F@#! Tim Thomas

[JCSunsfan]

They only have the 5.4M mid-level exception to work with, along with minimum contracts. Remember that they are over the cap.

Yes, we all know that they are over the cap. They have

5.4 million mid level exception
3.7 (or so) trade exception
as many minimum contracts as they want to use.

So they could go right up to the luxury tax if they wanted. And the luxury tax is really all we are talking about. We quit talking about the salary cap and the Suns the day that Q was signed.

 

[az1965]

3 years, $12 million
4 years, $24 million

Even if you figure that he could get another year or two at $3 million per afternoon each of these contracts is that that would mean $15 million vs. $24 million. He's also going to a top team in the conference. It's not like he's running to a loser team for more money.

Lastly, I think Tim Thomas could see that when Amare Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas are healthy his minutes will be quite limited here.

Joe

Exactly! Excellent points, Joe!

I don't understand why people get so emotional on players leaving. It is a business. We will get someone else. We have a good core.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Hey, let the Clippers pay him 24 million dollars..

I don't give a rats ass about Thomas not re-signing, I DO however care that two potential gems for the future were traded to clear up cap space to sign him.

 

[Joe Mama]

I think Joe was basing his original numbers off of NEXT years salaries. Diaw and Barbosa are already factored in.

Bingo! What a waste of time that post was from me. :-(

I'm so used to looking at the second column for next year's salaries that I didn't even look at the heading.

I also forgot about the amnesty rule. Did that make the team exempt from paying luxury tax on that waved player's entire salary? If so, that should put the Phoenix Suns at approximately $57.2 million before they sign anyone this summer.

Sorry about that guys.

Hey, let the Clippers pay him 24 million dollars..

I don't give a rats ass about Thomas not re-signing, I DO however care that two potential gems for the future were traded to clear up cap space to sign him.

Let's be honest here. Those two draft picks are as likely to be completely worthless waste of money and roster spots as they are to be "two potential gems". In fact I would say they are more likely to be that.

Besides, after unloading Brian Grant's contract they brought back Cleveland's 2007 first-round draft pick when they traded #21. There is your "potential gem".

Joe

 

[devilalum]

Besides, after unloading Brian Grant's contract they brought back Cleveland's 2007 first-round draft pick when they traded #21. There is your "potential gem".

Joe

I'll give you the #21 deal. I thought it was pretty sound but selling the #27 for cash was CHEAP.

You know they could have got a future pick.

Is Sarver really hurting for cash? I'm serious, I remember reading that he had to make some kind of balloon payment to finalize the deal for the team. I think he already made it but he might have had to borrow money to make it happen.

 

[Joe Mama]

I'll give you the #21 deal. I thought it was pretty sound but selling the #27 for cash was CHEAP.

You know they could have got a future pick.

Is Sarver really hurting for cash? I'm serious, I remember reading that he had to make some kind of balloon payment to finalize the deal for the team. I think he already made it but he might have had to borrow money to make it happen.

who do you think was going to give them a future pick? I mean it's possible that they could have gotten a future pick, but I think it's far from a sure thing. Portland Trail Blazers would find it easier to pay the $3 million. Quite frankly I'm surprised they got that much for the #27 draft pick. I really don't mind them taking it whereas I would have been upset along with the rest of you if it had been for something like $1 million.

Joe Mama

 

[sunsfn]

I'll give you the #21 deal. I thought it was pretty sound but selling the #27 for cash was CHEAP.

You know they could have got a future pick.

Is Sarver really hurting for cash? I'm serious, I remember reading that he had to make some kind of balloon payment to finalize the deal for the team. I think he already made it but he might have had to borrow money to make it happen.

The balloon (65 mil if I remember right) comes at the end of 3 years to JC and the boys!

 

[devilalum]

The balloon (65 mil if I remember right) comes at the end of 3 years to JC and the boys!

Doesn't this payment increase substatially if the Suns win a title in the first 3 years Sarver is owner?

