(10-21) 22:12 PDT OAKLAND -- By the time the Warriors open the regular season a week from today, Stephen Jackson hopes to have a new contract in hand.

Jackson said Tuesday that extension talks with Warriors President Robert Rowell were progressing smoothly and believes it's a matter of when - not if - the two sides reach an agreement.

The Warriors' captain, who is signed through next season, is seeking the maximum allowed under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, which limits the number of years and annual pay raises that can be added to an existing deal.

If Jackson signs an extension this season, the most he can receive is three years at $28 million. If he waits until next season, he can add four years at $39 million.

Jackson is scheduled to make $7.14 million this season and $7.65 million next season to round out the six-year, $39 million contract his former agent, Dan Fegan, negotiated in 2005.

After splitting with Fegan about a year ago, Jackson is handling his own talks this time.

"All I have to do is be myself," said Jackson, who has been consulting with the players' association. "I've always been a guy who says what's on my mind and how I feel. And I've been told no before."

In this case, Jackson is being told that an extension is on its way, and though it's unclear how many additional years the Warriors are actually willing to commit, bumping his salary doesn't appear to be an issue.

Jackson, arguably the Warriors' most important player, ranks fifth on the pay scale behind Monta Ellis, Corey Maggette, Al Harrington and Andris Biedrins.

Even if Jackson receives the maximum 10.5 percent annual pay raise beginning in 2010, when his extension would take effect, he still would make less than Ellis and Maggette in year-by-year comparisons, and possibly even Biedrins, depending on whether the Latvian center reaches his contract bonuses.

Still, a hefty extension would vault Jackson into their salary neighborhood and put the 30-year-old in a position to retire as a Warrior. It's something Jackson says is his first choice, given how the team helped transform his reputation from hothead to franchise leader since he arrived from Indiana in 2007.

And he says his desire to stay in Oakland won't change even if the front office does. Rowell has put off contract talks with vice president Chris Mullin and coach Don Nelson - both of whom are in the last year of their deals - and Mullin has been conspicuously absent in Jackson's negotiations.

"Stephen Jackson has embraced this organization more than any player has since Mr. (Chris) Cohan has owned this team," Rowell said two weeks ago. "And he's the best player we have. And we'd like to see him around. And we'll leave it at that."

As if on cue, Jackson had a game-high 28 points, four rebounds, three assists and even moonlighted as the Warriors' point guard in Tuesday's 126-106 win over Lithuanian club Lietuvos Rytas at Oracle Arena.

He spent almost a full quarter in the first half as the lone ballhandler on the floor, playing alongside Marco Belinelli and/or Kelenna Azubuike in the backcourt. Jackson's stint at point guard - an idea Nelson has been mulling for weeks - was highlighted by an assist to Brandan Wright in transition.

Briefly: The Warriors have until Oct. 31 to pick up their third-year options on Wright, Belinelli and Marcus Williams, who did not play Tuesday. ... Nelson named Harrington as his third team captain, joining Jackson and Biedrins. ... The Warriors won't play again until next Wednesday's season opener. The team will hold its annual open practice at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Oracle Arena. Admission and parking are free.

Link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/22/SPB113LJ91.DTL

I'm not liking this if the contract is going to be expensive.  And we should pick up options on Wright and Marco. Williams, I'm not too sure about.

Scott Boras tells Yahoo's Tim Brown that Manny pays for himself.  Brown says the Giants are "believed to be considering" Manny; they similarly signed an aging Barry Bonds to a large extension back in '02 (four years with an option).  Brown feels the American League is a better fit for Manny, though.

-MLB Trade Rumors

Scott Boras is still two weeks from what he calls, “setting up my little Popsicle stand” at baseball’s general manager meetings, which will be held at the St. Regis Resort Monarch Beach in Dana Point, Calif., once home to the AIG bail-out party and new home to the Manny Ramirez coming-out party.

Among Boras’ other freezer flavors: Mark Teixeira, Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez, Jason Varitek and Eric Gagne.

In a wobbly global economy, at a time New York Yankees officials are said to be genuinely concerned about the pace of season-ticket sales in their new ballpark, and with GMs looking at a bottom-heavy free-agent class, Boras believes he has the financial remedy in Ramirez and, to a slightly lesser degree, Teixeira.

“It is a rare market,” the agent said, “where you have two position players that will pay for themselves. And these are franchise players who not only pay for themselves, but make a difference on the field.”

In going on three decades of player representation, Boras said, only two of his previous clients – Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez – have held similar “iconic value.”

