Posted by crzymdups:

The Sacramento Kings found a way to keep their starting point guard, Beno Udrih, despite some fierce competition.

Udrih and the Kings have verbally agreed to a five-year contract for the full mid-level exception, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com.

Assuming the full mid-level comes in at $5.5 million this year, Udrih would get a contract worth $33.3 million. The same source said Udrih would have a player option for the fifth year of his contract.

"I am so happy and honored to be returning to the Kings," Udrih told ESPN.com. "They took a chance on me and believed in me. I can't wait to get back to my teammates and the city that has become home to me."

The Kings outbid the Los Angeles Clippers, who also offered Udrih a five-year deal for the mid-level. Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy flew to New York and met with Udrih at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday morning -- the earliest NBA teams were permitted to commence negotiations and strike verbal agreements with free agents. Dunleavy was persuasive, but at the end of the day Udrih wanted to return to the team that gave him his big break.

The new contract is quite a turnaround for Udrih. For his first three years in the league Udrih was a little used back-up in San Antonio. At the start of last season, he was traded to Sacramento to fill in for the injured Mike Bibby. Udrih broke out and averaged 12.8 points and 4.3 assists for the Kings last season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3469582


if both this report and the Duhon report are true, i'm liking the duhon signing more and more.

kings were smart to let the market dictate how much they should pay their own player. whether it's a good deal or not is TBD, but it was market value. in duhon's case, bulls didn't want him so he signed for the biggest deal he could probably get.

[Edited by - djsunyc on 07-01-2008 4:25 PM]

Posted by djsunyc:

Posted by crzymdups:

The Sacramento Kings found a way to keep their starting point guard, Beno Udrih, despite some fierce competition.

Udrih and the Kings have verbally agreed to a five-year contract for the full mid-level exception, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com.

Assuming the full mid-level comes in at $5.5 million this year, Udrih would get a contract worth $33.3 million. The same source said Udrih would have a player option for the fifth year of his contract.

"I am so happy and honored to be returning to the Kings," Udrih told ESPN.com. "They took a chance on me and believed in me. I can't wait to get back to my teammates and the city that has become home to me."

The Kings outbid the Los Angeles Clippers, who also offered Udrih a five-year deal for the mid-level. Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy flew to New York and met with Udrih at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday morning -- the earliest NBA teams were permitted to commence negotiations and strike verbal agreements with free agents. Dunleavy was persuasive, but at the end of the day Udrih wanted to return to the team that gave him his big break.

The new contract is quite a turnaround for Udrih. For his first three years in the league Udrih was a little used back-up in San Antonio. At the start of last season, he was traded to Sacramento to fill in for the injured Mike Bibby. Udrih broke out and averaged 12.8 points and 4.3 assists for the Kings last season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3469582


if both this report and the Duhon report are true, i'm liking the duhon signing more and more.

kings were smart to let the market dictate how much they should pay their own player. whether it's a good deal or not is TBD, but it was market value. in duhon's case, bulls didn't want him so he signed for the biggest deal he could probably get.

[Edited by - djsunyc on 07-01-2008 4:25 PM]

Exactly what I stated how we should deal with Lee and Nate. IMO they really aren't worth the risk of locking them into extensions now nor do I think we want to do it obviously. Fans were talking about locking Lee into an extension for 5yrs and if possible(it's not) for 6yrs. Why? Let these guys hit the market as RFA and don't bid against yourself. Kings did a good job and obviously Udrih was going to receive the full MLE. If Duhon was our FA and we weren't in a Cap Bind we'd have retained him for the same price.

Posted by djsunyc:

udrih with sacramento:

46.4 fg%
38.7 3fg%
1.9:1 assist:to

after the all star break (when he became a full time starter):

50.1 fg%
33.3 3fg%
2.2:1 assist:to


[Edited by - djsunyc on 07-01-2008 4:52 PM]

Posted by crzymdups:

Posted by Cosmic:

Ridiculous overpayment especially given what a terrible position the Kings are in. They're very Layden like right now and that is a very Anderson/Eisley type signing IMO.


Yet, just because one team drastically overpays for a player doesn't make me like a potential Knick signing any better. Curious what you allude to with that, crzymdups? Other than being happy to have a financially responsible man in charge...but signing a crappy player to a responsible contract isn't anything to be happy about. Duhon is worth the LLE in my opinion. Yet, I still wouldn't even sign him at all.

I hope he proves me wrong if it goes through.

i just meant that some of the PG options people were floating about weren't as realistic as people might have thought. a lot of folks were saying go after Udrih. I'm happy to make a fiscally responsible move for a player who may not be as flashy a scorer, but is probably a better playmaker. it's a solid move for a guy who will very likely be a complimentary part to the roster and it was sensible and realistic. that's all.

also, the kings have put themselves in cap hell by giving out the full 5yr MLE every year to guys who barely qualify as starters.

[Edited by - crzymdups on 01-07-2008 5:03 PM]