 

[sunsfn]

Doesn't this payment increase substatially if the Suns win a title in the first 3 years Sarver is owner?

I do not remember reading about that.

 

[Russ Smith]

All I can say is while it sucks when someone like Thomas bolts for more money, if it's a surprise to you, then I'd submit you haven't been paying attention to Tim's career up until now. Tim has made a CAREER out of annoying every team he plays for. He played one year of college ball and as good as he was nobody was sad to see him go, and he's been the same way his entire NBA career.

There's a reason he's on his 5th team in 9 years, Tim has always been about Tim and not about the team or winning. Very skilled player but he's never shot 50% once in his career, highest season is .461, he's been on losing teams most of his career. Tim Thomas is the classic underachiever, highly skilled, but not motivated. Of course he's going to take the money and run.

Now you can argue that with the Clips losing Radmanovic, Thomas is a perfect fit and he simply chose the situation that will give him more PT, and the Clips are a solid team. But my guess is he simply took the money.

 

[WildBB]

All I can say is while it sucks when someone like Thomas bolts for more money, if it's a surprise to you, then I'd submit you haven't been paying attention to Tim's career up until now. Tim has made a CAREER out of annoying every team he plays for. He played one year of college ball and as good as he was nobody was sad to see him go, and he's been the same way his entire NBA career.

There's a reason he's on his 5th team in 9 years, Tim has always been about Tim and not about the team or winning. Very skilled player but he's never shot 50% once in his career, highest season is .461, he's been on losing teams most of his career. Tim Thomas is the classic underachiever, highly skilled, but not motivated. Of course he's going to take the money and run.

Now you can argue that with the Clips losing Radmanovic, Thomas is a perfect fit and he simply chose the situation that will give him more PT, and the Clips are a solid team. But my guess is he simply took the money.

Exactamundo - TT is about TT and nothing else.

 

[George O'Brien]

I'm not inclined to rag on a guy who gets half again more money and still goes to a second round playoff team. I'd love it if everybody wanted to play for the Suns for well under market, but I don't get upset when they don't.

Personally I wanted TT back, but I did not want to give him the kind of money he could get elsewhere. I hoped he would stay for less, but I knew it was a long shot and it didn't come through.

Let's be clear, there were a lot of reasons not to give TT the kind of money he was asking. He's a nice player with a sweet stroke, but to pay him what the Clips did would mean giving up a more vital piece to the Suns future.

 

[F-Dog]

The Suns weren't serious about keeping Tim Thomas. If they'd make a competitive offer (like 4yr/$20m), I could see getting mad at TT, but they didn't. What they offered was the Antonio McDyess (2nd time) Pat On The Ass On Your Way Out The Door.



Tim Thomas came to the Suns off the street, played for essentially nothing, came up huge in the playoffs, and amicably parted ways with the team the next summer. I say, good for him.

 

[Joe Mama]

I'm not inclined to rag on a guy who gets half again more money and still goes to a second round playoff team. I'd love it if everybody wanted to play for the Suns for well under market, but I don't get upset when they don't.

Personally I wanted TT back, but I did not want to give him the kind of money he could get elsewhere. I hoped he would stay for less, but I knew it was a long shot and it didn't come through.

Let's be clear, there were a lot of reasons not to give TT the kind of money he was asking. He's a nice player with a sweet stroke, but to pay him what the Clips did would mean giving up a more vital piece to the Suns future.

amen George

Joe

 

[DevonCardsFan]

The Suns probably could have kept Dice if they had used the money they put into Q for him. Of course, the fact that the Pistons had a championship contending team meant a lot when Dice left the Suns. But considering his history of injuries, that would have been a huge gamble. Still it remains a classic "what might have been".

No I meant when the Jerk was the Corner stone of this team, him and Kidd and he left to Denver for less money, He set the Suns back, that led the Suns to landing Googs weak ass