<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Swingman Latrell Sprewell won't be in uniform tonight when Minnesota takes on the New York Knicks, and if the Timberwolves don't sign him to a contract extension, there's a strong possibility he won't play with them next season. Sprewell is nursing an ankle injury and a bruised ego. He said Thursday if the two sides can't agree on an extension before the Nov. 3 season opener against the Knicks at the Target Center, it could lead to "potential problems" down the road. "For me, they're not showing the interest that they would want to keep me," he said. "That's how I would look at it. Especially for what I've done; not only me but what Sam (Cassell) has done for this organization. That would be somewhat a smack in the face if they don't step up and get something done. Sprewell decided not to opt out of the final year of his contract in July with the understanding that he would get an extension. Sprewell's agent, Robert Gist, said at the time he thought a three-year extension would be worked out by the end of July. That plan got pushed aside when the Wolves hit a snag in re-signing point guard Troy Hudson. Now they essentially have less than two weeks left to strike a deal. If the talks drag past the season opener, Sprewell will be reluctant to continue negotiations, and instead will ask for a sign-and-trade deal or wait to become a free agent at the end of the season. If he becomes a free agent, he said, he would not re-sign with the Timberwolves.</div> Link
Wow, the Timberwolves seem to be breaking up already before playing even a single regular season game. I don't think that Cassell and Spreewell deserve contract extensions. What have they done? So what if the Timberwolves made it to the WCF for the first time, if Spreewell and Cassell had been really saviours, they would have won the whole championship for the whole team. IMO, you haven't proven anything until you win a championship.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow, the Timberwolves seem to be breaking up already before playing even a single regular season game. I don't think that Cassell and Spreewell deserve contract extensions. What have they done? So what if the Timberwolves made it to the WCF for the first time, if Spreewell and Cassell had been really saviours, they would have won the whole championship for the whole team. IMO, you haven't proven anything until you win a championship.</div> They both deserve extensions, but Sprewell is demanding too much money. He isnt worth 14 million a year, and he wants even MORE next year. That's just ridiculous. Sam just wants some job security, which is totally understandable. He's been traded 4 or 5 times already in his career. I don't blame him for wanting an extension, and I hope he gets what he deserves (he's way underpaid right now).
If Spree & the Wolves had an understanding that Spree would get an extension if he wouldn't waive the last year of his contract then he deserves to get one, but not for the $$$ hes asking for. 14 mil is too much, 10 million might be too much, but giving him that wouldn't be a problem. Cassell does deserve a new contract.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow, the Timberwolves seem to be breaking up already before playing even a single regular season game. I don't think that Cassell and Spreewell deserve contract extensions. What have they done? So what if the Timberwolves made it to the WCF for the first time, if Spreewell and Cassell had been really saviours, they would have won the whole championship for the whole team. IMO, you haven't proven anything until you win a championship.</div> Are you kidding me? So everything that Sam and Spree did last season didn't mean anything? Wow. What have they done? They helped this Minnesota Timberwolves team to great success last season. They helped this Minnesota Timberwolves team advance the farthest in the playoffs than they have ever gotten previously without the two. Without Sam and Spree, Minnesota does not make the playoffs. They came in and performed on the top of their game. In my opinion, you can ask Spree and Sam to come in right away and in their first year here, win a championship. They have to get used to the type of play, the players, and the rest of their surroundings. It takes time to adjust. I would say we would have won a chapionship if it wasn't for the injury Cassell suffered. We had no depth at PG at the time with Hudson hurt, and it exposed our weakness. You can't blame it on Sam and Spree for not leading us to a titles. They did their best. But I guess it proves nothing....
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow, the Timberwolves seem to be breaking up already before playing even a single regular season game. I don't think that Cassell and Spreewell deserve contract extensions. What have they done? So what if the Timberwolves made it to the WCF for the first time, if Spreewell and Cassell had been really saviours, they would have won the whole championship for the whole team. IMO, you haven't proven anything until you win a championship.</div> So i guess that apart from the Pistons last season, your implying that 28 other NBA teams proved absolutely nothing whatsoever in the year.. hmm, doesn't sound right to me. Sammy & Spree were the catalysts in getting the wolves over that first round hump last season and to the WCF.. and while that may not mean Spree is worth the ammount he's demanding (being 34 and all), it certainly doesn't mean: 1) They proved nothing (because this season they are in some NBA analysts eyes, the number 1 seed. And definately a top 3 seed) 2) The team is falling apart already??..
He does deserve a contract extension but the only problem is he is asking for too much. The Wolves are offering him about a 30 million $ 3 year extension which is already overpaying him a little but he wants a 40 million $ 3 year extension. He will be making 14 million this season and he still wants a big contract when his past his prime. Cassell and Spree both deserve extensions because of what they've done for the team last season. They might not have help us win a championship but without them, we might not have even made the playoffs because of the injuries and the lack of depth. It doesn't seem to be going well for the Wolves right before the start of the season but they should be able to deal with these problems before the start of the season.
