I have to agree with this, JV, because of the reasons you mention as well as this additional one: the Raptors are handicapped by what they can offer by the difference in the valuations between the American and Canadian dollars. While it may not be the extreme hindrance it used to be, I'm sure it still plays a key role in determining the market for the Raptors. What really hurt Keon, though, are the contracts given to Jerome and Alvin Williams last season, both around the midcap exception long term. However, they almost had to re-sign them to show other players that they are willing to pay for their players and keep their free agents happy...it's almost a catch-22 for them.
Just to clear up a few points: On Keon's attitude, he's driven the coaching staff crazy at times. He doesn't work on his game at all in the summer and spends all his time on the golf course. That is why Grunwald opted not to extend him deal last summer when they entered talks at camp. He was also fined 18 times by the team last year for being late to shoot arounds, practices and yes, one game he was supposed to sit out, he showed up to the bench in a Tshirt and jeans. Also last summer he had a run in with the law, where he was charged with domestic abuse and had a restraining order handed to him. Raptors kept the story on the hush hush and it actually worked in the hockey crazy land called Canada. As for recending the qualifying offer, it doesn't make much sense to me either; only ways it does if: a) Like you said he was about to become redundant and Grunwald has been interested in Marshall and Rodney Rogers for a very long time, perhaps they are on the radar screen. b) Keon and Vince Carter have clashed a lot in the locker room, Vince showed up late to practice once due to a family issue while he was injured. Later that same day Keon spoke out saying that people in the franchise are treated differently than others, and then got upset when Vince and Jerome were waiving their towels on the bench that night while the guys on the floor were playing, and called them out. c) He might have promised Keon to let him go if he couldn't come up with the money and we all know Grunwald keeps his word. d) MLSE is a business with no goal of ever winning a champion, for reference: Look at the Leafs this offseason.
I agree Juan, There quite likely could be unintended market forces making restriction not work very well, except for franchise players. If your player is asking for money out of what you are willing to pay, and you don't think he can get it, maybe it will take him hitting the market to come to grips with that and start negotiating in good faith. If you never get any offers and your team sticks to waiting for offers, what do you do? Seems reasonable that it takes an unrestricted market for the SnT offers to start coming in from other teams. We are starting to see a precedence for this, as well. Remember, you can always get him more money in a SnT anyhow (the higher raises and longer term). If negotiations proceed in good faith in an unrestricted market, agents will work for a SnT, like Fegan did for Hakeem and Shandon. Maybe they find the restricted market too difficult to work out SnTs for their clients and the team.
