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spuriousjones · 08-21-2005, 09:28 AM

Matt Bonner of Concord High, who became a fan favorite during his rookie season in Toronto, plans to sign a two-year contract worth about $4 million as early as today, the Sunday News has learned.

"We're still negotiating, but we're just about finished," Bonner's agent, Kenny Grant, said yesterday. "Right now, I don't want to jump the gun and say much until it's done, but we hope to be finished this weekend."

The guaranteed contract won't match the lucrative deal Boston gave forward Brian Scalabrine — a whopping $15 million over five years that could have tilted the market — but Bonner has positioned himself for more riches down the road.

The new deal will give Bonner three years with the Raptors, allowing the team to exercise the league's Larry Bird exception in the future. Teams often take advantage of the so-called "Bird clause" to re-sign their own players after three years without being penalized for exceeding the salary cap.

charlz · 08-21-2005, 10:09 AM

good smart move for both sides.

McFurious · 08-21-2005, 10:12 AM

I like it!!

billfindlay10 · 08-21-2005, 10:14 AM

Good News!.....I also like the fact that we will have his "Bird rights".

rapsfan4life · 08-21-2005, 10:30 AM

Rob's patience has paid off!!!! Welcome back Bonner

Divine Spammer · 08-21-2005, 11:06 AM

Very good news.
I'm pleased to hear it. Babs' doing good moves so far.

Raptorsfan2 · 08-21-2005, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spuriousjones

Matt Bonner of Concord High, who became a fan favorite during his rookie season in Toronto, plans to sign a two-year contract worth about $4 million as early as today, the Sunday News has learned.

"We're still negotiating, but we're just about finished," Bonner's agent, Kenny Grant, said yesterday. "Right now, I don't want to jump the gun and say much until it's done, but we hope to be finished this weekend."

The guaranteed contract won't match the lucrative deal Boston gave forward Brian Scalabrine — a whopping $15 million over five years that could have tilted the market — but Bonner has positioned himself for more riches down the road.

The new deal will give Bonner three years with the Raptors, allowing the team to exercise the league's Larry Bird exception in the future. Teams often take advantage of the so-called "Bird clause" to re-sign their own players after three years without being penalized for exceeding the salary cap.

I predicted this senario a month ago.See this link below

http://forums.sportsnet.ca/thread.js...=832962#832962
note: you will need to scroll up to see the FIRST POST by me.
I guess both parties compromised.The Raptors paid a little more money that they propably wanted to /year and Bonner signed for 2 years instead of 5 that ge was rumoured to be asking for.

Conclusion: This is a move that demonstrates that patience eventually pays of.It also proves that Babcock remained true to his word.i.e He will NOT overtpay players for the sake of keeping them or because they are fan favourites.I like what I see Babcock doing.

Babcock is SMART, PATIENT and has an agenda.That is why he is the GM of the Raptors.Time will prove this.

Well done ROB Babcock.

**speedythief** · 08-21-2005, 12:38 PM

Excellent. Finally.

Would've been pretty silly playing an exhibition in Manchester without Bonner on the squad.

Good move by Babcock. 2 years is exactly the right length. Fits with our plans perfectly.

TRON · 08-21-2005, 12:41 PM

Bonner should do well as Donyells replacement, we won't get the defense that Donyell provided in the post, but the I think we upgraded our shooting percentage with Matt!!!!

Sharp Shoota · 08-21-2005, 01:29 PM

Hi Im new to this Board have been reading it for the past few months with the draft and the free agent signing period its been a pretty interesting off season.

Im glad to see that Babcock didnt feel pressured into signing Bonner for what him and his agent were originally asking for. Shows that Babcock isnt going to get pushed around by fan favorites. I think the Re signing of Bonner is a decent one in that he wants to play here and works hard every time on the court. On the other hand I wouldnt have been to disapointed if we had let him walk and explored other routes with the MLE( Earl Watson)

swurv · 08-21-2005, 01:40 PM

Good Move.

The fact he will have EXACTLY three years with us means he knows he is positioning himself for more money and helping the team simlultaneously. He probably thinks he will be worth more money then and can demand either an offer sheet or negotiate a contract with the Raps for 5 years.

Even a Mo Pete type situation, where we let the market negotiate him or whatever, I mean every player who wants to GO has their agent pressure the contract to be front-loaded, or a nervous GM will do it anyway. What Im saying is, in that situation, Bonner would hope to get more than the scalabrine 15 mill type deal. Or the raps just negotiate and re-sign him quiet. Either way, he can get what he wants, and we get flexibility, something we want.

Sharp Shoota · 08-21-2005, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swurv

Good Move.

The fact he will have EXACTLY three years with us means he knows he is positioning himself for more money and helping the team simlultaneously. He probably thinks he will be worth more money then and can demand either an offer sheet or negotiate a contract with the Raps for 5 years.

Even a Mo Pete type situation, where we let the market negotiate him or whatever, I mean every player who wants to GO has their agent pressure the contract to be front-loaded, or a nervous GM will do it anyway. What Im saying is, in that situation, Bonner would hope to get more than the scalabrine 15 mill type deal. Or the raps just negotiate and re-sign him quiet. Either way, he can get what he wants, and we get flexibility, something we want.

Im pretty sure that the reported deal for Bonner is for 2 years!?

billfindlay10 · 08-21-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharp Shoota

Im pretty sure that the reported deal for Bonner is for 2 years!?

The three years is the total, rookie season and two year deal....three total years with the team!

swurv · 08-21-2005, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfindlay10

The three years is the total, rookie season and two year deal....three total years with the team!

exactamundo

Sharp Shoota · 08-21-2005, 02:24 PM

True true! I thought you were talking the length of the contract just singed! Its a good move to have him expiring in 2007 when we plan to decide to maybe bring Ukic/Slokar over, With him expiring it gives us alot more cap flexibility

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