<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Sonics' negotiations with Chris Wilcox are likely to conclude Tuesday, when his Washington D.C.-based agent, Jeff Fried, meets with general manager Rick Sund in Seattle. However, the anticipated peaceful ending to a protracted contract dispute isn't on the horizon. Reports nearly a week ago that the Sonics were on the verge of signing Wilcox to three-year, $24 million deal were false, according to Sund and Fried. Instead of a long-term deal, Wilcox, a restricted free agent, is expected to grudgingly sign a one-year tender worth $3.6 million that will enable him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The two sides reached an impasse over Wilcox's value at a June 3 meeting and little significant progress has been made in the past four weeks. The Times has learned through an NBA source that the Sonics gave Wilcox the option of signing a five-year, $33 million deal or a six-year, $40 million deal. Last year, Vladimir Radmanovic, a restricted free agent, declined a six-year, $42 million contract from the Sonics. It was believed that Seattle would make a similar offer to Wilcox. The Sonics, however, concluded that they were essentially bidding against themselves because only a handful of teams could offer Wilcox more than the maximum mid-level exception of five years and $30.2 million. The two sides appeared to find common ground on a three-year deal. However, the Sonics continued to maintain that Wilcox is worth $6.6 million per season, and their offer is about $6 million less than his demands. "A one-year deal, in our mind, is not a deal," Fried said. "One year, in our mind, left Chris with no alternatives."</div> Link Same sh*t - Different toilet. I didn't realize that we were that far apart on the terms. Sund and company should have offered Wilcox the same deal that they offered Radmanovic -- especially considering that Wilcox, in two months, probably was more of an asset to the Sonics than Vlad ever was. I just don't see Wilcox really buying into playing his heart out for a big time deal. I think that he will harbor ill will towards this franchise and thus his development will be stunted. I was hoping that the first moves made by the new ownership group would be one that the city would embrace but the fact that in a three week span all we have done is dump Clinton Moore and basically dump Chris Wilcox I would say that this ownership strategy is remarkably similar to the one of Howard Schultz. Not the press this team needs when trying to generate enthusiasm for pro ball in the Pacific NW.
Seems like the front office's enthusiasm for Wilcox has died out since the beginning of free agency, possibly because of the questions surrounding his work ethic or possibly because of the ownership change. Either way, it appears that Wilcox will be out for himself this year and may be gone far before the trading deadline if he starts out strong.
How about a trade for Mickael Pietrus, you guys get a back up 2/3 and another frog to team up with Mickael Gelable?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The fate of Chris Wilcox's long-term future in Seattle could be determined by a critical Thursday meeting between the power forward, his agent and Sonics general manager Rick Sund. It will be just the second time the sides have met face-to-face this summer and perhaps the final time they negotiate before Wilcox decides to accept the team's one-year, $3.7 million qualifying offer. Wilcox will meet with Sund for the first time since April. It could be one final effort to secure a three-year contract. The sides appear firm on their stance and are about $5 million apart, NBA sources said. The Sonics have offered $19 million over three years -- more than the league's $5.2 million per year midlevel exception. Jeff Fried, who represents Wilcox, has asked for $24 million. Fried said he has "several" teams who would pay Wilcox that amount if the Sonics agreed to a sign-and-trade deal. "We're not just going to let this sit anymore," Fried said Monday. "We needed to be respectful of ownership change issues, but each and every offer, Rick Sund is turning down. That doesn't seem to make much sense. If you don't believe in Chris and other teams believe in Chris and other teams are willing to do fair deals all the way around, I am questioning those motives." A sign-and-trade is a long shot. The Sonics have apparently received just one concrete deal and they quickly rejected Phoenix's package that included aging veteran center Kurt Thomas and the $16.3 million remaining on the final two years of his contract. The Golden State Warriors also appear interested in Wilcox, but have yet to make the Sonics a sign-and-trade offer. "Rick doesn't seem to have confidence in Chris as a player," Fried said. "In light of that, we want to have one of these sign and trades. These teams are being aggressive. They are being fair with Chris. The only option would be the one-year qualifying offer." If Wilcox accepted the Sonics' one-year qualifying offer, he would become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The drawback in that strategy is that if Wilcox, 23, has a subpar season, he would perhaps receive the midlevel exception in free agency, which is less than the Sonics are offering. Fried would like his client to play somewhere else if Thursday's negotiations don't produce a lucrative deal. "We've given enough time," Fried said.</div> http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/280429_sonx08.html
Do you think the Sonics would be interested in Troy Murphy, the guy is consistent and is guaranteed to be a double-double guy? And much more of as sure thing at that price than Wilcox.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mister Jennings:</div><div class="quote_post">Do you think the Sonics would be interested in Troy Murphy, the guy is consistent and is guaranteed to be a double-double guy? And much more of as sure thing at that price than Wilcox.</div> So why would you want Wilcox ahead of him? We need someone athletic to play inside, not another perimeter based big man.
