→ whitee:大致上是說克拉克傾向於留下的意思? 推 140.129.74.138 06/09
→ panvc:我是這麼覺得 就是合約談不攏吧 推 61.224.101.163 06/09
Keon Clark's option rules Kings' options
By Scott Howard-Cooper -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Sunday, June 8, 2003
That whole Spare No Expense thing is great -- in theory. But it's not
so hot when the bill arrives, someone needs to reach into the wallet
for $18 million, there's another major financial hit on the horizon
and -- oh, yeah -- Keon Clark is suddenly the most critical King.
Have a great summer vacation.
While waiting for Clark to decide whether to become a free agent, the
Kings move forward. With a projected $18 million in luxury tax looming
along with the fallout from a second-round playoff loss, ownership has
hinted that it probably won't use its mid-level exception to sign a
free agent if Clark stays with the team.
It's just as noteworthy that there is no directive for Geoff Petrie,
the president of basketball operations, to dump salary and trade a
big contract.
Or at least that's what it sounded like Joe Maloof said as he swallowed
hard with his heart in his throat.
"We're $18 million over the (luxury tax) threshold and probably $26
million over the salary cap," he said. "How much more can you spend?
You can't spend forever."
With the Lakers planning a major addition with an expected $4.8 million
spot, the aggressive-as-ever Mavericks wanting to add an inside presence
and the Spurs with as much as $16 million to spend on new contracts, the
plan in Sacramento is to hold back.
The Kings won't sign someone just to keep him from landing with one
of their West rivals, tempting as such a move might be. But forget
that reasoning. They aren't planning to sign anyone, period.
"I would say probably not," Maloof said. "Then we're like $22 million
over the (luxury-tax) threshold. You saw the depth and the talent we
had this year, and we didn't even play them all.
"There's a point of overdoing it. But there's always the chance that
if the right player comes along, we would make a move."
A necessary caveat. These are the Maloofs, and sometimes they just
can't help themselves from committing more money to the roster against
their better financial judgment.
Clark's behind-the-scenes role is impossible to overstate. If he opts
out, everything changes. His contract comes off the books and there is
a need to add a big man. The current roster goes four deep with Vlade
Divac, Chris Webber, Scot Pollard and Clark. The latter's 2003-04
salary of $5 million could actually be counted as $10 million because
of the dollar-for-dollar penalty of the luxury tax.
Clark has said he wants to remain a King -- a strong indication he will
stay with the current deal. Opting out potentially would be a financial
setback -- he might not find any takers willing to go more than the
$4.8 million exception and couldn't come back to Sacramento for more
than that price. If Clark wants to stay, it would probably be with this
contract, thereby positioning himself for a much bigger raise in summer
2004.
"I know he liked it there and got along with the other players,"
said Clark's agent, Jim Mourer. "But Keon is not one to make a decision
until he absolutely has to."
Check back around June 30, in other words. That means everyone. San
Antonio, which is looking at big men if it doesn't get Jason Kidd,
won't have interest, but Utah could. The Jazz had Clark as a primary
target last summer, then switched to Matt Harpring in a decision that
paid off handsomely.
Now comes the possibility of another chance if Karl Malone leaves as a
free agent. The timing is critical, though. If Clark opts out and wants
to lock up a new deal before Malone has decided on his future, it will
put the Jazz in the impossible position of risking the wait on Malone
or renouncing the future Hall of Famer.
原文:http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/
6815121p-7765522c.html (要連起來)
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.csie.ntu.edu.tw)
◆ From: 61.224.97.16
※ 編輯: panvc 來自: 61.224.97.16 (06/09 01:03)