Jaric weighing options
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With his planned vacation to Europe coming up in three days, Clippers guard Marko Jaric does not have a fix yet on where he will be playing this coming season.
However, Jaric's agent, Bill Duffy, said late Thursday night that he expected something to be decided in the next few weeks.
At least seven teams have expressed interest in Jaric. However, Jaric is a restricted free agent, which means the Clippers can match any offer he receives. Jaric visited Denver on Monday and met with Cleveland on Tuesday and Wednesday. Neither team made an offer.
Although Duffy would not divulge how much Jaric is seeking, it possibly could be more than the mid-level exception which will be about $5 million per year, once the new collective-bargaining agreement is ratified.
The mid-level exception is all that Denver, Minnesota, Portland and the Lakers have to offer. But Cleveland has the ability to free up more money with a little creativity. Atlanta also would have a bigger stash if their five-year, $70 million offer sheet on guard Joe Johnson is matched by the Phoenix Suns.
Duffy would prefer to do a sign and trade because that would mean Jaric could get a six-year deal and be eligible for annual raises of 10 percent, rather than 8 percent. However, the Clippers reportedly are not interested in a sign and trade and plan to match any offer sheet, up to a certain point.
"They have to be presented with something that's appealing to them," Duffy said. "It's a matter of the Clippers being receptive to an offer made to them."