Wilcox Contemplating One Year and Opt Out

[George O'Brien]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/279626_sonx01.html

Wilcox, Sonics still haggling
Player may opt for a one-year contract

By GARY WASHBURN
P-I REPORTER

The likelihood of Chris Wilcox wearing a Sonics uniform come training camp in October is good, barring an unlikely trade.

The question is whether Wilcox will agree to a long-term contract, likely a three-year deal, or sign the Sonics' one-year, $3.6 million qualifying offer and become a free agent after the 2006-07 season.

Such a scenario -- playing under the pressure of a one-year contract -- proved unfavorable last season for Sonics players Vladimir Radmanovic, Reggie Evans and Flip Murray, and all were traded before the end of the season.

According to Wilcox's agent, Jeff Fried, accepting the offer and entering unrestricted free agency in 2007 is becoming a distinct possibility as negotiations drag into the late summer.

"If that's what it comes to, Chris is prepared to do that," Fried said Monday. "It's not a wait-and-see situation. Chris is working out this week, and we're getting together later this week to discuss that very issue. It's not fair to Chris. He wants to be with his teammates and coaches he will be with the next few years."

Wilcox averaged 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds in 29 games for Seattle last season. He spent 3 1/2 uneven years with the Clippers, gaining the reputation as a poor practice player with a questionable work ethic.

He blossomed into a potential star during his stint with the Sonics, but he has yet to receive an offer sheet from another club. Although there appear to be teams -- including Phoenix and Golden State -- who are interested in a sign-and-trade, the Sonics have rebuffed those offers, unwilling to disjoint team chemistry by acquiring multiple players.

"We've had dialogue the past few weeks," general manager Rick Sund said, "but we are not close to an agreement."

The Sonics seem comfortable with the prospect of Wilcox playing under a one-year contract, given that there could be just three teams -- Orlando, Atlanta and Charlotte -- under the salary cap next season.

If those teams, all of which have young power forwards, don't make Wilcox an offer, he would likely have to accept the midlevel exception next summer. The Sonics have offered more than that but not close to the six-year, $60 million that was initially proposed or the three-year, $24 million that could give Wilcox the security he wants but allow the Sonics a shorter-term deal in case he doesn't develop.

 

[George O'Brien]

The Suns might trade for Wilcox, rent him for a year, and then use his Bird rights in a sign and trade next summer. How much is that worth?

 

[jlove]

The Suns might trade for Wilcox, rent him for a year, and then use his Bird rights in a sign and trade next summer. How much is that worth?

If the Suns traded for Wilcox, at the end of next year we wouoldn't have his Bird Rights. That's relatively the same thing that happened to Banks in Minny. A player has to be on a team for more than one season for the team to gain Bird Rights on a player.

 

[cly2tw]

If the Suns traded for Wilcox, at the end of next year we wouoldn't have his Bird Rights. That's relatively the same thing that happened to Banks in Minny. A player has to be on a team for more than one season for the team to gain Bird Rights on a player.

I recall the condition is either on the current contract for at least 3 years or on the same team for at least 3 years. I have been wondering why Banks didn't qualify for BR in Minny. Could that have to do with rookie contract without the 4th year being picked up?

 

[Kolo]

This:

The Sonics seem comfortable with the prospect of Wilcox playing under a one-year contract, given that there could be just three teams -- Orlando, Atlanta and Charlotte -- under the salary cap next season.

gives the Suns a great deal of leverage in the Diaw negotiations. I can't see the Magic, Hawks or Bobcats pursuing him next summer, let alone offering him $60 million. Perhaps the Magic would have some interest, but they need an athletic wing far more than they need anything else.

Also, I know a player who signs a qualifying offer cannot be traded, so if Wilcox signs it he'll play for the Sonics. I'm not sure whether Wilcox can be traded before he signs that offer, but I don't think so--I don't think he's under contract right now, which means he couldn't be. But I could be wrong.

 

[Louis]

He's crazy if he tries.

Vladmir Radmonivch (sp?) did that and undercut his contractual value greatly.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

If he's signing for the one year deal at $3.6M, why don't we give them the trade exception (up to $3.7M) and a top 20 protected 1st next year (they get the highest of our picks - protected under 20)? The trade exception does have value and a pick like that in next year's draft obviously has good value. Then we have the flexibility of signing Wilcox long term next year if he develops in this system, or we can s&t him for players or picks next year and we'd be back at square one.

Another way to look at it:

Marion is more than likely gone next year. Wilcox at 6'10"/240lbs and athletically gifted, could man the 3 spot for us much like a Tyrus Thomas. Wilcox would be $6M per year cheaper at least. If Wilcox develops well here, we have a big front line and a nice asset in Marion to net us a big man.

I don't know. I think that adding Wilcox while not subtracting anything really opens up many options for us and gives us a great deal of flexibility. If we had to give up anything, I would offer a secondary trade of Jones for a "future considerations" on top of the TE and the 1st....

 

[asudevil83]

This:



gives the Suns a great deal of leverage in the Diaw negotiations. I can't see the Magic, Hawks or Bobcats pursuing him next summer, let alone offering him $60 million. Perhaps the Magic would have some interest, but they need an athletic wing far more than they need anything else.

