Richard Jefferson's Surprise Decision Should Spook Spurs

by Robert Kleeman for BleacherReport.com
Written on July 01, 2010

The San Antonio Spurs hoped to structure their low-key summer around the expected signing of Brazilian big man Tiago Splitter.

The prized 2007 first-round draft pick appears ready to leave Spain and head to South Texas to complete the Europe-to-NBA jump.

GM R.C. Buford did not plan on a visit to a particular star's door step, or that a key cog not poised to hit the market would.

The team drafted Oklahoma State guard James Anderson last week and hoped to make another small splash this month by landing an additional role player. Matt Barnes, anyone?

Late Wednesday night, forward Richard Jefferson whacked Buford over the head with a frying pan the size of the Alamo. From floating the lazy river at a water park to now searching for a new starter at small forward, Jefferson's decision to opt out of his contract and leave $15 million on the table— as reported by the San Antonio Express-News — could send them into an unexpected scramble mode.

That lazy river may have become an ocean. As Hurricane Alex approaches Mexico and Texas, Hurricane Richard threatens to leave San Antonio a mess. A category one storm still qualifies as a dangerous event.

His potential departure would not sting if the front office had the cap space to lure a replacement. His exit would hurt the squad from a talent standpoint and might taint what remains of the Tim Duncan era.

This ranks as good news only in the eyes of delusional folks who do not understand the salary cap and how it handicaps the Spurs this summer.

I still contend the trade that landed him in San Antonio was a stupendous move. Buford surrendered bit role players in Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto, and Kurt Thomas and netted a versatile athlete with NBA Finals experience.

Waiting another year to fetch Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili some help would have proven disastrous. Chris Bosh was never coming to San Antonio, so get real. That "special" player the Spurs could have landed this summer was a pipe dream.

Buford isn't the weed-smoking type.

Jefferson wasn't that bad, and another year might allow him to coalesce better with his All-Star teammates.

If he leaves, the Spurs will have about $7 million total to sign Anderson, Splitter and find another small forward. They would have the same amount had he opted in for the final year of his deal.

Then, Buford could have pursued Barnes as a final glue piece. No one seems to know what Jefferson was thinking, or if he was thinking at all, when he walked away from $15 million.

In the most optimistic view, he opted out to afford the Spurs more wiggle room to improve the roster.

For those who prefer pessimism, he opted out to find another squad that he feels better suits his abilities. It says here the Spurs can still become that team.

The looming 2011 lockout could dampen the Spurs' financial future, as it would the entire league. Financial security surely factored into Jefferson's decision.

Jefferson must also hope that a team will offer him a multi-year deal that allows him to recoup some of the dough he forfeited Wednesday night. San Antonio better make sure it becomes that team.

The Spurs lack the money and the ability to find a comparable substitute.

I will write more as Jefferson's motives and landing spot become clearer.

How I understand the Salary Cap rules, we can't sign for "jefferson's" $ 15 million a monster free agent? If so, then the possible departure of Jefferson is a bad news Or we can take, for example, Joe Johnson?)

Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News: "Spurs fans who celebrated the news that Richard Jefferson opted out of the final year of his contract — and questioned his sanity for passing on the $15 million he is guaranteed to make next season — were as misguided as they assumed Jefferson to be. Unless it's payday and you're Peter Holt, there is no reason to feel good about the prospect of having Jefferson disappear from the Spurs roster, no matter how underwhelming his first season in silver and black may have been. The Spurs chairman won't have to sign any more of those bloated paychecks with Jefferson's name, but he is a basketball man at heart, so he knows this is true: From a basketball standpoint, losing Jefferson does not help his team. Should Jefferson sign with another team and leave the Spurs high and dry, the team's payroll still will be at, or near, the league's salary cap figure. ... Incredulous at Jefferson's decision, respected NBA basketball executives pondered preposterous pecuniary precedent. 'This one is right up there with Bonzi Wells,' said one Western GM, recalling how Wells walked away from a five-year, $37 million offer from the Kings in the summer of 2006, then ended up with a two-year, $4.5 million deal in Houston. 'This is like Spree,' said another."

Thursday, July 1st, 2010...6:06 am
Woj: Popovich working out Jefferson
48 Minutes of Hell

You may already have read this (news travels fast these days on the interwebs) but Adrian Wojnarowski reported last night that, although Richard Jefferson opted out, that does not necessarily mean he is leaving town.

Via Yahoo! Sports:

Sources said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has been personally working out Jefferson in San Antonio. The free-agent forward could re-sign with the team at a number that lowers the franchise’s luxury-tax hit while guaranteeing him more money on the back end of a multiyear contract.

I’ll admit, I was a little excited by the idea that the Richard Jefferson experiment may have come to an end. But a quick glance at the list of available wings makes me think that, if the Spurs have the opportunity to sign Jefferson to a multi-year deal for a significantly decreased annual amount, they’ll take it.