Cassell offically a "No Show" <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (AP) -- Sam Cassell was a no-show on the first day of training camp Tuesday, sending a message to the Minnesota Timberwolves that he was displeased about not getting a contract extension. ``He's not totally unhappy, he just feels it's time for him to look out for his interests,'' said Charles Tucker, Cassell's agent. Tucker said he hadn't spoken with Cassell as of Tuesday morning, and didn't know when he would report to camp. Cassell also missed the team's media day on Monday.</div> Link : http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylc=X3oD...ov=ap&type=lgns
He's got 2 years on his current contract. I think he's a little pre-mature on the "big contract extension". It's not like he is some 4th year player that hasn't had a chance to make some "big money". He's going to make almost 12 million over the next 2 years. I don't think Missesota wants to give him a big contract anyway. This guy is the next Gary Payton anyways. In a couple of years he'll be way past his prime and he'll still want to start every game and have the ball in his hands all the time.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting grinder333:</div><div class="quote_post">He's got 2 years on his current contract. I think he's a little pre-mature on the "big contract extension". It's not like he is some 4th year player that hasn't had a chance to make some "big money". He's going to make almost 12 million over the next 2 years. I don't think Missesota wants to give him a big contract anyway. This guy is the next Gary Payton anyways. In a couple of years he'll be way past his prime and he'll still want to start every game and have the ball in his hands all the time.</div> Well of course he's going to decline evry player does, natural process of basketball evolution. But he wont take that one major season drop off like GP did. Cassell style is more fitting of a slow decline because Sammy's game has never been built around speed. GP needs to get in the lanes alot to be affective, Sam doesnt. Sammy is also better at playing off or with the ball. Which means as he gets older & has to playoff other. And become more of a spot up shooter, he can. GP was not accustom to that type of role or play. So when he has to play off some one else without the ball in his hands alot. It makes him seem like his game took a much bigger decline then it truely did. GP's not finished, it had alot to do with the situation he was put into in LA. Anyway, back to Sammy, he is simply showing his displeasure in him being on the trade market for Kidd during the summer. So he is just trying to sure up his value with the team. BTW, there was already a topic started like this,so somebody might want to merge the threads.
I guess with the All-Star performence comes the All-Star ego? The man is def. worth an extension for a lil more than what hes making now. He would like the Wolves to make a commitement to him because like Henacy said his name was thrown in the equation with Jason Kidd. Sam also has to look at his age, I hope hes not expecting a multi-million long term extension.
Cassell has always had a huge ego. The question is, at what point does this start to disrupt the Wolves season? Boy, San Antonio sounds better every day.
Naw, I dont think it will disrupt the team over the long hall, I cant front Sammy does have a ego about him but that kind of comes with people continueously(misspell) & him trying to prove them wrong. And sometimes his ego can turn into selfish acts like when he was displeased with Coach Karl in the 2nd half of the 2002-2003, season when the big 3 turn their backs on Karl to prove a point. And fell out of the playoff race late in the season. But I dont see Sam pulling that type of stuff here. I dont think guys on this team will stand for it. And I dont think Sam wants to put out that type of image of himself here in Minny. The Wolves have been a clean start somewhat for him, & he isnt going to ruin it. KG said that he has been in consistent contact with Sam. Which makes everything ok because they no where his head is at...Iam pretty sure this wont be a story past the preseason.
Sam is easily a top 5 point guard, and maybe even top 2. And he is definitely underpaid for the money he's getting. That said, I don't think its right for him to put himself and his financial situation ahead of the welfare of the team, as he's under contract. Yeah, his contract may not be fair, but that's how the NBA works and the guy is still a freakin' millionaire so he should just play and not be a distraction. Sammy's also getting up there in age, and though he was very durable during the regular season last year, he did get injured in the playoffs so the T-wolves have a right to be concerned about his ability to produce 2 or more years down the line. Sam may not feel like he's getting respect with the salary he's making, but personally I have way more respect for great all-star caliber players who are underpaid than similar players who are overpaid. As you can see, Sam is my favorite player in the game right now; I've been a fan of his ever since his rookie year in Houston. But if he allows his financial situation to disrupt his team, I'll have very little respect for that. Hopefully, he'll put this stuff behind him and just play the game.
I think you're over doing it by calling him a top 5 Point Guard. Top 8, maybe. For sure he's a top 5 true Point Guard, but players like Steve Francis, Kidd, Nash, Baron Davis and Marbury are all ahead of him IMO. His contract is definitly not fair, but I would not extend it. I would like to see how he performs for a 2nd year with the Wolves before getting an extension. His injuries might catch up to him by the time his new, bigger contract starts, so I think it would be wise to see what happens this year first. Plus, it's only a matter of time before Troy Hudson takes over the Starting Point Guard spot.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post">I think you're over doing it by calling him a top 5 Point Guard. Top 8, maybe. For sure he's a top 5 true Point Guard, but players like Steve Francis, Kidd, Nash, Baron Davis and Marbury are all ahead of him IMO. </div> I'll stick with what I said. Assuming he's healthy, I'd rather have Sam Cassell as my point guard in a playoff series than Francis, Davis, Nash, Marbury. Cassell knows how to direct an offense, is the most clutch point guard in the league, and along with Nash is one of the top shooting point guards in the league. His weakness is defense, but offensively there aren't many better point guards. Kidd's a fine passer, but is shaky when it comes to putting the ball in the hole. I personally don't think he's that much ahead of Cassell.
Kidd you can legitmately say you would take over Sam Cassell. Not Baron Davis, I dont care what his stats were, you put Sam on the Hornets & say you get 22 shots a game, he will put up better # then Baron Davis did & way more effieciently, while doing it. Baron Davis has never had a better year then Sammy before his stat inflation year of 04. Marbury cant win,despite his talents. And Nash is great in the right system Dallas is the prefect system for him, surrounded by others shooters, create an easier game, for him when have you ever seen Nash being guard by a teams best perimeter defender. It doesnt happen due to the weapons he has played with, & having shooter often has bailed Nash out from being a over dribble in my opinion. If he succeeds in PHX, with all the focus on him as their main shooter having to make the big shots on a consistent basis. And the difference between guys like Cassell & the franchise, is while Sammy has often been a accused of shooting to much like Francis, is that Sammy is trying to put up buckets to win the game. If you look at Sammy thru his entire career most of his points & shot attempts come in the 4th quarter. He wants to take the big shots in the big spots & win or lose he is willing to deal with the after affect. Flip Suanders said it best when Sam 1st came to the wolves last year, and a reporter asked him about having a shot happy pg, Flip simply said he would have a problem if Sam was the type of pg shooting to make an all-star game or fill up a stat sheet, but he not so he is willing to live & die by Sammy's jumpshot. And that puts it in a nut shell why I rather have Sam on my team, Sam be the one to take the heat if he misses the big shots. But chances are he'll make more then he'll miss.