Yeah, the reason Wilcox worked so well was the fact that he was not the same kind of player as Nick Collison or Troy Murphy--guys who rely on savvy and positioning to be effective. Wilcox was able to run the floor like a guard and finish (to the benefit of Ridnour and Watson), and he added a much needed dose of fast breaks to a squad that wanted to run before but didn't have the players to do it.
With no dependable back to the basket big men Wilcox provides the Sonics something that (besides Marion, Stoudamire, Howard, and when healthy Kenyon Martin) most big men in the league can't produce: consistent transition scoring. We have committed ourselves to being an uptempo ball club and to do that effectively we have players at all five positions that are committed to running (and are capable of performing at that rate for a full 82 game season). Wilcox is the best available player that we can get at the four and it doesn't make sense for us to deal him unless we get someone who is capable of providing that same (or better) services at a reasonable price. That is why I am shocked that we haven't offered him a deal that he will commit to b/c we will not get a player of his caliber in free agency.
I guess the Warriors and Sonics are in similar positions, we want the W's to play uptempo and play to their strengths, but I thought the Sonics were moving away from that. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Watson take over the starting spot from Rid, and with that I thought they were changing philosophies. I figured Murph could replace Fortson's rebounding, and once or if Rashard is moved, he could repalce his shooting, I also thought that Collison was more of a back to the basket type player, but I haven't really seen him play much since Kansas. Another player of the Warriors I thought would interest the Sonics would be Pietrus, it seems like you lack some depth in the 2/3 spots and he could provide energy and defense. If I was the Sonics I would sign Wilcox to the 3/24 mil offer he wants, but with so much turmoil up there who knows...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mister Jennings:</div><div class="quote_post">I thought the Sonics were moving away from that. didn't Watson take over the starting spot from Rid I also thought that Collison was more of a back to the basket type player Another player of the Warriors I thought would interest the Sonics would be Pietrus</div> No. No. No. We have a young athletic French dude on the team already.
The reporters keep flip flopping on this one, but the original story is back on the forefront...sounds like a 3 year $20+ will be announced shortly once they work out the details. The agents sound happy now...Sund has yet to remove the stitches from his lips that keep him from commenting. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soni...623_soni11.html
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Seattle SuperSonics and athletic power forward Chris Wilcox are nearing agreement on a three-year contract. The deal is expected to average more than $7 million per season and Wilcox's agent, Jeff Fried, told The Associated Press he was optimistic the contract would be completed either Monday night or early Tuesday. SuperSonics' general manager Rick Sund declined to comment until the contract was completed. The 6-foot-10 Wilcox is a restricted free agent and could also sign a one-year deal with the Sonics. In 29 games with the SuperSonics last season after being traded by the Los Angeles Clippers, Wilcox delighted Seattle fans with his athletic play and thunderous dunks that meshed well with the Sonics' up-tempo style. He averaged 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds, shot 59 percent and averaged 30 minutes, all career highs. Now, Sonics' fans look like they will get three more seasons of Wilcox, who hopes to cash in on a big payday when this contract expires, just before his 27th birthday.</div> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2549642 Fucking Cleveland didn't help us out by signing Gooden for 3/23 either.
