http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003107566_soni06.html Wilcox talks becoming a drag By Percy Allen Seattle Times staff reporter Many thought Chris Wilcox would get a six-year deal. According to a source as many as nine teams have shown interest in Sonics restricted free agent Chris Wilcox. Because negotiations between the Sonics and restricted free agent Chris Wilcox stalled earlier this week, the sides are exploring sign-and-trade possibilities, the rhetoric is becoming terse and the likelihood that contract talks will end unfavorably for both sides grows stronger each day. "The longer it drags on, we will come to the point of no return where Chris will not look back and will no longer want to be in Seattle," said Jeff Fried, the Washington, D.C.-based agent for Wilcox. "Since it appears that the Sonics are unwilling to give Chris his fair-market value, we're looking at other options." According to one NBA source, as many as nine teams have contacted the Sonics about Wilcox, but general manager Rick Sund has declined to seriously entertain each offer. Golden State is believed to be the latest team to inquire about Wilcox, but discussions with Seattle ended quickly because the Sonics are hoping to land an All-Star forward in return. Sund and Fried exchanged initial contract proposals on Monday, and the meeting revealed just how far apart both sides are. Many believed the Sonics would offer Wilcox the six-year, $42 million deal they extended Vladimir Radmanovic last year, but Seattle's offer was slightly lower because only a few teams have the salary-cap flexibility to aggressively pursue the 6-foot-10 power forward. Most teams can use their mid-level exception and offer Wilcox a five-year, $31 million contract, but the Sonics can match those offers and retain his services. Given their favorable position, the Sonics offered Wilcox considerably less than Denver's six-year, $60 million deal with Nene on Sunday, which seemed to set the market for power forwards. Wilcox was hoping to land a deal comparable to Nene's because the Sonics forward averaged 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds in 29 games with Seattle last season. Nene, who missed last season because of a knee injury, averaged 10.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in three seasons with the Nuggets. A possible breakthrough in the negotiations occurred Wednesday when Fried told the Sonics that he's open to accepting a three-year deal averaging less than $10 million per season. The two sides continue to converse daily, but no face-to-face meetings are scheduled. Fried said he was optimistic. Sund didn't return messages to his office on Wednesday. If the Sonics aren't agreeable to a short-term deal and sign-and-trade offers are refuted, then Wilcox's only option is signing the qualifying offer that will make him an unrestricted free agent next summer. It's the same option the Sonics presented Radmanovic, Reggie Evans and Ronald Murray last year. Each of them grudgingly took the one-year deal, which was partly to blame for Seattle's 35-47 record because they sulked during the season, never played to their potential and were dealt before the February trade deadline. "Chris enjoyed Seattle immensely, really bonded with his teammates and we certainly thought they had the view that his value was part of building a playoff caliber team," Fried said. "Chris either wants to get a deal done in Seattle or move forward with the sign and trade. "He doesn't want a long, drawn-out negotiation, and I would think that the last thing the Sonics would want is a disgruntled 24-year-old who doesn't want to be there." Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company
Seattle, either he is worth what he says, or he isn't. You can't seriously expect to either underpay him, or sign him and trade him for a all-star?
I wold love to pick up Wilcox but just because Nene got $10M per, that doesn't mean that another team will be dumb enough to give Wilcox that.
You're looking at his last 29 games instead of his first 213. He was in a serious contract drive with Seattle, playing out the string last year, against a bunch of other teams playing out the string. Stro's career numbers are better that Wilcox's. And you want to commit 7 or 8 mil per year based on 29 end of season games?
If we keep sending 2 guys out to get 1 guy back, we're going to have to suit up Patrick Ewing and Charlie Ward.
Agreed. I would still love to bring Wilcox in, but I'm not willing to commit the type of money he is looking for, especially if it's anywhere near what Nene got. Let's not forget that for whatever reason, Wilcox didn't play in 81 games the first 3 seasons he was in the league.
We did see him get a 20/20 game on us... Maybe that impressed JVG/CD enough to offer him a big contract.
You guys read the part about what Seattle wants in return, right? Granted, they aren't going to get it, but one has to think they could get more back than Juwan and Luther. On the other hand, with the revolving door of PFs they got over there, they could at least know what to consistently expect from Juwan. Sweeten the deal with a future first round pick and it could work.
exactly. wilcox has talent and is still young, but he didn't do jack his first couple of seasons in the league. i know he was playing behind elton brand but he didn't even look impressive off the bench in the few minutes a game he got. i don't know about paying this guy more than $5 mil. a year. 14 & 8 over 29 games is good, but crap over the first 3 years in the league is bad.
Another Stromile Swift. I can't get behind looking at Wilcox because I feel dumb enough for being an advocate for signing Swift. I wouldn't be able to take making that same mistake two years in a row. (On the plus side, maybe we could trade him back to Seattle next year along with our number one pick for say, Nick Collison or Luke Ridnour.)
It'll be one underachiever for another? Wilcox has quite a reputation for doggin it, especially at practice and on the boards. His renaissance with the Sonics could very well have been a simple ploy for a big cntract. Erick Dampier is a great example of that. MarK Blount too.
I don't want Wilcox on the Rockets but I wonder if they'd be interested in taking Juwan for Earl watson?
If we sign Mike James you could do Rafer + Juwan for Watson + Wilcox...don't know if that really helps the Rockets, though....how many years in a row can you change that many pieces?
I hope the Rockets seriously pursue getting Wilcox. For all who say he is an under achiever think about the power foward who was in front of him on his roster when he was with the Clippers. Elton Brand, but then when he got to Seattle he became a starter and showed what he really can do.
I'd also like Wilcox on this team but not for a Nene sized contract because I heard he has pretty bad work ethic.
this team needs an enforcer and bruiser like wilcox....it's not like he's gonna take shots away from t-mac and yao like j-ho....send seattle j-ho and a future 1st round pick, but his contract shouldnt be ridiculous
