Thursday, July 16th, 2009...3:17 pm
DeJuan Blair’s Contract
DeJuan Blair signed with the Spurs today. The Spurs do not release contract information. We’re always left to sniff around. One non-Spurs source is reporting that the contract is a guaranteed 2.7 million over 3 years. If true, that’s a great deal for Blair and the Spurs.
But attentive fans will scratch their heads over this deal. I’m thinking out loud here, but follow me.
Second round picks are typically paid from the minimum salary exception, which can not be the case here. Blair’s annual salary exceeds the minimum (if I read DX correctly, that number is 457,588.) Blair signed a 3 year deal, which rules out the BAE. The bi-annual is capped at two years length.
As we all know by now, the Spurs are over cap, and we’ve already ruled out the lower level exception. That leaves the Spurs with the mid-level-but that was reportedly paid in full to Antonio McDyess. Hmm. Something doesn’t jibe.
A simple process of elimination leads me to believe that San Antonio did not pay McDyess the full MLE. Instead, they left just enough to give DeJuan Blair a sweetened contract, one comparable to a player drafted in the late first round.
Why? The Spurs get Blair for an additional season at bargain prices. Blair gets more money than a 37th pick typically commands, and the Spurs get a young, healthy DeJuan Blair on a three year steal . Everyone comes out ahead.
And Antonio McDyess? This is only conjecture, but I’d guess his third year partial guarantee is sizable. Sizable enough for him to take less over the first two years of his deal. It’s widely assumed that McDyess will retire after two seasons, which means the Spurs can trade him two summers from now much like they did with Bruce Bowen this season. He won’t be a true expiring, but the actual value of his contract will be less than it’s trade value.
But as I said, I’m merely trying to connect the dots. Maybe you can help me. Am I missing something? Is the Blair number incorrect?
Update: A good discussion along these lines is available here.
Update: Jeff McDonald and Kevin Arnovitz both report that Blair’s deal is four years at 3.8. The forth year is only partialy guaranteed. So, the numbers are consistent with those reported by HoopsWorld, via Jonathan Givony, plus a partial. McDonald also confirms that Blair was paid from the Spurs’ MLE, as we speculated.
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28 Comments
July 16th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
nice to know that Blair was already signed…. one question though, maybe the rumors are true that Blair the game against Denver because of contarct issues…. i hope he is not a selfish player….
July 16th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Robby,
A reliable source told me that Blair didn’t know he was going to sit until game time. That was a mutual decision on the part of the Spurs and his agent. And even if he has decided to sit. That’s not selfish. That’s smart. Why should he play for free? It’s well within his rights to take care of the business aspects-it is his career, after all.
July 16th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Thanks Tim,
i was just surprised because spurs are usually slow to sign their rookies… then after the rumor, here comes the Blair signing… but as a Spurs Fan, i’m happy to have him with our team!
i hope he develops good personality like Tim Duncan… and by the way i think giving Blair 2.7 over 3 years is a great deal for the Spurs! hope he stays healthy…
July 16th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
He also posted this to his twitter just before the game.
“game day!!! nothing better then playing basketball against people that are just as competitive as me.”
http://twitter.com/dejuan45
July 16th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I don’t understand why a guy looking out for his career is labeled a selfish player. How many people would start a job (especially one with a high injury risk) before they started getting paid?
July 16th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Sounds like blair is very happy to be a spur… we are too!
July 16th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Sorry this is off topic, no reason to post this, but just sharing a recent discovery of my own. It’s actually “jibe” rather than “jive” in “Something doesn’t jive.” I got corrected on it and thought I’d pass the info on for enlightenment’s sake! Love the work, keep it up!!!
July 16th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Josh,
You’re right. And I doubt you’ll believe me, but I knew that. I just missed a typo. The b and v are too close for my clumsy fingers. But thanks. It’s corrected.
July 16th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Just for fun, “jibe” is a real word. Its a way to turn a sailboat. And its really fun because when you do it you get to shout out “jibe ho!”
Dork alert.
July 16th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
guys just an update…. summer league, Spurs against OKC… spurs wins 85-76,
Hill has 20pts 5 rebs 9 assists and 3 stls…
Hairston 16pts and 6 rebs
Blair 20 pts and 5 rebs
Ian 13pts 5 rebs and only 2 fouls
Gist score 5 pts 4 rebs and 1 stl….
McClinton continues to struggle though.. good come from behind win by the Spurs…
July 16th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
If I was half as conscientious as you, I would quote a source, but I was already under the impression that Dice didn’t get the full MLE. I thought he got 3 yrs/15 mil or so and that the reason the Spurs got him for below MLE was b/c they had partially guranteed the 3rd yr. The other teams only offered 2 yr MLE deals. By partially guaranteeing the 3rd, the Spurs are essentially paying Dice a couple mill to retire.
Are you sure you didn’t write this analysis a few days ago? It was either you or PTR b/c you two are my main sources of Spurs news.
