Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 at 10:15 am  |  16 responses

Richard Jefferson Was Smart to Opt Out

Remember when everyone laughed at RJ for opting out of a deal that would’ve netted him $15 mil next season? Yeah, about that  … NBA.com has the scoop: “Sources tells TNT’s David Aldridge that forward Richard Jefferson’s new contract with the San Antonio Spurs, officially announced on Wednesday, is for four years and $38.8 million, with a player option for the final season at a little more than $11 million. Jefferson had opted out of the final year of his contract with the Spurs, which would have paid him $15 million next season, in order to test free agency. But most league officials believed the 30-year-old Jefferson would re-sign with the Spurs, who acquired him from Milwaukee last summer in a deal with the Bucks for Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas. Jefferson struggled for much of last season with the Spurs as he learned Gregg Popovich’s system, averaging just 12.3 points, his lowest average since his rookie season. But veteran players usually take at least a year or two to fully pick up the Spurs’ complex offensive and defensive systems, and tend to improve greatly in their second or third season. The Spurs anticipate that Jefferson, a career 47 percent shooter, will return to his normal form next season.”

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  • Sven Posted: Jul.22 at 10:31 am
    Risky move by RJ at first. Time will tell but let’s say he would have picked up the option and gotten a new contract (after a possible lock out) of 3 years at 5 mio/year. That would have meant 30 mio over 4 years. He’s better of now and at least already has the security of being signed for ‘ more years.
    Risk worth taking.

  • Kevin Posted: Jul.22 at 10:32 am
    If I see Jefferson on the streets of San Antonio, aint no telling what I might do.

  • J Posted: Jul.22 at 10:41 am
    player option at the last year? WOW.. did he really signed with the spurs?

  • AT33 Posted: Jul.22 at 10:54 am
    He is weak. The Spurs usually sign players for a bargain but on this one I think they’re paying double. Final year should have been team option.

  • Kevin Posted: Jul.22 at 10:58 am
    that’s.. a lot of money for someone who struggled.. i was picturing 2 years with team option on 3rd, for 8 mill a year.. wow, maybe the Spurs see something in Jefferson that i don’t

  • niQ Posted: Jul.22 at 11:00 am
    Relax guys, the Spurs are just trying to be optimistic…

  • neaorin Posted: Jul.22 at 11:18 am
    In other news, the chances of a lockout next summer have shot up to 110 percent.

  • AL29 Posted: Jul.22 at 11:23 am
    What the hell are they thinking. They should have just let him walk.

  • TrailBlazing&SportingLisbon Posted: Jul.22 at 11:29 am
    Pop is seeing something we clearly dont.

  • LDR4 Posted: Jul.22 at 11:56 am
    They need to relocate the Alamo. Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William B. Travis never flopped.

  • Drew Posted: Jul.22 at 12:14 pm
    Well considering they got Splitter for 15 cents on the dollar, this deal evens things out. I look at it as $40 Million/4 years for Splitter and RJ. Now that doesn’t seem too bad.

  • LA Huey Posted: Jul.22 at 12:18 pm
    Wow…the owners really must be struggling if a player of RJ’s caliber is only getting coins and buttons for his services.

  • Drew Posted: Jul.22 at 12:50 pm
    @ LA Huey – Coins in buttons? You trying to say that the Spurs are underpaying him? Are you serious?

  • unrel Posted: Jul.22 at 1:22 pm
    i used to love playing 2k with the nets.. kidd running point with vince and rj on the wings.. i know it’s off topic.. but who cares.. this story doesn’t matter until we see RJ’s production this coming season

  • Tarzan Cooper Posted: Jul.22 at 1:38 pm
    I think rj will be fine, he had some great games in the playoffs

  • SLAM ONLINE | » Richard Jefferson: Rejuvenated Posted: Nov.5 at 10:31 am
    [...] about everyone (including yours truly) slammed the Spurs‘ front-office when they re-signed the forward last season, but [...]

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