What will Tim do with his contract?

by bj1der on Jun 16, 2010 1:33 AM CDT

In an off season that has already brought us the success of a Spurs draftee, some heated discussions and even a few drug poker references, it's obvious that we have a lot to talk about. So I've decided to give us something else that we can discuss with each other. It's just something that's been on my mind and I wanted to hear your opinions on it.

You may say that this is too early to be asking this but there's been a lot of recent discussion that centered upon the Spurs not having the cap space to make any possible run at a championship. There have also been discussions regarding whether the Spurs should put all their efforts into winning as soon as possible or if they should build towards a couple years from now. Either way, these all center around Tim Duncan.

Currently Tim has the biggest contract on the team at over $18 mil. As much as this is, this is a pay cut from his salary last season, which was over $22 mil. The interesting part comes when one considers what his contract looks like in it's final year. Tim is scheduled to make over $21 million in the final year of his contract, however, there is an early termination option attached. This means that after playing this next year Tim can decide to opt out of his contract and become a free agent.

The Spurs interestingly signed Manu to a 3 year extension which means that he is guaranteed for another year after Tim's contract expires. This calls to question the Spurs thinking. They kept Manu because they felt like he could still compete for a ring, but without TIm? Surely not. If Tim decides to sign a deal that carries him through 2013 his and Manu's contract would end at the same time.

I think it's obvious that if Tim re-signs it will not be for a max deal, but the question is when does he re-sign. Does he stay with his current contract that would pay him over $21 million? (I think most people would take that but Tim's not most people so you never know) Or does he opt out and resign for a lower deal in 2012, giving the team more cap room to work with? It's not a matter of should he do it (i think we all would love if he did) but would he be willing to? He's already taken a cut before, would he be willing to do it again?

Poll

Would Timmy opt out and re-sign for less?

Yes. He's team first and would do anything to win again

57 votes

No way. Tim would have to be stupid to give up on that much money

14 votes

Maybe. Depends on how next season goes

54 votes

125 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 1 recs |

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Comments

I’m glad you brought this important question to light. The amount Duncan makes in his final season is fitting of an MVP caliber player. I think Duncan is past that point even now, and he knows it.

Opting out and signing for less would be a prudent thing for Duncan to do. I think he would, and not because it’s the “right” thing to do. He is certainly entitled to collect on the fruits of an exorbitant contract, no matter how undeserving (Jesus, Rashard Lewis and the player formerly known as Jason Kidd each make 20 million a year).

Ultimately I don’t think Duncan would feel right making 21 million while being in the twilight of his career. That, in addition with the Spurs ability to sign help with his paycut could conceivably persuade Duncan to restructure his deal. I think that he might take a paycut to increase the Spurs chances of contending. So I voted “maybe”.

The Spurs = Not your granddaddies 7th seed !

by alamobro on Jun 16, 2010 4:11 AM CDT reply actions

Well, I think it depends mostly on the market and where is production is at the time of becoming a FA or signing an extension. I’d suspect that he takes the options then signs a deal similar to the one big D did for his last two seasons. The Spurs overpaid David for what he was producing at the time (given his back), but he had obviously earned the right for such. I think that would be a reasonable expectation assuming TD’s continual decline.

by Neuwaldegg on Jun 16, 2010 6:35 AM CDT reply actions

WWTDD?

Yo, I’m 6-11, but I just want to dribble through my legs and shoot jumpshots like a guard. - Marc Blucas on Tim Duncan

by TDzilla! on Jun 16, 2010 7:41 AM CDT reply actions

I doubt it.

Tim already took a pay cut so that the Spurs could sign a free agent that would help him get another ring. Instead, he got Richard Jefferson.

Pop and RC swung and missed with the cash Tim left on the table. Now they would have to go back to Tim and ask him to take less again and trust them that they won’t screw it up again.

Just as his window for rings is closing, so is his ability to make $20 million a year.

"It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody."
-- Brendan Behan --

by Zeno of Citium on Jun 16, 2010 12:50 PM CDT reply actions

Actually he took the pay cut so the Spurs could re-sign Manu

"He was just a young skinny guy who looked like a winner. We didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is."
—Popovich on Manu Ginobili

by spursfan87 on Jun 16, 2010 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions

It was so the Spurs could play in this summer’s free agent follies. The Spurs instead decided to sign RJ and McDyess last summer. Without those guys but with Manu re-signed the Spurs would be at 49m now. At the time Tim re-did his contract they probably figured next year’s cap would be 62-64m, giving them 13-15m to land an all-star. Not Le all-star, of course, but someone really good.

by doggydogworld on Jun 16, 2010 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I think it might just come down to how well this off-season and next season go. If the FO brings Splitter over and drafts well and we make a deep playoff run next year, Timmy might opt out and sign a cheaper contract to facilitate the resigning of Parker.
If we can’t get quality players with the MLE and BAE and the draft doesn’t go well, I think he might just play through his current contract and then retire.

