DALLAS -- It appears Mark Cuban did not have to go to "max money" to retain restricted free agent center Raef LaFrentz. The Fort Worth Star Telegram reported Wednesday that LaFrentz has agreed to terms with the Dallas Mavericks on a seven-year contract worth $60 million. LaFrentz, who was acquired by Dallas with guard Nick Van Exel from the Denver Nuggets last February, was seeking a "maximum contract" in excess of $90 million from the Nuggets before he was traded. However, Cuban reportedly convinced LaFrentz to settle for $60 million. The NBA free agency signing period began Wednesday and team officials are expected to announce the re-signing of LaFrentz by the end of the week. The 6-11 LaFrentz mostly played center for the Mavericks and averaged 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.22 blocked shots in 27 regular season games and 11.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots in eight postseason contests. However, coach Don Nelson said after the Mavs were eliminated by Sacramento in the Western Conference semifinals that he plans to move LaFrentz to power forward, shift 7-footer Dirk Nowitzki to small forward and alternate 7-6 Shawn Bradley, 7-1 restricted free agent Wang Zhizhi and 6-11 Evan Eschmeyer at center. The Mavs also hope to re-sign restricted free agent forward Eduardo Najera but anticipate losing restricted free agent swingman Greg Buckner. The third overall pick in the 1998 draft, LaFrentz suffered a torn ACL in his rookie year but averaged 12.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots over the next two seasons with Denver.
LaFrenz would be much more effective as a PF, and Dirk is a HUGE mismatch problem for other teams at SF. Dallas should be able to resign Najera, and are also said to be after Byron Russell as a replacement for Buck.
Bubba, too much? Maybe too long, but not too much starting salary. It is way off the maximum. Maximum would have been a 1st yr starting salary of $9m. LaFrentz contract is a 1st yr starting salary of: $6,234,000 In other words, he is closer to the league average salary than the maximum salary. He is 66% off Max salary. imo, that is about right for LaFrentz.
Most SF's yes. Of corse he'll have trouble with players like Pierce and T-Mac but so do all other SF's. He has a huge size advantage over all SF's not named KG. With an improved low post game he should be able to either post up smaller SF's or just shoot over them.
KT is about as quick as Dirk. He is strong so should be able to post most other SFs up. Yet folx scream at that idea like you got two heads Rocket River
Since the Mavs don't have a decent center they could probably think about moving either Van Exel or Nash for a respectable center and use AJ as the backup. AJ would be very capeable of backing up either one and they really don't need both of those pgs.
The only problem with that is that coaches and GM's have a theory that you don't trade big for small.
Good deal for the Mavs. He's not worth quite the max, but much more than the mid-level exception. If he could just develop a post game, his next contract could be for the max.
Raef LaFrentz is way overpaid bottomline. Mark Cuban is an idiot who wastes his money on decent players. 60 million for a 5th option player. Get serious!
That 5th option could be the 2nd option on many of the teams contending with the Mavericks. If he's got the money and flexibility, Cuban can do whatever he wants. If you wanna talk about "way overpaid," look at Shawn Bradley. Raef's deal is right in line with what he could've gotten on the open market and consistant with his talents...Cuban actually played it smart in not just simply giving him the max.
