Sasha Vujacic About to Cash In
Naturally, people in Boston and L.A. aren’t as concerned with their team’s offseason moves right now. But the Lakers will have a big decision looming this summer whether they win the ‘chip or not.
The Orange County Register had an article about Sasha Vujacic’s impending free agency. Vujacic will be restricted on the market this summer, and if Jerome James can steal a $30 million contract due to one good series, Sasha can command big dollars with his standout postseason performances. From that article:
“Vujacic is making $1.76 million this season. And where there used to be uncertainty whether any other club would make him a big-time offer this offseason as a restricted free agent, his strong postseason is making it more of a lock that he can make much more than the $2.6 million he’s scheduled for next season in his expiring contract.”
In today’s Smack we asked if you think Sasha will one day be as much of a contributor as someone like Manu Ginobili. Do you think he deserves big money this offseason? Would you want Vujacic on your team?
June 12th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
qq says:
Stop comparing Sasha to Manu, he can’t slash to the basket and create his own shot.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
rodnets says:
Sasha sucks
June 12th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Rico says:
No way will Sasha ever be more than he is. I would not want him on my team, he’s cancer. The only thing he has going for him is that girl headband - and that thing isn’t even cool.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Jim says:
Yes I would want him on my team, and no, he’s no Manu.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Adam says:
I don’t think you can even put Vujacic and Manu in the same sentence. Vujacic is a spot up shooter and a nag on defense. That’s it. Has he ever made a layup in the NBA?
June 12th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
fallinup says:
Man, one 20+ point game and everyone is riding on Sasha’s (oops I mean “THE MACHINE’s”
June 12th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
GEE...Yall call that the shake, that's the AL B. says:
Shoot yea put him on my squad (Rockets). Anyone should want a pure shooter at all times. Now the Rockets prolly would mess up and do him like they doing Novack, who is a pure shooter, and not give him proper pt. Still you always want a cat that can give you buckets, spread the floor and play pesty D.
Should be interesting the rest of the series now that Boston is sure to key in on dude. If he still gets good numbers, then yea give him his check. Next two games will tell a lot.
He does need a different look. That hair thing him and Scola do is not cool. Also someone needs to tell him that gay hitting his chest is weak. He need to come with it. It looks like he thought about it and figured he should do it and it came off corny.
The Machine….still a dope nickname.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
fallinup says:
nuts. (I have no idea why my comment got cut off.)
But all in all, why is Leon Powe being compared to Charles Barkley because of his one stand out game.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
fallinup says:
correction: * isn’t
Damn you comment board.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
ibleedgreen says:
sasha is garbage. people rode keith van horn’s jock this hard and look how he turned out.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
doc says:
He could be a bench player on my team and he should get bench money but some dickhead gonna give him starter money and in 3 years he’ll be a potential expiring contract guy for some random trade rumor out there.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
BlazeMcHerbs says:
I would love to have Sasha on my team, but he’s no Ginobli.
He deserves Kapono money, but he’s shown game this postseason, very effective bench player for the Lakers.
Who wouldn’t want him on your team? haters…
June 12th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Blue says:
as much as i can’t stand sasha, i would give him a decent pay day. he’s an above average defender imo (not a lockdown defender though). he’s got a good stroke and he can surprise you and make a move to the basket when he’s feeling it. like Blaze said, somewhere around Jason Kapono money, maybe a little more because he can do a little more.
i still don’t like him though…lookin’ like dracula at the game 3 press conference after the game.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Blue says:
btw, manu ginobili, he is not!
June 12th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Mike C says:
Ginobili???
Sasha would be worthless on the offensive end if Kobe’s not there to draw constant double teams.
Yeah he’s done a good job hitting wideopen jumpers but let’s not get carried away here.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Tbeezy says:
I’ve been saying all season that if Sasha ever leaves the Lakers (which i hope he doesn’t) he could be an 18-20pt per game scorer. I feel he could be a lesser version of Kevin Martin and if you put him on an 8 seed team he could get buckets. He’s only 24 and has shown improvement every year. I think he will be somewhat hot on the free agent market(restricted) and could draw a Luke Waltonesqe contract of 6yr. 36 million. (Shit I think Brian Cardinal makes more than that, no disrespect Cardinal is my boy, but he got one of the luckiest contracts in sports).