Ramirez, in particular, he contended, would bring an organization revenue at least equal to that of his salary, whatever that might be. Hard to argue after witnessing Ramirez’s three-month impact as a Dodger. Boras wouldn’t speculate, but it’s fair to assume he expects Ramirez to draw offers of $25 million or more over at least three years.

As Manny gleefully said on his way out of L.A. last week, after batting nearly .400 for the Dodgers in the regular season and more than .500 in the postseason, “Gas is up and so am I.”

He earned $20 million in 2008 and his contract held $20 million options for the next two seasons until extricating himself from them at the trading deadline.

Along with Teixeira and lefty CC Sabathia, Ramirez, even at 36 years old, stands at the front of this free-agent class. The roster drops rather quickly after those three, from team-altering to useful and finally to passable.

Assuming the well-heeled franchises believe the new Manny is here to stay, expect the early activity around Ramirez to be healthy.

The Dodgers are in, or at least in enough to ensure they finish second in the bidding. Dodger fans have been trudging dutifully to Dodger Stadium for years with little in return and expect Manny in left field as payback for their loyalty. It could have some bearing that Ned Colletti had a hand in extending Bonds’ contract in San Francisco by five years when Bonds was 38, a deal that worked out in terms of revenue and production if not necessarily overall organizational happiness. Ramirez, like Bonds, brings the bat that lasts forever.

Having lived a season without a formidable bat in the middle of their lineup, the Giants are believed to be considering Barry II, in the form of Manny I. Especially at a time of Zito 126,000,000.

The New York teams have to, at least, price out Ramirez, as they both need outfielders, though not nearly as much as they need pitching.

The Mets’ priorities, in something like this order, are for a closer (Francisco Rodriguez or Brian Fuentes), starting pitching that doesn’t cost as much as Johan Santana (which leaves them out on Sabathia, but in on Lowe, A.J. Burnett, Perez and Ryan Dempster), middle relief and a left fielder. Omar Minaya was strangely passive regarding an available Ramirez at the trading deadline and the organization has great hope for prospect Fernando Martinez, but the Mets might not be able to resist Ramirez in free agency. They soothed the previous September by acquiring Santana. Now there’s another September to soothe and, like the Yankees, a new ballpark to fill.

The Yankees’ plan is to go hard on Sabathia, Burnett (if he opts out of his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, as he is expected to do), Fuentes and Teixeira. Expiring contracts have left them a $90 million surplus. They also seem ready to act like the Yankees again after a season in which the new organizational philosophy left them out of the playoffs. They bring a new, assertive Steinbrenner who, like the old man, never saw a hole he didn’t think couldn’t be stuffed with money. There are questions as to whether Sabathia could be content pitching in New York, and Fuentes would willingly enter into a set-up role until Mariano Rivera retires. Regardless, the Yankees will again be huge players in free agency, nothing over until the Yankees say it’s over. Just like the old days.

Indeed, if Sabathia is willing, it is difficult to imagine him anywhere but in the Bronx. The Yankees are desperate for him and almost certainly will top the six-year, $137.5 million contract Santana received across town last offseason. The Milwaukee Brewers will take their shot. So will everyone else with a financial pulse and a void near the top of their rotation, organizations such as the Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox.

But, as usual, Ramirez will run the Popsicle stand, or at least provide the flavor. If not the Dodgers or the Giants or in some corner of New York, then, the Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, White Sox or Philadelphia Phillies. He undoubtedly is better suited for the American League, where his legs – and enthusiasm for chasing balls into the gap – would be allowed to die in peace. That’s where the longer-term contract offers – four and five years – probably lie.

But, the Dodgers also stand to lose Lowe, Rafael Furcal, Casey Blake and Brad Penny, along with various other sometime contributors (Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra, Greg Maddux, etc.). After Ramirez conducted the late-season run that drove them to the NLCS, the Dodgers simply couldn’t return to Andruw Jones and Juan Pierre, could they? They couldn’t return to the gloom of the previous 20 years, could they?

Not in these times. Not when the price of a Popsicle just went up again. Not to mention gas.

-Yahoo! Sports

Key words are "believed" and "considering". Anyone know if he can play 1B though?

"I hope I can work something out here because I'd really like to retire here,'' he said

Time to tell it goodbye. Vizquel was and is one of my favorite Giants in the past few years. Hope he comes back sometime with a desk or coaching job. Maybe he can really retire a Giant like JT Snow did? I wouldn't mind signing him as a reserve though. Thoughts?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNuWEiY2TLk

For those who still criticize the pick or still don't believe in him. Here's a quote from ESPN's Thorpe:

Anthony Randolph, Warriors
If teams drafted players based solely on upside, Randolph would have been a top-5 pick. He showed more pure talent than anyone, Michael Beasley included, this summer. Played five positions and made every play imaginable on both ends. He has so much to learn about being an NBA player, with much of it relating to off-the-court growth. The best rookie small forward of the summer.

