<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He wore No. 77, an instantly identifiable jersey number in an era when jersey numbers ? like vanity license plates and forearm tattoos ? are as significant to pro athletes as they are insignificant to the rest of us. But Vladimir Radmanovic?s sometimes intriguing, ultimately frustrating career with the Seattle SuperSonics always will be linked to another number. Forty-two. That would be the approximate amount, in millions of dollars, the Sonics offered Radmanovic last summer for the opportunity to play six more years in Seattle. And he said: Nah. OK, to be technical about it, Radmanovic didn?t say ?nah? to $42 million. His agent, David Bauman, said ?nah? to $42 million. Can you imagine paying somebody for the kind of insight that makes a 6-foot-10, not-gonna-get-bruised-by-any-dirty-work forward decline $42 million ? and then resisting the urge to squash a grapefruit on his face the next time you have breakfast with him? The phone conversations must?ve been priceless. ?Dave? It?s Vlade. You sure this is a good move? I?m not an expert or anything, but $42 million sounds like a nice chunk of change.? ?You bring up solid points, Your Greatness. It?s a nice chunk of change. But don?t sell yourself short, Mighty One. Trust me. You?re quite past the scoring-a-chunk-of-change stage of your earnings potential.? Having once labored several months on a book that never got published ? 15 chapters that end up in a basement box: a bad business deal, but a good way to practice typing ? I am in no position to mock another man?s financial ineptitude. But every time I saw Radmanovic launch a 3-pointer from the unincorporated suburbs of Seattle this season, a petty voice in the corner of my mind whispered: ?He?s that idiot who turned down $42 million!? And every time I saw Radmanovic mope on the bench, the same voice asked: ?What was he thinking? Was he thinking that while $42 million could pay for utilities and groceries and a maybe two or three of the networks not included in the basic cable package, he needed $60 million for the second car and the summer-weekend getaway to a cabin at Lake Chelan??</div> Source
We've been calling Vlad an idiot all season. Although now it begs the question, was our front office idiotic in offering 42 mil to a 6-10 3pt specialist who can't rebound or play defense? Or would he be averaging, say, 17 and 7 if he signed it and had his head on straight from day 1.
Thing is, he can rebound and play defense when motivated to. He just doesn't, which is baffling when you consider what was/is on the line for him this season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Roland Hood:</div><div class="quote_post">We've been calling Vlad an idiot all season.</div> Hey hey hey now. I have been calling Vlad an idiot long before he turned down our dumb offer. I was never supportive of the team in regards to Vlade. How is it that a player that isn't good enough to play for his national team, and has been kicked off his national team TWICE for crying about not playing and starting fights, thinks he should start in the best league in the world. What's worse is that Sund agreed. Scary.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Roland Hood:</div><div class="quote_post"> Although now it begs the question, was our front office idiotic in offering 42 mil to a 6-10 3pt specialist who can't rebound or play defense? </div> Something tells me the conversation went something like this: Baumann: After all that Vlad has to offer, we aren't settling for anything under the max. Sund: Max??? Max??? We're just trying to sign a deal. Max??? Baumann: OK, after speaking with Vlad we will not hold out for the max. But unless you guarantee that Vlad will make the most money on the team, start 82 games, lead the Sonics in minutes, points, and shot attempts along with being Starbucks top endorser--we aren't signing sh*t. Sund: Pretty high demands for someone who can't get into the rotation of the Serbian National team. I am intrigued by Vlad's marketing potential. Give me a ball park figure as to what you think your client is worth. Baumann: No less than 84 million for six years. Sund: To be honest, I don't know whether or not your client is worth half of that. Baumann: You've disrespected my client for the last time. If you don't give my client what he deserves we will take the Qualifying Offer and walk. Sund: I didn't expect that you'd take offense to me saying Vlad may not be worth 42 million. But if 42 million is not enough for your client, then tell him to take his chances as a free agent in '06. Baumann: 42 million??? What's 42 million, to Vlad? Don't be kissing our asses to resign next year Rick. I've been in this business too long to let a franchise level talent be low balled like this. You have no idea how much you will regret this.
Vlad: "What's he saying, Dave?" Baumann: "Quiet my friend, let me handle this, I know why I'm doing."