Current news out of Sonics land is the press conference scheduled today will be to announce that Wilcox has signed a 3 year ~$21M with up to an extra $3M over three years in incentive bonuses.
There's no need to fear - Sunderdog is here. Edit: ESPN reports that Wilcox signed a 3 year 24 million dollar deal. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Seattle SuperSonics and athletic power forward Chris Wilcox reached agreement Tuesday on a three-year, $24 million contract. Wilcox's agent, Jeff Fried, told The Associated Press the two sides finalized the deal Tuesday morning, and said it's a "win-win situation for both sides." "After three years, if Chris progresses to the superstar level, we feel comfortable about the salary situation to compensate him and his superstar status," Fried said. The 6-foot-10 Wilcox is a restricted free agent and could have also signed a one-year deal with the Sonics.</div> Link
Nice...I think it's a good situation for both sides. It's good to get this over with (finally). Let's hope Wilcox still wants to get paid more and plays like it for the next 3 years.
The agent says $24M over three years and that some of it is comprised of "very attainable" incentives. He refused to confirm what was guaranteed and what was incentive. The big rumor that many have heard from various NBA sources is $21M with $3M in incentives but Fried is the only one who can tell us for sure.
Best situation possible IMO. Not big enough to cripple us if he doesn't come on as expected, but long enough nonetheless to prove that we're committed to winning and keeping the main parts together for next season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The deal is worth $19.5 million guaranteed, and could be worth as much as $24 million with incentives. The incentives are tied to Wilcox making the All-Star team and all-NBA team, as well as averaging at least 10 rebounds a game. “It’s safe to say it is a contract that is good for the Sonics and good for Chris,” Sonics general manager Rick Sund said. With a contract that could make him the third-highest player on the team behind Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, Wilcox is expected to be in the team’s starting frontcourt. The signing of Wilcox ostensibly calls into question the future of Nick Collison, the team’s 2003 first-round draft pick. But Hill said finding time for Collison to play should not be a problem. “Nick will still get his minutes,” Hill said. “If we go small, Nick can play center, so I don’t think that will affect him.”</div> Link Sund is the best basketball mind in the business. I don't know how performance incentives affect the salary cap but to lock up Wilcox at an average of 6.5 million per year (in guaranteed money) is a steal in this era of free spending. That being said I hope that this signing doesn't come at the expense of losing Nick Collison down the road. Nick is not as athletic as Wilcox and he doesn't finish as well as Wilcox but in my opinion he is a better player than Chris. Chris was fortunate enough to be in a position where he could man the four spot exclusively when he came to the Sonics. Radmanovic and Evans were traded, Danny was hurt and in the doghouse, and Nick also had an injury that forced him out of 16 games I believe. Nick has never had that opportunity and if he did I believe that he could easily put up comparable numbers to Wilcox's 14 and 8. Nick is hands down our best position defender (Sene hasn't proven it yet) and decision maker in the post. He has seemed to be the most overlooked player that we've had on this roster and I hope that Sund doesn't take his contributions for granted when he has to go through these negotiations with him next season. It's almost a shame that b/c Nick was able to be effective off of the bench and b/c he doesn't have an ego he will be relegated to a role that doesn't maximize his talents nor the team's potential. Wilcox is a flashier talent w/ more potential but Nick is a solid NBA power forward who I feel has been underappreciated since he has been in the league. I just hope that there is enough money left over to sign both him and Robert Swift to deals once their contracts come up. Next up for contract negotiations--Rashard Lewis. With new ownership instructing Rick Sund to procede as he normally does I believe that this one will drag on as well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">That being said I hope that this signing doesn't come at the expense of losing Nick Collison down the road. Nick is not as athletic as Wilcox and he doesn't finish as well as Wilcox but in my opinion he is a better player than Chris.</div> Well, somebodies going to have to go. Their is not enough room for Swift, Petro, Sene, Wilcox, and Collison. And since the other 4 have much higher potential, I think Collison is the odd man out.