Also, I know a player who signs a qualifying offer cannot be traded, so if Wilcox signs it he'll play for the Sonics. I'm not sure whether Wilcox can be traded before he signs that offer, but I don't think so--I don't think he's under contract right now, which means he couldn't be. But I could be wrong.

on the flip side though.....how are the suns going to avoid paying MILLIONS in LT payments if there are only a couple of teams out there with the cap space to absorb the contract of a guy like KT or even Marion?

 

[SweetD]

Wilcox is not even that good? I don't understand how he has one good season or plays good for half the year and we need to trade Marion to get him. I am going to go on record and say right now Marion will not be traded!

 

[Divide Et Impera]

I am going to go on record and say right now Marion will not be traded!

If Marion is not traded, we lose BOTH Barbosa and Diaw. If Marion is traded, we keep AT LEAST one of Barbosa and Diaw and we get a valuable asset(s) in return. There is a strong likelihood that Marion will be traded after this season. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but finances have a big influence on this possibility....

 

[Folster]

Wilcox is not even that good? I don't understand how he has one good season or plays good for half the year and we need to trade Marion to get him. I am going to go on record and say right now Marion will not be traded!

He was stuck behind Brand in L.A. and Mike Dunleavy is a traditional line-up coach where he tries to play a true center in Kaman. Brand seriously limited Wilcox's development as where a coach like D'Antoni would have played Brand and Wilcox together.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Marion is more than likely gone next year. Wilcox at 6'10"/240lbs and athletically gifted, could man the 3 spot for us much like a Tyrus Thomas. Wilcox would be $6M per year cheaper at least. If Wilcox develops well here, we have a big front line and a nice asset in Marion to net us a big man.

wilcox canNOT man the 3. he is a traditional, back to the basket, big. he's a 4. maybe time at the 5. NO time at the 3. he has neither the shot, nor the handle to play the 3. the tyrus thomas comparison is inaccurate. both are athletes, but tyrus has more quick-twitch explosiveness, better handles and a more consistent outside shot. if we brought in wilcox we'd be trading marion to net us another cheaper swingman not another big man.

 

[Mainstreet]

on the flip side though.....how are the suns going to avoid paying MILLIONS in LT payments if there are only a couple of teams out there with the cap space to absorb the contract of a guy like KT or even Marion?

There's always New York.

 

[nowagimp]

wilcox canNOT man the 3. he is a traditional, back to the basket, big. he's a 4. maybe time at the 5. NO time at the 3. he has neither the shot, nor the handle to play the 3. the tyrus thomas comparison is inaccurate. both are athletes, but tyrus has more quick-twitch explosiveness, better handles and a more consistent outside shot. if we brought in wilcox we'd be trading marion to net us another cheaper swingman not another big man.

I glad you said it. Where did anyone get the idea that Wilcox can defend the 3 or have any perimeter game?

 

[The Commish]

Wilcox sucks and I don't want him unless he comes super cheap with a short term contract. He was a career underachiever until half way through last season and suddenly he wants a big contract? No thanks, especially if it involves Kurt Thomas.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Wilcox sucks and I don't want him unless he comes super cheap with a short term contract. He was a career underachiever until half way through last season and suddenly he wants a big contract? No thanks, especially if it involves Kurt Thomas.

see, i think this is a popular misconception. i don't think he was a career underachiever. i think he was drafted by a team that already had a stud at his position. he never had the opportunity to show what he had b/c he was playing behind brand. when he did get glimpses of substantial playing time he showed ability and when he finally got some good run in seattle he started to blossom.

i think his situation is more akin to a longer term kj. kj was drafted high . . . like wilcox. and he was drafted by a team that had a firmly entrenched stud at his position (mark price) just like wilcox did (brand). when given the opp to get out from under the firmly entrenched stud's shadow (kj outta cleveland and wilcox outta LA) both players began to shine. do i think wilcox could be as talented as kj turned out to be? no. i mean, kj was close to a HOF-type player. but i do think wilcox could be an EXCELLENT bigman. particular for the suns who crave his type of athleticism.

 

[Gaddabout]

Wilcox sucks and I don't want him unless he comes super cheap with a short term contract. He was a career underachiever until half way through last season and suddenly he wants a big contract? No thanks, especially if it involves Kurt Thomas.

I'm not advocating trading for Wilcox, but "career underachiever" is a pretty harsh label for a career backup with only 4 years under his belt. Even as a backup for the Clippers, he was still an 8pts/5rbds guy. With more minutes in Seattle, he upped it to 14/8. I've never seen Wilcox do anything but hustle on the floor.

 

[Chaplin]

While I like Wilcox, I think it is an oversimplification to compare him to KJ, who became one of the very best at his position. While we all think he is a decent player who will get better, I bet there are very few people here and around the league that believe he will become close to the very best.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

And Marion is a good shooter at the 3?

Wilcox is an athlete, pure and simple. Marion is an athlete, pure and simple. Wilcox has a decent shot. Basically, I'm envisioning a front line consisting of Stoudemire and Wilcox along the lines of Buck Williams and Jerome Kersey, only better than those 2.