"Deep down we all know that swagger comes hand in hand with insecurity. We strut not to convince competitors of our dominance; we strut to convince ourselves."
Matthew Powell

by Edg5 on Jun 16, 2010 2:03 PM CDT reply actions

I’ve also thought about this for some time. I believe Tim would trade cash for another ring. But do the numbers work? Let’s assume RJ and McDyess are not around for 2011-12 and Tony re-signs for Manu money (13m). Here’s roughly where we stand:

Tim 21
Manu 13
Tony 13
Tiago 5
Bonner 2.5
George 1.5
DeJuan 1
20th pick 1
-——————
Total 58
Cap = 58 (my guess)

There’s probably another 3m in players like Hairston, Temple and Gee who we can’t let get away. So we’re 3m over. Let’s say Tim dropped to 13m (to show solidarity with Tony and Manu). That’d put us 5m under the cap. But the MLE is 5m+, so this doesn’t help at all. If Tim went to 8m then we could sign a 10m free agent. But does it make sense to give up 13m so we can sign a 10m guy instead of a 5.5m guy? Is the 10m guy really that much better?

by doggydogworld on Jun 16, 2010 4:50 PM CDT reply actions

I don’t think Tim or Tony would sign for that much but if it goes the way you say $10mil in cap space can make a huge difference.

"I've got Tim (Duncan) and you don't. That's the difference." -Gregg Popovich

by bj1der on Jun 16, 2010 7:31 PM CDT up reply actions

The Spurs already went over the cap with the RJ trade. At this point I would not ask Tim to take a paycut, it would be better for ownership to suck it up and pay the extra cost. It was legit to ask him when it was the difference between staying under the cap and going over, but at this point…

'What color do you want?" (Tim Duncan)

by swgeek on Jun 16, 2010 8:01 PM CDT reply actions

Tim has already made a pay cut. And I or we know Tim as a team first guy—-unlike other free agents this summer.With Tim’s 18 mill contract, I think he might even have a pay cut at around 15-16 mill if its the only way to sign another role player to the team.I ~~think~~ Tim will do that.Then maybe he’ll opt out and sign a new contract for 2 or 3 years.Maybe 12.5 and 14 million,example.Tim will do that.He’ll do it.I think Tim has still some gas left and I think we should grab the opportunity of training Tiago with Tim and maybe drafting a player next year at C/PF.

For Sale:Anyone interested with Spurs SF Richard Jefferson? Then just pick up your phone and dial 781-452-0659.Oh,wait its the rejection hot line.(Just joking,we're stuck with him,let's deal with it that we got no other SF and I guess he is much better than what he is showing us.)

by tp_09 on Jun 17, 2010 6:58 AM CDT reply actions

Winning

Tim will take a pay cut if we have a great chance to win the championship because he wants to win and is all about winning.

One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.

by gunnin' gervin on Jun 18, 2010 12:10 AM CDT reply actions

Timmy wants to win. I don’t think he has the ego in him to take 20mil next season when he know’s he’s not worth that price. I don’t see Tim retiring any time soon either, i’ve always sort of envisioned Tim as the kind of guy who’s gonna stick around the NBA till he’s 38 or so. Why would’t he keep pushing his body? what’s he got to rest for retirement?

You have to wonder what is most important to Tim at this point in his life. He’s got lots of money (and could easily have more if he wanted i,t through endorsements, licencing, maybe a fragrance or a Tim Duncan line of oversized flanel button-down shirts) , he seems to genuinely enjoy playing with our group of guys. I think he’s got love for the game, he just wants wants to keep playin and have a good time.

by RamblingSpur on Jun 18, 2010 6:03 AM CDT reply actions

rest

for life. he has knee problems already and if he keeps pushing his body with the grind of the NBA life, it is going to take a toll on his whole body not just his knees. You don’t want to be retired and always going to doctors and stuff for the rest of your life, you want to enjoy yourself and be some what healthy.

One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.

by gunnin' gervin on Jun 18, 2010 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions

I’m a Spurs fan, but I have to admit that I’d feel not a little bit guilty if Duncan took a huge pay-cut. The man has already taken a couple of large pay-cuts. If he had played with almost any other team he’d be richer than he is. As a Spurs fan I’m ok with him making 20 million his last few years. He deserves it.

by Big50 on Jun 21, 2010 4:48 PM CDT reply actions