The Cavaliers in my opinion need to do the deal with Booz this summer. Work it out so they dont take the player option, sign him to the max he can get, which is about 6 million, and then the increases that go with it (12.5%). Of course this could change as Tankster say above. However it is ludicrous in my opinion to pay Boozer over 8 million a year. Way too many cap constraints. If he was a dominant defensive player, throw him all the money in the world. But he is a solid scorer, average at best defender and good rebounder. Not +8mill worth to me. If we can get him for that 5-6 mill plus the yearly rises, it allows us room for that small forward shooter we crave. If we overpay Booz, we are stuck with low draft picks, and no flexibility to make moves. So if we get Booz at that rate and Z at a slighty lower clip plus that prize free agent, we have a bright future. At the moment we are that shooter short of an elite team.
In my concerted estimation, which at times ain't worth much, the only way you get him for the MLE is short term. Say 2 years with a player option after the first year which puts him to full bird rights. He exercises his player option after the first year which makes him an unrestricted FA, signs an offer sheet with another team, and there will be offers believe me, then the cavs can exceed the cap to sign him for anything to the max. I've already drawn the player comparisons above. If his agent was successfull in getting him to sign at the MLE for 6 yrs, You'd have what you have right now!! The lowest paid highest producing Power Forward in the league. It ain't gonna happen..........Tank Just the way I see it!
He is not our franchise so I dont want him paid as if he is. I know I am unpopular in "lessoning" his value, but he still is third in value to this team behind James and Z, and that will not change. I hope this players popularity amoung fans doesn't blind our front office.
I love Boozer's game and he is a very important part of the Cavs but I don't feel he's a $10 million a year player. I posted before I can see him getting $8 million but would prefer it closer to $6 million. He is #3 on the Cavs after Z and LeBron. I do love his effort and attitude and want him here. But, he's still a average to mediocre defender, can't really create offense for himself or others, and shouldn't handle the ball more than 2 or 3 seconds since anymore than that usually leads to a turnover. Not trying to bash him but to show he does have some faults. He is an important piece but that's it just a piece. An perfect example today is how Silas has Z start on out O'Neal despite Z's lack of quickness because of Boozer's defensive problems and his lack of size in many matchups with opposing PF's which led to early foul trouble for Z. Your PF should be the one on O'Neal from the start. The Cavs still have a lot of work to do to become the championship contender I want them to be. They need to be careful not to go overboard in handing out huge contracts to players so they can continue to add the talent they need. Boozer should be satisfied with $8 million a year despite the bad contracts handed out by other teams. He's already an important piece here and can be part of something special if he wants.
I am not happy with 8 million per year for all the ^^^^^^^^^^^^ reasons. Narl said it as it is. Z has been blasted for his troubles defensively, yet is the better defender despite his foot problems. Booz is a solid scorer who works well off other scorers. Boozer's bigger games have come against the post weak Jazz and Sonics. He is a complimentary scorer, but a good one. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, he will come at a cost. One we'll have to pay, but one that I am not happy to do. That elusive shooting free agent just seems further away with this talk of big money for Booz.
There's actually a very strict salary scale for first round draft picks and their first contracts. They do this because it was previously common for rookies to hold out, not signing with their team until they got the contract they wanted. In addition, there was backlash from the veteran players who saw rookies with no NBA experience getting contracts that were bigger than theirs. The last year without a salary scale was 1994, when it was rumored that first overall pick Glenn Robinson was going to hold out for a $100 million contract, and he eventually signed a 10-year, $68.15 million contract. Beginning in 1995, salaries for first round picks were set according to a very strict scale, determined by their exact draft position. In the previous CBA, this was calculated using a weighted average of the first year salary of the same pick in the previous seven drafts. In the first year of the current CBA (98-99), salaries were computed using this same weighted average. In subsequent years of the current CBA (99-00 through 04-05), it simply goes up by 5% each year (a simple 5% of the 98-99 figure, not a compounded percentage). Lebron finds himself in the above catagory. He signed a very strict contract with set yearly salaries, at the established rate for a number one first round pick. It will only be after his current contract expires, that he will then be free to go after the big bucks. It's a widely recognized fact that second round picks who have no guarantees and generally sign much shorter deals, get to the big money much faster if they turn out to be quality players. Boozer falls into this catagory. Lebron will get his "Franchise Player Money" eventually, but Boozer is gonna see it quicker. There have been a handfull of second round picks in the last few years who have gone this route. As for blinders in the front office. I think the word is already out on Boozer. Other teams are waiting in the wings. Besides, Paxson has already issued a couple of quotes concerning the subject. One such, and I quote, was..." If I had 12 Carlos Boozers, they wouldn't need me. When it comes time to get paid, he'll get paid." My last bottom line on the subject......Let him walk, and then take your 5 or 6 million and try to replace him....Good Luck! P.S. I think you'll see Z take a pay reduction when he re-signs, to finish out his career as a Cav. Just the way I see it......Tank
The Cavs would be crazy if they didn't do everything in their power to resign Booz... he's the type of player that any GM in the league covets. Give him a $7-8 mil contract, because he's only going to get better and will deserve it. There's nothing that leaves a bad taste in a player's mouth as much as when he signs a long-term deal for decent money at the time, and then realizes in a couple of years that he's seriously underpaid. This causes problems when the team and player try to negotiate later. Happened with Jordan and the Bulls.
I jst do not want to see a contract starting at 8 million and rising. This to me is seriously overpaying the player, and capping out the Cavaliers. I do hope to that the Cavs can resign Z at a reduced rate. Not even the biggest Z fan would be happy to see him ask for similar money to what he is already on. Unless of course he wants to buy Lithuania!
Carlos Boozer - A MUST KEEPER! It's obvious that the 2nd round pick, Carlos Boozer has proven to everybody that he is here to stay! It's amazing seeing his improvement and he's only in his SECOND year!! With Lebron, Boozer solidly leading the team both on and off the court, the future looks mightily bright for Cleveland, Ohio. I think he is a free agent after this season..I hope Carlos Boozer stays in Cavaliers.. (although I am certain he will get a plenty of great offers from many teams) I do hope Booz will choose to stay with Cavs.. or...Won't he?
He's not a free agent after this season. He's in his second year, and rookies sign a three year deal with a club option for a fourth usually, although I could be wrong. It might not be that long for second round picks. I'm pretty sure he's not a FA though.
The Cavs have an option for next season on Booz. They could forfeit that right and try and resign him long term this offseason, to give him his rightful money. That however comes at a small risk of him resigning elsewhere.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KarmaCav:</div><div class="quote_post">The Cavs have an option for next season on Booz. They could forfeit that right and try and resign him long term this offseason, to give him his rightful money. That however comes at a small risk of him resigning elsewhere.</div> Right off the bat, there
