Its reportedly worth 6 years, heard it from my local sports radio update. This might raise a few eyebrows.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Grizzlies Sign Battier to Multi-Year Contract Extension Memphis, Tennessee, July 15, 2004 ? Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West announced the club has come to terms on a six-year contract extension with Shane Battier. In keeping with team policy, financial terms of the deal were not announced. ?We are thrilled to come to an agreement with Shane,? said West. ?Shane embodies everything a basketball player should be: hard-working, a good teammate, and a positive role model. His attributes both on and off the court epitomize what we as an organization value and look for from our players.? Battier, 6-8, 220 pounds, averaged 8.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 1.3 apg in 79 games played last season. He ranked third on the Grizzlies in both three-point percentage (.349) and steals per game (1.28) while leading the NBA in steals per turnover ratio (1.80). During the 2003-04 campaign, he also set a new career-high in rebounds with 14 on Dec. 22 @ Denver, and had a season-high 22 points on Nov. 29 @ Cleveland. ?I am proud of my first three years in Memphis,? said Battier. ?I am also very grateful for the commitment that the Grizzlies organization, Michael Heisley, Jerry West, Hubie Brown and the entire coaching staff have shown towards me. I look forward to being an integral part of this team for years to come, while putting forth as much effort into the team, the organization and the community as I have since first joining the Grizzlies.? Selected as the sixth pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, Battier was the first player drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies. The three-year veteran has played in 235 games with the Grizzlies, averaging 10.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists. During his rookie season (2001-02), he was named to the NBA?s All-Rookie First Team after averaging 14.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 78 games played. </div> ...
Battier is an extremely important player for the Grizzlies. He?s a high-quality role player and fits under Hubie?s system. He always does everything he?s asked to do ? which is often rare in today?s NBA. The question is, how much was his extension worth? It seems like a lot of guys are getting huge contracts this off-season.
I would say that his six-year contract should be worth at least $42 million. He is obviously better than Cardinal, and therefore should get more than the $39 million that Cardinal received for the same six years. However, it's hard to see him get as much money as Ginobili did because although he is a key player on the Grizz roster, his minutes could take even more of a hit since Cardinal would take minutes from him.
Wow. I didn't see this coming, but I'm very happy. I hope he's a Grizzlie for life. I was beginning to worry about what we'd do when he, Gasol, and Watson are all looking for new contracts. Unlike the Lakers, West is planning ahead. He proves how he's basketball genius more and more every day.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow. I didn't see this coming, but I'm very happy. I hope he's a Grizzlie for life. I was beginning to worry about what we'd do when he, Gasol, and Watson are all looking for new contracts. Unlike the Lakers, West is planning ahead. He proves how he's basketball genius more and more every day. </div> that is so harsh man, but it is true...really smart move by the Grizz..Damn if only the Lakers had West back then Fish wouldnt be heading up to Oakland...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">that is so harsh man, but it is true...really smart move by the Grizz..Damn if only the Lakers had West back then Fish wouldnt be heading up to Oakland... </div> Haha, you guys had your turn with Jerry. Besides, you guys just resigned Kobe, so who cares about Fisher?
This is definitely a good move by the Grizz. They get a key part of that extremely young, deep, and talented team back in a nice long term deal.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ice:</div><div class="quote_post">The question is, how much was his extension worth? It seems like a lot of guys are getting huge contracts this off-season.</div> I don't have the numbers yet, but all I have to say is that Shane Battier better get more than Adonal Foyle and Mehmet Okur. This contract will be coming up on Shane Battier's prime years, and he brings more to the table every night than Foyle and Okur. Everyone says stuff about Foyle and Okur not having good statistics because of playing time, but what about Battier? Did he not maximize his potential in the limited minutes he got backing up James Posey? You couldn't ask for anything better, and two days later I'm still pumped about the Grizzlies resigning him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ezra:</div><div class="quote_post">It's worth $37M. There are incentives in it, which could make it worth more.</div> Wait, Shane Battier is being paid less than Brian Cardinal? That's a shame. I suppose it's not all about the money with Shane. He could most likely get well over 37 million in free agency next year.