June 12th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Logan Light says:
“sasha is garbage. people rode keith van horn’s jock this hard and look how he turned out.”
- Yeah, he got PAID.
Anyway, is Sasha really that good? One thing we know is that he has come a LONG way in the couple of years the Lakers have worked with him. If I was a GM and had the cash and superstar to get him the ball, I would chase him. I don’t think they’ll have the time though. It would seem that Kobe actually likes dude… AND it would seem that Kobe’s work ethic has rubbed off on “The Machine.” Got to love that…
Will the Lakers pay him is the better question.
LL
June 12th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
John Amaechi says:
I think he Sasha and Ginobli are very similar…they both walk like queers
June 12th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Kudabeen says:
Heard It Hear First:
Theory why Odom is playing the way he is. To most ball fans and players June represents the most important time of the Basketball calendar. To Lamar Odom, this is the month where he suffered his greatest lost in the death of his infant child. Remember how he had energy in past rounds? All he had on his mind was BBall and stepping up for the team. June starts and guess what starts to creep in his mind…?
Phil Jax said he looked confused. He looks uninspired. This is a guy that never really would have been described as a Ballaholic by NBA standards and when his child died he really did want to play anymore.
I’m not saying this as an excuse for Odom, but it is definitely something everyone is overlooking…
June 12th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
GEE...Yall call that the shake, that's the AL B. says:
Hey B-Ball heads what is better for the ps3 Live or 2k8? Please help a brutha out. I heard 2k8 just double checkin wit yall for da troof!
June 12th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Brandon Hoffman says:
It’s basketball blasphemy to even insinuate that Sasha could one day be as good as Manu. Manu has 3 rings and an Olympic Gold Medal.
Having said that, Sasha has a bright future. I don’t think he’s a starter in the NBA but he’s a role player almost any team would die to have.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Logan Light says:
2K8 without a doubt…
I heard Vujacic is a beast in the game… haha
June 12th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Blue says:
yo gee…
i only have the x-box 360, but i imagine the games can’t be different. anyway, maybe it’s cuz i got used to it, but i swear by NBA Live…2K8 felt too…i don’t know, jerky, although i’ve only played it a couple of times. the last couple versions of NBA Live sucked, but 08 is pretty good.
but that’s just my opinion.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Rico says:
Sasha will be playing ball in Europe w/in the next 2-3 years, the boy just won’t be able to hang.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Fobuless says:
If I am the Cavs, I would love to sign him. Imagine someone on Cavs that could shoot consistently. It will help Lebron so much.
If they can bring in Michael Redd too. Ooooo, 2 pure shooters. One of them can drive and make layups. The other one can play defense and annoy the heck out of the other team players.
Cavs will be so much better.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
GEE...Yall call that the shake, that's the AL B. says:
Logan and Blue preshate it, but you all still leave me at a tie. Somebody break the tie. lol.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
James says:
No i dont want him on my team- he can shoot - so what- JJ can shoot I dont want him either- Sasha on the same level as Manu- Please- Sasha gets his b/c of Kobe
June 12th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
CJ says:
At 24, getting better every year, a great shooter and becoming a pesky defender, he’ll not only get paid he’ll find a spot in the league as a sixth man/scorer/defender. Who doesn’t want that?
There’s no way he doesn’t stick on some team, but hopefully he stays with the lakers for his and kobe’s sake.
and NBA Live, hands down.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Kudabeen says:
I liked Sasha when they first drafted him. He was scouted and showed that at 6-7 he could handle the ball and attack the basket. He was really quick for his size. His J was streaky, but you can tell he was worth the investment. Now in the last couple of year that J has been dropping, he is displaying his quickness on D, and at times he does handle the ball for the team. Not saying his is their PG of the future, but the Ginobli comparisons are as far off as people think.
It seems like every player in the league (for the most part) is very talented.
Quote ya Boy:
“THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TALENT AND RELEVANCE IS CONFIDENCE…”
ONAJE MALIK LOTT
If Sasha retains confidence that 20pt game will become an expectation rather than an exception…
June 12th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
K Dizzle says:
It’s the nba so all you need is one good series and be young enough where gm’s think you’ll keep improvin to make major cake.