July 16th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Tim & Graydon,
I’m obsessively into soccer as much as basketball. And recently with some free time at work I looked up every possible Manchester United (arguably the most popular team) blog… and they suck! “Analysis” are basically bandwagon stuff, and no deep thinking or better information. I’ve always appreciate your writing and ability to get good info straight from the team, but to have read those, I realize you guys are at the very top in what you do. So, FYI … and stay restless
July 16th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I may be wrong, but isn’t a hold put on every teams salary cap for an estimated amount to sign all their draft picks. If that is true, then a certain amount would have already been included in our salary cap for Blair.
This may only be true for first round picks though. I don’t even know where one would check to verify this.
July 16th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
P. S. Orig Yahoo article with terms of Dice’s deal. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AsTWSgcgi5f5FIzx3OKCrHW8vLYF?slug=aw-mcdyess070809&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
July 16th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Blair gets a 4 year deal for 4 million, 3 yrs are guaranteed. That’s what they said on a local news station here in San Antonio.
July 16th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Truehoop had the Blair deal at 4 years, 3.8 mil
July 16th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Pittsburgh Review reports that Blair’s agent Happy Walters told them that Blair signed a 4-year $4 Million contract, with the 1st 3 years guaranteed.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/college/s_634105.html
July 16th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Confused by all the overthinking the salary conjecture. We will find out the real details of all the contracts eventually. With this signing done, Blair can focus on getting ready for NBA season. The speculation can ensue about rounding out the Spurs active roster.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Speaking of signings anyone want to weigh in on the probability that Lamar Odom resigns with the lakers next year?
July 16th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Hopefully he does not sign with the lakers. The spurs will have a much better chance of beating la next year without ariza or odom. Artest is a good player, but I would rather have ariza and odom over ron artest
July 16th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Hopefully he does not sign with the lakers. The spurs will have a much better chance of beating la next year without ariza or odom. Artest is a good player, but If I was the lakers I would rather have ariza and odom over ron artest
July 16th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
yeah sure. please odom doesn’t? please? the lakers should be the FO’s one and only worry as far as a ring is concerned. once you get to the finals it’s almost like what happens happens, ask the lakers last year or the 06 mavs or again the 04 lakers, get my drift? concentrate on getting to the finals, and realize that whatever circumstances got you there are impossible to predict, thus prepare, for. however. your conference finals foe is A LOT easier to predict, especially for us (caveats given for the cavs making this gamble last year and losing. but it wasn’t a dumb gamble to make. no one saw the magic being that good.) We’re gonna play the Lakers in the WCF next year, and Odom is our biggest matchup problem on both ends of the court. so please, please, let them be dumb enough to let him walk. I’m not half as scared of Artest.
July 17th, 2009 at 5:20 am
Does this mean the Spurs still have use of their Bi-Annual? Given the way the young guns are performing in Vegas it seems highly unlikely that the Spurs will need to use it.
July 17th, 2009 at 5:21 am
In my personal opinion, Odom will definitely sign with LA.
If LA does not sign Odom, their big rotation would look like Gasol, Bynum, Josh Powell, Ilunga-Mbenga, Elonu. Factor in the unfortunate circumstance that Bynum gets every night in foul trouble and has a huge health question mark, and that rotation would scream “trade”.
At the same time, if Odom does not sign with LA, he could only get a MLE, which is far less than LA’s offer, somewhere (Dallas, Miami), since the few teams with cap space (Portland, I’m not sure OKC has some left) are not interested.
By the way, I also think that LA’s offer is quite fair and I really find Odom’s request exagerated.
July 17th, 2009 at 11:14 am
But Odom could make just as much, maybe a little more signing with the Heat or Mav’s overall because Texas and Florida’s don’t impose a state tax, right? And just speculatively reported today, the Heat are offering 4yrs/$36, which is a great deal for Odom. He still has a house in Miami. It very well could work out. Even if Miami signs him (and even Boozer), i don’t think they’re immediate title contenders with all that’s gone on in the East the last 2 years. So we (SA) wouldn’t see Odom all postseason!
Let us bow our heads in prayer that God might grant foolishness upon LA and bestow wisdom and favor upon Miami. Seriously!
July 17th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Well for one I’m just glad we have Blair, he’s shown that he can make a great contribution to our team and I’m ecstatic to see him play.
And as far as Lamar Odom goes, I would say there’s a 75% chance he resigns with LA, nobody can offer as much to him as the Lakers can. But this new interest from the Heat intrigues me
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4336149
I also wonder why Portland hasn’t made a run at Lamar, he has the same skill set as Turkoglu, and seeing as he spurned them, they have a chance to make a run at him, especially since Millsap was signed by Utah
July 17th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Re: Odom I think he will resign with LA (although I hope he won’t) because he has already decided he will play for them. He is talking to other teams for leverage because he knows LA can and will pay him, they are only bargaining but in my mind the deal is already done.
July 17th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Zain, Bent, Will, Nick, Dust, and Phoebus, thanks for your Odom thoughts. Opinions appreciated.
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