Playoff Stage Increases Free Agent Value (JET note inside)

[Drbio]

Nothing beats playoff stage for future free agents
Posted: Tuesday May 16, 2006 12:41PM; Updated: Tuesday May 16, 2006 2:51PM

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...agents/?cnn=yes

Call it the Jerome James Effect. Every year there is a player or two who uses the playoff stage to increase his value on the upcoming free agent market. Last year it was then-Sonics center James, who parlayed a monster first-round series against the Kings into a $30 million windfall from the Knicks.

He hasn't been seen since. But, hey, that's the way the NBA works.

In this postseason, several of the bigger names who were expected to put on a show and reap big benefits didn't enjoy great outings. Peja Stojakovic came up lame early in his team's first-round series with the Nets and barely played. Flip Murray, who played well for the Cavs down the stretch, has not located his stroke in the postseason. Vladimir Radmanovic hasn't exactly lit it up for the Clippers, either.

But there are a handful of players who have increased their market value. Here are our top five.

Tim Thomas, Phoenix Suns
Signed late in the season after being traded by the Knicks and exiled by the Bulls, he has been a godsend for the Suns. The 6-foot-10 sharpshooter is averaging 15.3 points and 7.5 boards while shooting 41.0 percent from three-point range in 11 playoff games. He had 22 points and 15 boards in Game 1 against the Lakers in the first round, and 21 and 10 in Game 5. When Thomas signed with the Suns after sitting out almost the entire season, many wondered if he would be in good enough shape to play in Phoenix's up-tempo system. He not only has kept running, but he's also thrived. He's played his way into a likely mid-level deal somewhere, starting at around $5 million per season.

Bonzi Wells, Sacramento Kings
His playoff stay was brief but memorable. The veteran swingman averaged 23.2 points in six games against the Spurs while leading all first-round playoff performers with 12.0 rebounds per game. Wells scored inside and out (he shot 60.9 percent from the floor, 62.5 percent from downtown) and did much of his damage against one of the league's best defensive players in Bruce Bowen. In the final year of a deal that pays him $8 million, he might have earned himself a raise from the Kings or, at worst, a mid-level deal somewhere. Some teams might be leery of a player with Wells' history of clashing with his coaches, but this year's playoff showing will probably persuade the Kings or somebody else to take a gamble.


Sam Cassell, L.A. Clippers

Everybody knows that Cassell is a savvy floor general. But the 13-year veteran has shown in these playoffs that he's still got that something extra to lead a club deep into the postseason. Through nine games he was averaging 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists. He nearly racked up a triple double (28-11-9) in a Game 4 victory over the Suns, nailing a clutch trey to ice the contest. At age 36, Cassell likely won't land a long-term contract. He says he only wants to play two more years, and judging from his performance in these playoffs, he's making a strong case that he's worth at least a raise from his current $6.1 million salary.

Drew Gooden, Cleveland Cavaliers
One of two intriguing restricted free agent power forwards on the market (along with Seattle's Chris Wilcox), Gooden has helped his cause with a solid postseason showing. The 6-foot-10 forward is averaging 8.8 points and 8.1 rebounds in just 22.5 minutes a game, while shooting .569 from the floor and a perfect 14 of 14 from the foul line. Tagged as a player who sometimes loses focus, Gooden has shown no signs of being distracted in the crucible of the postseason. The Cavs will have the right to match any offer for Gooden, but if he gets a deal starting at $8 million or $9 million somewhere, they probably can't afford to keep him.

Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks
Like Cassell, Terry is already a proven commodity. But until Monday night the 29-year-old combo guard was having a somewhat quiet postseason. That all changed with his brilliant 32-point performance in Game 4 that helped the Mavs take a 3-1 series lead over the Spurs. Terry sank three huge daggers and made several other key plays in his team's biggest game of the year. It's a reminder to NBA clubs that he can be a big-time player even if he is shooting only 42.9 percent from the floor and 30.0 percent from downtown in these playoffs. Plus, with the Mavs now poised to extend their postseason run, Terry should have more opportunities to showcase his game in the days ahead.

[alexamenos]

Originally Posted by Drbio

Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks
Like Cassell, Terry is already a proven commodity. But until Monday night the 29-year-old combo guard was having a somewhat quiet postseason. That all changed with his brilliant 32-point performance in Game 4 that helped the Mavs take a 3-1 series lead over the Spurs. Terry sank three huge daggers and made several other key plays in his team's biggest game of the year. It's a reminder to NBA clubs that he can be a big-time player even if he is shooting only 42.9 percent from the floor and 30.0 percent from downtown in these playoffs. Plus, with the Mavs now poised to extend their postseason run, Terry should have more opportunities to showcase his game in the days ahead.

It's probably wishful thinking on my part, but I wonder whether Dallas may have an advantage with Terry because of Terry's..ummm....*brand identity* here in Dallas. He's got a radio show , he's built a nice fan base and earned alotta luv.....hopefully that will translate into Dallas area endorsements that he couldn't get anywhere else --- IOW, dollars in his pocket that aren't paid by Cuban and never hit the salary cap..

[vjz]

Originally Posted by alexamenos

It's probably wishful thinking on my part, but I wonder whether Dallas may have an advantage with Terry because of Terry's..ummm....*brand identity* here in Dallas. He's got a radio show , he's built a nice fan base and earned alotta luv.....hopefully that will translate into Dallas area endorsements that he couldn't get anywhere else --- IOW, dollars in his pocket that aren't paid by Cuban and never hit the salary cap..

Sure. Unless someone decides to ridiculously overpay him.

[atrewsfan]

I know CLE would like to add a reliable PG and more perimeter shooting in the offseason so they could kill two birds with one stone by adding Terry. Drew Gooden will be coming off their books so they might be able to afford Terry.

TOR would want a Mike James-type replacement at PG for Mike James if he decides not to exercise his player option and leaves. They also want a PG who can supply some perimeter shooting.

I hope Terry sees that he's fortunate to be on one of the elite teams in the NBA and that he'll still get tons of minutes in DAL even if Harris starts at PG. He could be another N. Van Exel for us, a guy who backs up the PG spot and also gets a ton of time at SG in small lineups.

[MFFL]

Cleveland doesn't have any cap room.

Terry isn't going to play in Toronto. They lose too much.

[nowhereman]

an extension of the same logic is that devin harris seems increasingly primed to start at the point. Hopefully we can re-sign terry, giving us a backcourt of terry and devin, with griffin and marquis backing them up (stack up at the 3). Doing so will be hard because mavs owe good money to harris and j-ho in a year, and terry's stock is pretty high.

and if he does decide to switch from dallas, a team on the brink of the conference finals, to toronto, a team who's most famous accomplishment this year was giving up 81 to #8, well then there just ain't a whole lot that we can do.

jet's been so money for us these last couple years, and all indications earlier in the year were that dallas wants to keep him around. lets hope it works out.

[mkat]

it wouldn't surprise me if he took less to stick around and play for Avery.

[Just211]

Yeah I think he loves here. And would take a little less, but If someone gave him a ton more, I'm sure he'd leave.
But he has been in a terrible situation before, so he might stick with a winner, especially if we're the BIG winner

[Arne]

On eof the things I love about Jet is that he just concentrates on the next game and never talks about his contract or anything like that. Totally classy that guy is.