Examples
Troy Hudson
Austin Croshere
Mikki Moore
Larry Hughes
Eddie Robinson
The list is endless. Sasha’ll be alright.When Manu was 24, he was still in Europe. He’s not Manu tho. He’s a shooter first , last, all the time. If he adds some slashin to his game, it’ll only help him. He’s only 24 and very few players leave LA to sign elsewhere so I think Lakers’ll be alright
June 12th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
dagwaller says:
I respect his game. He’s one of those guys who’s definitely worth more than he’s getting paid right now, but isn’t worth what he’s about to get paid. Then again, I think that there are a lot of pro athletes getting paid too much (I know - what a revolutionary observation).
June 12th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Agreed K Diz. Marcus Banks and Bobby Simmons come to mind on that list.
Sasha benefits from playing w mamba and no, he isn’t Manu but he deserves a nice pay day.
Kobe and Phil know how important he is and he won’t be going anywhere.
Need a big win tonight!
June 12th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Mitch says:
2K8 Is the better by far.
Sasha is terrible. i would hate if the hornets tried to sign him
June 12th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
andy says:
He stops and injured Manu for 2 games and now he’s the next big thing? Pure bull.
June 12th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
GEE...Yall call that the shake, that's the AL B. says:
still a tie between 2k8 and live lol.
June 12th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
E$ says:
sasha, the best thing to come out the WNBA! lol
June 12th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Len Bias says:
He shouldnt get much more than Kyle Korver and Jason Kapono
about 5 mil a year
June 12th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Blue says:
gee…your tie is broke with #33…haha!
June 12th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
yoda says:
well, sasha had decent year, not just playoff. he’s not manu, but he can be great 6th man or starting 5 in team with good slasher. as someone said, he’s above average defender, nice range on his j, confident which is important. plus, he has nice work ethic since day he joined nba, not just this season. the machine nickname cames from practice, when he kept drilling 3 pointers. no one knew why he can’t translate that into games, not kobe, not phil. finally, he got it right this season and i think he deserves 5-7 mil per, and he would pay off every dime he makes. i can see him having a brent berry type of career
June 12th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Yoooo says:
What’s good with the hate??? The boy can play on oth ends of the floor. He’s not just one dimensional because he can shoot off the dribble. A LOT of players can’t do that. The difference between him and Kapono is he doesn’t hurt you on D AND he is way more mobile and agile.
For the record genius’ he gets most of his burn when Kobe is on the bench. He had about 12 of his 20 before Kobe got on the floor with him.
Clearly he works hard cuz he used to be a BUM!!! So why would you not want a shooter with no conscious, who plays D hard, and can shoot off the dribble who’s only 24??? If he were in the draft this year, playing how he’s played THIS year he’d be a lottery pick. None of the incoming class is as consistent at any one thing as he is at shooting the ball. He is a specialist, and if Dell Curry could have lasted as long as he did, I don’t see why Sasha can’t last at 6′7.
As fas as Ginobili, I’ve never seen him without the 2 other hall of famers he’s played with. He has it much better than yall give him credit for. Its not like he does anything by himself. Helps when you have The greatest power forward in HISTORY on your team and a Top 5 PG who won a finals MVP. Ginobili has never and will never be THAT guy on any team. He’s a left handed, caucasian version of Mike Finley back in the day.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
bigpatty says:
so cool guy,does he still hook up with those tall beauties on the tall dating site ___Ta ll min gle.c o m___ ???The last time I saw his profile is last monday, hope he does not leave.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:53 am
girlybballluver says:
If sasha leaves LA, kobe’s going to put a hit out on him.
June 13th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
dh says:
i’m just happy that sasha is on the lakers and not on another team guarding kobe. although kobe would DESTROY him he might also take a swing at him too.
I would say he deserves at least 4mil a year. i remember when we gave devin george 5mil and i think sasha is much more valuable.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
Dude is nice he actually has some heart unlike most Euro players get paid playboy and let me borrow a couple of dollars
KNICKS UP all the rest down!!