Bjelica Close

[Monster]

That contract looks like a bargain I would have thought so before the FA started based on what Euto guys have gotten lately. You have to wonder why Bjelica took less money. He had to know he was worth another million a year or more there is no way around it. Is this just a sign of guys taking less to play for the Wolves? Rubio got a nice contract last summer but it was Rubio that said get the deal done. As we have said Rubio probably gets a bigger deal this summer than he got last summer even coming off the injury. He certainly wouldn't have gotten less. You know his agent knew that too and that was why his agent wanted him to hold out for more money. I don't want anyone to think Inam getting carried away here but it's interesting.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Nice find Volans! Wes always had a great smile. Remember how crazy it drove Lip in his game reports??

[Coolbreeze44]

That contract looks like a bargain I would have thought so before the FA started based on what Euto guys have gotten lately. You have to wonder why Bjelica took less money. He had to know he was worth another million a year or more there is no way around it. Is this just a sign of guys taking less to play for the Wolves? Rubio got a nice contract last summer but it was Rubio that said get the deal done. As we have said Rubio probably gets a bigger deal this summer than he got last summer even coming off the injury. He certainly wouldn't have gotten less. You know his agent knew that too and that was why his agent wanted him to hold out for more money. I don't want anyone to think Inam getting carried away here but it's interesting.

I think part of it is he had limited options. He was only holding 2 pair, whereas the Wolves had at least 3 of a kind.

[TAFKASP]

That contract looks like a bargain I would have thought so before the FA started based on what Euto guys have gotten lately. You have to wonder why Bjelica took less money. He had to know he was worth another million a year or more there is no way around it. Is this just a sign of guys taking less to play for the Wolves? Rubio got a nice contract last summer but it was Rubio that said get the deal done. As we have said Rubio probably gets a bigger deal this summer than he got last summer even coming off the injury. He certainly wouldn't have gotten less. You know his agent knew that too and that was why his agent wanted him to hold out for more money. I don't want anyone to think Inam getting carried away here but it's interesting.

I think part of it is he had limited options. He was only holding 2 pair, whereas the Wolves had at least 3 of a kind.

AB, AP, and who else?

[Tactical unit]

Gotta like a cheap team player that is 6'10". He can dribble, pass, rebound, and splash from 3pt range, what a value for the money :)

[Lipoli390]

That contract looks like a bargain I would have thought so before the FA started based on what Euto guys have gotten lately. You have to wonder why Bjelica took less money. He had to know he was worth another million a year or more there is no way around it. Is this just a sign of guys taking less to play for the Wolves? Rubio got a nice contract last summer but it was Rubio that said get the deal done. As we have said Rubio probably gets a bigger deal this summer than he got last summer even coming off the injury. He certainly wouldn't have gotten less. You know his agent knew that too and that was why his agent wanted him to hold out for more money. I don't want anyone to think Inam getting carried away here but it's interesting.

Bjelica had almost no bargaining power. He wanted to come to the NBA and the Wolves had the exclusive right to sign him. To be a free agent he would have had to stop playing pro basketball for a year. Obviously that wasn't a viable option for a 27 year old guy without much money who wanted to play in the NBA.

I think in Ricky's case he really likes it here and liked the idea of being a leader on a rebuilding team.

[Monster]

Good points about Bjelica not having much bargaining power but I also think most GMs try to give guys some sort of fair market value. I don't think its hard to say that 3 years 15 million was the base just about everyone was thinking it would take, both fans and media. I personally think Bjelica could have reasonably held out for that and got it if he wanted it but he didn't. It's clear he wanted to come over here and it's not about the money. Lull supposedly turned down 3 years 24 million from Houston and supposedly got a better contract in Spain. You can bet Bjelica could have gotten a nice contract if he wanted to stay overseas which we know he didn't. I like he realy wants to be in the NBA that's always what he wanted. At the price we got him locked into I am pretty glad we didn't trade him at this point. I'm pretty excited about seeing what he can do.

[Lipoli390]

Nice find Volans! Wes always had a great smile. Remember how crazy it drove Lip in his game reports??

Brings back disturbing memories and will likely trigger a string of nightmares from those many nights watching Wes Johnson laugh and smile on the bench as if he didn't have a care in the world while his teammates on the court were either fighting for their lives or getting their asses kicked. I'll never forgive Volans for posting that photo!!