DenButsu
10-15-2008, 07:49 PM
"The Nuggets have until Oct. 31 to sign forward Linas Kleiza to an extension or he becomes a restricted free agent July 1, 2009. " (rmn (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/26/carter-najera-hope-to-remain-with-nuggets/)) This is a kind of difficult decision for Denver to make.
Financially, waiting until the offseason of 2009 could be the better route to take. We're already well over the luxury tax, and LK is likely to command somewhere in the neighborhood of the full MLE, so even though his contract would probably be something like $5-6 million, Denver would pay twice that this season. But after AI's contract comes off the books at the end of the year, it will be easier to take on that chunk of salary load.
There's also the question of flat out do the Nuggets want to keep him as part of their future or not. Extending him now would be a major vote of confidence at a time when his performance actually slumped in the second half of last season. It's a definite gamble, and one that Denver would be regretting if Kleiza's development stagnated or regressed this season. (Not to mention the financial risk of committing over $20 million to the SF position in combined salary for Melo and LK). But then again, Kleiza's performance in the Olympics showed he might still be on a trajectory of improvement, and could be a real asset for the Nuggets to keep around long term. Locking him up now would probably be the best way to make sure that the cost would be reasonable. If he has a breakout season, Denver will be paying more next summer.
So, what do you think? Should the Nuggets extend Linas Kleiza's contract by the Halloween deadline? (And yes, I know I've made this poll before, but it's more timely now).
Financially, waiting until the offseason of 2009 could be the better route to take. We're already well over the luxury tax, and LK is likely to command somewhere in the neighborhood of the full MLE, so even though his contract would probably be something like $5-6 million, Denver would pay twice that this season. But after AI's contract comes off the books at the end of the year, it will be easier to take on that chunk of salary load.
There's also the question of flat out do the Nuggets want to keep him as part of their future or not. Extending him now would be a major vote of confidence at a time when his performance actually slumped in the second half of last season. It's a definite gamble, and one that Denver would be regretting if Kleiza's development stagnated or regressed this season. (Not to mention the financial risk of committing over $20 million to the SF position in combined salary for Melo and LK). But then again, Kleiza's performance in the Olympics showed he might still be on a trajectory of improvement, and could be a real asset for the Nuggets to keep around long term. Locking him up now would probably be the best way to make sure that the cost would be reasonable. If he has a breakout season, Denver will be paying more next summer.
So, what do you think? Should the Nuggets extend Linas Kleiza's contract by the Halloween deadline? (And yes, I know I've made this poll before, but it's more timely now).