Vlad's Worth

Tayshaun Prince sings a 5 yr 47 million dollar extension today...

ESPN Source

Suprised? Me neither...but was a little suprised to read that Mike Dunleavy Jr. just signed a deal for 5 yr 44 million dollars.

ESPN Source

This is the guy that Vlad can really hang his hat on and say that this deal sets his market value. Dunleavy has been given alot of chances that we've heard Vlad complain about not getting, and has put up stats that are not much better than Rad - granted, Rad has a year of experience on him.

Prince is I believe a far superior player to Vlad at this point, probably always will be - but its hard to make the same argument of Dunleavy. He may be more well rounded, but I don't think he's off the charts better or worse in any area than Rad. Even if Vlad has a poor year, it will be tough to convince him he's still not worth at least the deal we offered last season with Simmons, Prince, and Dunleavy all getting deals in the 5 yr 44-47 range. I'm beginning to wonder if even with a mediocre year we'll have the chance to resign him for considerably less.

Another year of inconsistent play and he's not helping his value, but it will be interesting to see what the market brings this coming offseason.

 

I think the thing with Dunleavy is while his numbers are around the same ballpark as Vlad, he is still IMO a much more rounded baller. He can handle the rock and pass well enough to be a playmaker from the forward spot, he can rebound, he can move to off-guard more effectively than Vlad can switch to PF, and he has the tools to contribute when his shot isn't dropping.

Of course, it's all about "upside" these days, and I think Vlad has more.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I think the thing with Dunleavy is while his numbers are around the same ballpark as Vlad, he is still IMO a much more rounded baller. He can handle the rock and pass well enough to be a playmaker from the forward spot, he can rebound, he can move to off-guard more effectively than Vlad can switch to PF, and he has the tools to contribute when his shot isn't dropping.

Of course, it's all about "upside" these days, and I think Vlad has more.</div>

I agree he's more well rounded, and your points about him sliding to the 2 more easily than Rad does the 4 is a good one - but I still don't think he's as head and shoulders above Rad at this point as is a guy like Tayshaun. Which is why Rad will point to this deal, thats all I was really getting at.

Your right though, the upside tangent is what will get Rad paid if he does. Whats interesting is how some players reap the benefits of this and others like Stro Swift almost hit a wall where no one believes they'll ever realize it for one reason or another. It will be interesting to see which way Vlad is percieved come this offseason.

 

From today's Times, after Vlad only got 13 mins and shot 1-7:

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"We'll monitor the situation for a little while, maybe 10 days, and see how it goes before saying anything," Bauman said. "We knew the risks and nothing that has happened makes me feel that we didn't make the right decision."</div>

What are they going to say if this continues, I wonder?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Roland Hood:</div><div class="quote_post">From today's Times, after Vlad only got 13 mins and shot 1-7:



What are they going to say if this continues, I wonder? </div>


if Vlade keeps playin like he did last night id like to hear their argument. Of course Vlades agent is the guy that said that with about 4-5 extra mpg he would average like 30 and 20 lol

 

Vlade's rusty. I, for one, am not rooting for him to fail and just think he's got to get back in the swing of things. He was playing pretty unselfishly except a few forced shots last night, something just about every other player on the Sonics did.