QUOTE (eddog2 @ Sep 22 2006, 10:39 AM)
Not sure if I agree with your idea. I think that the Bulls would be smart to try and give him the 5 year $40 million dollar contract before he even has a chance to hit free agency. Maybe with a nice chunk as a signing bonus. I think if you let him hit free agency, there will be some team out there like Toronto, Minnesota or some other team that want/needs a good point guard that would be willing to pay him the big money. (maybe even L.A.). I don't think that is a good route because it could cause the Bulls to significantly overpay.
And I have no doubt that they will
try to give him a deal like that, but he would be a fool to sign the contract. This is most likely going to be the biggest contract that Kirk has a chance to get, and to settle for $8 million a year is not a smart move on his part. All you have to do look at this list of 2005-6 salaries and tell me what Kirk should be looking for. IMO $10 million is a solid offer, and a good number for Kirk, if he is going to give the Bulls a hometown discount. With the defense that the guy plays, and the leadership he brings, the fact he plays every game...someone will throw a bunch of money at the kid.
QUOTE
Players earning $7 million or more
1. Shaquille O'Neal (Mia) ....... $20,000,000
2. Allan Houston (NY) ........... $19,125,000 [retired 10/17]
2. Chris Webber (Phi) ........... $19,125,000
4. Kevin Garnett (Min) .......... $18,000,000
5. Allen Iverson (Phi) .......... $16,453,125
5. Stephon Marbury (NY) ......... $16,453,125
7. Jason Kidd (NJ) .............. $16,440,000
7. Jermaine O'Neal (Ind) ........ $16,440,000
9. Kobe Bryant (LAL) ............ $15,946,875
10. Michael Finley (Dal) ......... $15,937,500 [released 8/15]
11. Tim Duncan (SA) .............. $15,845,156
12. Anfernee Hardaway (NY) ....... $15,750,000
13. Grant Hill (Orl) ............. $15,694,250
13. Tracy McGrady (Hou) .......... $15,694,250
13. Jalen Rose (Tor) ............. $15,694,250
13. Keith Van Horn (Dal) ......... $15,694,250
17. Eddie Jones (Mem) ............ $14,576,250
18. Brian Grant (LAL) ............ $14,336,220 [released 8/10]
19. Tim Thomas (Chi) ............. $13,975,000
20. Antonio Davis (NY) ........... $13,925,000
21. Vince Carter (NJ) ............ $13,843,156
21. Antawn Jamison (Was) ......... $13,843,156
21. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) .......... $13,843,156
21. Paul Pierce (Bos) ............ $13,843,156
25. Baron Davis (GS) ............. $13,700,000
25. Steve Francis (Orl) .......... $13,700,000
25. Shawn Marion (Pho) ........... $13,700,000
28. Ray Allen (Sea) .............. $13,223,140
29. Elton Brand (LAC) ............ $13,152,000
30. Joe Johnson (Atl) ............ $12,000,000
30. Michael Redd (Mil) ........... $12,000,000
32. Theo Ratliff (Por) ........... $11,666,666
33. Carlos Boozer (Uta) .......... $11,593,816
34. Mike Bibby (Sac) ............. $11,500,000
35. Lamar Odom (LAL) ............. $11,465,333
36. Pau Gasol (Mem) .............. $10,993,000
37. Andrei Kirilenko (Uta) ....... $10,983,000
38. Rasheed Wallace (Det) ........ $10,860,000
39. Zach Randolph (Por) .......... $10,666,667
40. Kenyon Martin (Den) .......... $10,636,364
41. Raef LaFrentz (Bos) .......... $10,623,288
42. Larry Hughes (Cle) ........... $10,344,900
43. Gilbert Arenas (Was) ......... $10,243,200
44. Richard Jefferson (NJ) ....... $10,200,000
45. Jamal Mashburn (Phi) ......... $10,075,000
46. Wally Szczerbiak (Min) ....... $10,000,000
47. Steve Nash (Pho) ............. $9,625,000
48. Marcus Camby (Den) ........... $9,150,000
49. Maurice Taylor (NY) .......... $9,100,000
50. Derek Anderson (Por) ......... $9,093,000 [released 8/3]
51. Tyson Chandler (Chi) ......... $9,000,000
52. Jason Richardson (GS) ........ $8,888,888
53. Brad Miller (Sac) ............ $8,750,000
54. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cle) ..... $8,740,000
55. Erick Dampier (Dal) .......... $8,662,500
56. Kelvin Cato (Orl) ............ $8,640,000
57. Richard Hamilton (Det) ....... $8,625,000
58. Rashard Lewis (Sea) .......... $8,571,429
59. Jamaal Magloire (Mil) ........ $8,533,333
60. Samuel Dalembert (Phi) ....... $8,470,000
61. Tony Parker (SA) ............. $8,400,000
62. Jerry Stackhouse (Dal) ....... $8,367,187
63. Mehmet Okur (Uta) ............ $8,250,000
64. Doug Christie (Orl) .......... $8,200,000 [released 8/11]
65. Andre Miller (Den) ........... $8,100,000
66. P.J. Brown (NO) .............. $8,000,000
66. Bobby Simmons (Mil) .......... $8,000,000
66. Bonzi Wells (Sac) ............ $8,000,000
69. Shandon Anderson (NY) ........ $7,900,000 [released 11/10/04]
69. Austin Croshere (Ind) ........ $7,900,000
71. Lorenzen Wright (Mem) ........ $7,700,000
72. Jason Williams (Mia) ......... $7,562,500
73. Kwame Brown (LAL) ............ $7,500,000
73. Peja Stojakovic (Sac) ........ $7,500,000
73. Ben Wallace (Det) ............ $7,500,000
76. Manu Ginobili (SA) ........... $7,428,937
77. Eddy Curry (NY) .............. $7,390,000
78. Troy Murphy (GS) ............. $7,365,079
79. Desmond Mason (NO) ........... $7,333,333
80. Adonal Foyle (GS) ............ $7,312,500
81. Darius Miles (Por) ........... $7,250,000
82. Cuttino Mobley (LAC) ......... $7,200,000
83. Jonathan Bender (Ind) ........ $7,175,000
84. Corey Maggette (LAC) ......... $7,000,000