Mike James: `It's Time For Me To Get What I Deserve'

I have no problem with MJ wanting more money. He is underpaid based on his skills and performance.

But I am curious how much he wants. Based on the tone in the interview, I guess he might demand 7-8 Mill per year for 5 -6 years. After all, that was Cat got from Clippers. I can't image there are teams will give him more than that.

 

It was that and the fear that the team would be subjugated for his stat padding. Getting RA was a means to contract management as he is signed for some years at a 'reasonable' amount.

I suspect James will get the MLE (from NYK?) but no better. I suspect he'll be SnT fodder for Colangelo, or for three years starting at $4mm he stays in TO?

 

Of course, it was his decision to sign a multi-year contract last time he signed a contract, and he did so because he wanted the security of many years of pay in case he didn't develop. The tradeoff of that was that he would be paid less than he might otherwise if he improved.

During the last contract negotiation, he had the option of signing a one or two year deal. He should't be complaining about being underpaid when it was him that signed the contract. It's not like he's on a rookie required contract or whatnot.

 

If Mike James were here instead of Rafer we would be a solid playoff team.

DD

 

I won't hate on MJames, I loved that guy when he was with the Rox and I was depressed when he was traded for Reefer, but that's ancient history and we have to move on.

He deserves the money he's going to get this upcoming season, he's never had that one big contract all NBA pros dream of, so this will likely be his first and last chance to do so, and it's a credit to him that he upped the ante this season to improve his negotiating position. More power to him, another casualty of JVG's philosophy...he just didn't "fit in", much like JVG would say if we had Jason Terry (same type of players, IMO, and Dallas seem to be doing just fine with him running the point).

Go MJ, get that money boy.

 

i couldnt agree more

 

Probably one of the very few times we agree on anything around here!

I have never understood and probably never will why the Rockets got rid of this guy.

 

can't change what already happend... i was pissed yeah i loved MJ , was my fav player, i was happy though when he went up for that layup in the playoffs got hammered , no call, and got ejected... he is really underpaid though great player

 

lets offer him a deal,how many contracts expire this sumer,i'd be cool if he came back,we needed him this yr

 

I liked getting "pure PG", but I think you are very right about that.

 

It is simple. Sura was injured, they decided to get a PG for long term because they feared Mike James might walk after this season, which he probably would. By signing Rafer, they thought they had a long term solution at point guard position.

I undestand the idea behind this trade, what I don't get is why JVG and CD were so sure about Alston and committed to him long term (he still has 3-4 years' contract left). I read somewhere saying that JVG said Alston left him good impression when he played under Stan Van Gundy in Miami. But obviously JVG forgot his big brother only played Alston as a backup (I think Stan is a better coach than Jeff by the way).

On the other hand, Toronto was desperate to get rid of Alston because of his long term contract and the conflicts he had with head coach last year (This guy even cried in public and had an emotion breakdown at one time). I guess Raptor can't be happier about the trade and let Rox fans enjoy the "pass first" point guard.

 

Ok guys if i were CD and i wanted this guy back !! what i'm supposed to do to achieve that ?
get rid of Howard ? how ?

 

Well, would the CD give MJ the 8 million+ his agent wants?

Not if he's learned his mistakes with Shandon, Cato and MoT....

 

We can't afford him.

 

that's why am asking ! my purpose of the question is how can we pay him ? i mean dump someone's contract like Howard in a trade or something ? i know it's hard but any thoughts ?

 

I hope he gets his money, goes to the Bahamas, and drowns there.

 

with Tmac out this year.. we sure could have used MJ's shooting.. I am sure if Sam Cassell wanted to come to Houston as a shoot first point guard no one would complain..

 

If hadn't traded MJ we would be sitting at #5 in the western conference.

 

James is singlehandedly beating the Knicks on both ends tonight, while one channel down the dial, the rockets, in desperate need of perimeter offense and defense, are floundering badly.

We would have been a better team this year with him. And it's not like Alston or a reasonable facsimile thereof was a hot commodity, never again obtainable....

trading james was a mistake - it's time to call it that and accept it.

Edit: I should add, he just fell into Petra Nemcova's lap. So he gets hot chicks too.