I would be thrilled to death if we had a front line consisting of a rotation of Stoudemire/Marion/Wilcox/Diaw/Thomas/Marks. That's 144 to go to 6 players, 4 major players. Marion and Stoudemire would take about half those minutes alone. Wilcox and Diaw would split about 50 minutes with the majority of those going to Wilcox because Diaw could steal a few minutes in the backcourt. Thomas would get 20 minutes or less and Marks would get less than 10.

Next year, trading Marion could net us, FOR EXAMPLE, Okur+, who would fit perfectly here. Who wouldn't be happy with a front line of Wilcox/Stoudemire/Okur?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

While I like Wilcox, I think it is an oversimplification to compare him to KJ, who became one of the very best at his position. While we all think he is a decent player who will get better, I bet there are very few people here and around the league that believe he will become close to the very best.

you never read the entire post do you? you just flat skip over the part where i say you can't compare their abilities or talents, just their situations. c'mon chap. you're just looking for a fight.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Who wouldn't be happy with a front line of Wilcox/Stoudemire/Okur?

who guards the three with that front line? none of them have the ability to stay with any athletic player with handles. those are three power players. jerome kersey had better lateral movement and handles than does wilcox. i think that's another poor comparison. sorry, don't mean to pick on ya, just my two cents.

 

[sunsfn]

If the suns can end up with Wilcox without giving up much, D'Antoni will do cartwheels wherever he is at the time. I really think Wilcox fits the suns as well as anyone out there. However, I would not think the Sonics want the suns to have him, and they may really be asking a lot in trade. He may end up with the one year and be a free agent next year. If the Sonics sign him to the three year deal they want and keep him, they will have a major piece for years to come.

 

[nowagimp]

And Marion is a good shooter at the 3?

Wilcox is an athlete, pure and simple. Marion is an athlete, pure and simple. Wilcox has a decent shot. Basically, I'm envisioning a front line consisting of Stoudemire and Wilcox along the lines of Buck Williams and Jerome Kersey, only better than those 2.

I would be thrilled to death if we had a front line consisting of a rotation of Stoudemire/Marion/Wilcox/Diaw/Thomas/Marks. That's 144 to go to 6 players, 4 major players. Marion and Stoudemire would take about half those minutes alone. Wilcox and Diaw would split about 50 minutes with the majority of those going to Wilcox because Diaw could steal a few minutes in the backcourt. Thomas would get 20 minutes or less and Marks would get less than 10.

Next year, trading Marion could net us, FOR EXAMPLE, Okur+, who would fit perfectly here. Who wouldn't be happy with a front line of Wilcox/Stoudemire/Okur?

According to NBA.com Wilcox is a 66% career FT shooter and 0.00% from 3. Marion is 83%FT's and 35% from 3. Lets be serious, Wilcox has very limited shooting range, probably can't shoot outside 15'. Sometimes its really incredible how people on this board can, at times, elevate the skills of players from other teams and downgrade our own players skills. To say wilcox is athletic is one thing, but to say he can shoot from outside is a huge stretch. I'd like Wilcox at the 5, or the 4, but he'd be a horrible 3.

He played well for a horrible team for 30 games and he thinks he's worth 10mil/yr. He must be hanging around with uncle cliffy smoking that nasty ****. His best move is to take a 1yr deal and then prove to everybody that he can play. Jerome James had proven more than wilcox when he got that stupid contract from the knicks. At least Jerome did it in the playoffs.

 

[nowagimp]

who guards the three with that front line? none of them have the ability to stay with any athletic player with handles. those are three power players. jerome kersey had better lateral movement and handles than does wilcox. i think that's another poor comparison. sorry, don't mean to pick on ya, just my two cents.

You nailed it ouchie. That frontline would be a defensive turnstyle for any good 3 who can create his shot off the dribble.

 

[Cheesebeef]

According to NBA.com Wilcox is a 66% career FT shooter and 0.00% from 3. Marion is 83%FT's and 35% from 3. Lets be serious, Wilcox has very limited shooting range, probably can't shoot outside 15'. Sometimes its really incredible how people on this board can, at times, elevate the skills of players from other teams and downgrade our own players skills. To say wilcox is athletic is one thing, but to say he can shoot from outside is a huge stretch. I'd like Wilcox at the 5, or the 4, but he'd be a horrible 3.

He played well for a horrible team for 30 games and he thinks he's worth 10mil/yr. He must be hanging around with uncle cliffy smoking that nasty ****. His best move is to take a 1yr deal and then prove to everybody that he can play. Jerome James had proven more than wilcox when he got that stupid contract from the knicks. At least Jerome did it in the playoffs.

agreed - there's no way in hell the Wilcox could play the 3 on defense. However, if this is Marion's last year (and I believe it probably will be due to contracts and what not - JMO), a front line of Diaw, Amare and Wilcox would be pretty sick, all of them young and all of them decent rebounders. You put that along with whatever we get for Marion, plus the-mid lotto pick and you're looking at the foundation for Amare era #2.

That being said, I'd be shocked if we actually got Wilcox.