple salaries and make a little trade that would’ve given management close to $80M over six seasons to throw at the radical rebounder.
“We were hoping he’d sign with us out of spite. It’s a little late in the game to be fooling around like that. But they got a commitment and we’re back to recruiting other names we’ve got on our blackboard.” *SOURCES say the Wizards are willing to spend $11M per (no annual increase) for five years to re-sign Rod Strickland. Let’s see if the Rockets are willing to top that … Contrary to reports out of Detroit, the Pistons aren’t dangling nearly as much as $24M for six seasons in front of Cliff Robinson. But they definitely want the Suns free agent.
No one’s quite sure why Antonio McDyess is turned off by the Suns or even if it’s true. Maybe the 6-11 powerless forward can’t forget and forgive management and the coaching staff for its profound lack of excitement for his rebounding and feel for the game early last season. One way or the other, sources maintain McDyess has whittled his choices down to the Rockets and Nuggets.
Re-signing with the Nuggets would be a real hoot, not to mention vindication for Allan Bristow; fired when the team crashed to the bottom of the standings after the GM refused to give in to McDyess’ $100M contract demands and was traded to Phoenix for a bunch of draft picks.
The top pick acquired translated into Raef LaFrentz. Thus the Nuggets are in position to showcase the 6-11 rookie and McDyess in their frontcourt – and for $25-30M less than originally demanded.
Of course, there’s a price to pay somewhere else. Agent Tony Dutt is said to be asking the Nuggets to give his other client, Nick Van Exel, a new contract as part of the McDyess deal. Why aren’t we surprised?
Sources say the Blazers are shopping Brian Grant and Jermaine O’Neal. One call they made was to the Magic, offering the pair for Penny Hardaway. How could management resist bringing a center named O’Neal back to Orlando?
Asked if Michael Jordan was the greatest NBA player of all-time, Larry Bird wryly replied, “He’s one of two.” … Funny how a limitations on high-end salaries brings out the honesty in management. Spurs GM/coach Gregg Popovich, for example. “Tim Duncan is the best player in the league. Now I can say that.”
Could the Knicks and Pacers have backed their offers for Latrell Sprewell, or are the Warriors just covering all their bases? Yesterday, Golden State was calling around the league trying to find a place to re-route Jamal Mashburn should they accept Miami’s latest package of the former Kentucky star, Brent Barry and Dan Majerle. The Mysterious J has her heart set on Sprewell coming to New York so he can choke Patrick Ewing.
The Sixers continue to talk to the Lakers about re-signing Derrick Coleman (30 pounds overweight) and trading him to L.A. for Elden Campbell … Bulls are in the hunt for Pistons free agent Jerry Stackhouse … Raptors have made a formal extension offer to Charles Oakley. His response? Toronto has 90 days to impress me.
Kings and Clips are showing a passing fancy for Sherman Douglas, but the Nets are expected to re-sign him for three years at $2M per … Due to $30M salary cap, the Blazers no longer can absorb Kendall Gill’s $5M. But if they’re able to move O’Neal, the Bucks are hoping to pawn off Ervin Johnson on Portland.
Spurs want Vinny Del Negro back from Italy and he wants back. But San Antonio is still desperate for another outside shooter to keep double teams from swarming all over Duncan and David Robinson. Dell Curry, Dale Ellis and George McCloud are three names being mentioned. Steve Kerr isn’t on the list because he’s almost a lock to sign with the Pistons … Timberwolves offered Chris Carr for Will Perdue; Spurs want Anthony Peeler.
Michael Jordan’s real motive for retiring? He wants to hang around with Shawn Kemp’s kids.