Page 1601 of 2957

      Raptors give fat extension to Bargnani

      July 8, 2009 /

      When I estimated the extensions that the big names from the class of 2006 could potentially sign this summer, I pegged Andrea Bargnani at $7-$8 million per season. It turns out I underestimated his value to the Raptors.

      The deal, according to NBA front-office sources, would span five seasons starting in 2010-11 and earn Bargnani an estimated $50 million.

      Bargnani did go through something of a transformation in his third season, averaging 15.4 points on 45% shooting from the field and 41% from long range. The previous year, he shot 39% from the field and less than 35% from deep, so he made a big jump, efficiency-wise. His PER (14.66) is still below average, mainly due to his suspect rebounding for a seven-footer (5.3 rpg) and lack of assists (1.2 apg).

      The bottom line is that Bargnani will have to continue his career trajectory to earn the contract that the Raptors just awarded him.

      NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      “Birdman” scores a five-year deal

      July 8, 2009 /

      It looks like Chris Andersen is staying in Denver.

      Andersen, who provided shot-blocking, rebounding and energy off the bench for the Nuggets in their run to the Western Conference finals, could make as much as $26 million from the deal, his agent, Mark Bryant, told the newspaper. Andersen could sign the contract as early as Wednesday, when the NBA’s free agent signing period begins.

      Andersen will earn $3.7 million next season from the contract, which is back-loaded and sweetened with performance incentives, Bryant said, according to the report.

      The deal runs five years, which seems pretty long for a 31-year-old that was previously suspended for substance abuse. But Andersen seems to have turned a corner in his life and in his career, and he was a valuable “energy guy” off the Nuggets bench last season.

      NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      NBA announces 2009 salary cap, warns about 2010

      July 8, 2009 /

      The new salary cap figure is out, and it dipped slightly from last season.

      The new figures for 2009-10 just announced by the league have set the salary cap at $57.7 million per team — down $1 million from $58.7 from 2008-09 — and the luxury-tax threshold at $69.9 million.

      More importantly, the league is projecting a much bigger drop (as much as $8 million) heading into the 2010 season.

      The official league memorandum, obtained by ESPN.com, forecasts a dip in basketball-related income in the 2009-10 season of 2.5 percent to 5 percent, which threatens to take the 2010-11 cap down some $5 million to $8 million from last season’s $58.7 million salary cap.

      A significant drop for the luxury-tax threshold is also projected going into the summer of 2010. If basketball-related income drops by 2.5 percent in 2009-10, league officials are projecting a 2010-11 salary cap of $53.6 million and a luxury-tax line of $65 million. If BRI, as it is referred to in the NBA, decreases by five percent, teams would be looking at a $50.4 million salary cap and a luxury-tax line of $61.2 million in 2010-11.

      What does this mean? Well, a team like the New York Knicks, who are projected to have a payroll of about $23 million heading into 2010 would have had about $35 million to spend had the cap stayed at $58 million. That’s plenty of money to sign to superstars. If the cap drops $5-$8 million, it means that they’re projected cap space will be in the $27-$30 million range. That makes signing two “max” players quite tough.

      This is probably good news for teams looking to retain their superstars, since they can go over the cap to re-sign players. If the cap does indeed drop to $50 million, it would increase the chances of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Joe Johnson staying put.

      NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Phillies interested in Pedro Martinez

      July 8, 2009 /

      According to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark, the defending champion Phillies are interested in free agent pitcher Pedro Martinez, perhaps even more than they’re letting on.

      The source, who is well-connected in the Dominican, says he was also led to believe the Phillies have let Martinez know what they were willing to pay him for the rest of this season and that that amount was likely to be less than the prorated $5 million contract, plus incentives, that he has been seeking.

      “The decision to sign him depends on the front office, but as far as we are concerned, we saw a Pedro Martínez ready to help a team,” Phillies scout Robinson Garcia told ESPNdeportes.com’s Enrique Rojas after the workout.

      Phillies’ GM special assistant Charley Kerfeld was also present at the workout. It’s believed that no other clubs were present.

      Phillies front-office officials declined to comment on Martinez’s workout.

      “I am surprised, I didn’t think he would be in such good shape,” Garcia told Rojas. “His fastball was good, between 88 and 91 miles, and all his breaking pitches were moving very well.

      “Pedro won’t have problems throwing his fastball at 93 miles per hour. He really had a great session with us,” he said.

      Considering his pass injury issues and his age (37), the $5 million Pedro is asking for is a bit much. Then again, if he’s still throwing 93 mph then $5 million might be a bargain for a team like the Phillies, who are seeking to bolster their starting pitching depth.

      One way or another, it looks like Martinez will pitch for somebody this year. The Phillies and Cubs have already expressed interest and I’m sure there will be more.

      MLB

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