2010 will be the best Free Agency the NBA has seen in the Modern Era. I will update this once the dust settles, if a mid season trade occurs, and once again next off-season. The Free Agents are:

By Position:

Point Guards
1. Chris Paul    PG    24    $6,033,355  Re-Signed
2. Larry Ayuso    PG    30    $465,850
3. Luke Ridnour    PG    27    $6,500,000
4. T.J. Ford    PG    25    $8,500,000
5. Rajon Rondo    PG    22    $500,000
6. Mike Conley Jr.    PG    21    $3,883,800
7. Brion Rush    PG    23    $465,850
8. Andre Miller    PG    32    $9,250,258
9. Derek Fisher    PG    33    $5,046,000
10. Marcus Williams    PG    23    $2,076,845
11. Jarrett Jack    PG    25    $2,899,798
12. Daniel Gibson    PG    22    $2,160,715


- This looks to be the weakest group of potential free agents. Paul at the top is an elite level player but there's a decent drop-off after that considering that Ayuso is already an older guy. Ridnour will probably give you the best scorer of the remaining group while Ford is the top ball-handler and Conley Jr. is the youngster to watch.


Shooting Guards:

1. Dwyane Wade    SG    26    $15,779,912
2. Joe Johnson    SG    27    $14,976,754
3. Ray Allen    SG    33    $18,776,860
4. Richard Hamilton    SG    30    $11,375,000
5. Francisco Garcia    SG    26    $2,885,924
6. Manu Ginobili    SG    31    $10,725,000
7. Mike Miller    SG    28    $9,750,000
8. Larry Hughes    SG    29    $13,655,268
9. Antonio Daniels    SG    33    $6,600,000
10. Marquis Daniels    SG    27    $7,350,000
11. Bonzi Wells    SG    31    $1,100,000
12. Cuttino Mobley    SG    33    $9,800,000


- This is an exciting group and it's only going to get better from here. Wade is one of the top players in basketball, whole Joe Johnson, Ray Allen and Richard Hamilton are consistently capable of making an all-star team. Manu and Daniels provide the best all-around abilities of the remaining group with Garcia is the young player witch the best shot of moving up a level.


Small Forwards:

1. LeBron James    SF    23    $15,779,912
2. Carmelo Anthony    SF    24    $14,520,000
3. Tracy McGrady    SF    29    $23,239,561
4. Kevin Durant    SF    20    $4,796,880
5. Josh Howard    SF    27    $10,890,000
6. Mike Dunleavy    SF    28    $9,780,992
7. Marvin Williams    SF    22    $7,355,165
8. Jeff Green    SF    22    $3,516,960
9. Martell Webster    SF    22    $5,030,692
10. Danny Granger    SF    25    $3,289,684
11. Al Harrington    SF    28    $10,026,875
12. Darius Miles    SF    28    $9,000,000


- Now here's a "wow" kind of group. LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Tracy McGrady are amongst the top players in the game today whole Josh Howard is knocking on the door. Kevin Durant is already a strong player who will grow into an elite level talent very soon. Dunleavy and Granger are the best all-around talents of the remaining group while Jeff Green is the young player to watch.


Power Forwards:

1. Dirk Nowitzki    PF    30    $19,795,714
2. Jermaine O'Neal    PF    29    $22,995,000
3. Andrea Bargani    PF    23    $6,294,306
4. Al Horford    PF    22    $3,189,982
5. Troy Murphy    PF    28    $11,047,619
6. Charlie Villanueva    PF    24    $4,623,835
7. David Lee    PF    25    $2,682,049
8. Channing Frye    PF    25    $4,264,760
9. Yi Jianlian    PF    22    $3,002,386
10. Andray Blatche     PF    22    $4,093,269
11. Shelden Williams    PF    25    $4,148,715
12. Amir Johnson    PF    21    $3,666,666


- Dirk Nowitski are game-changing talents at their position and instantly make a team into a contender. What makes this a fun group is the presence of Andrea Bargani and Al Horford who both have the chance to grow into elite talents. Troy Murphy is an underrated player who helps you all over the stat sheet, while David Lee and Channing Frye are quiet worker types. Yi Jianlian, Andray Blatche and Amir Johnson have the potentially to really improve over the next couple of years. This is an exceptional group.


Centers:

1. Amare Stoudemire    C    24    $16,378,325
2. Chris Bosh    C    23    $15,779,912
3. Tyson Chandler    C    26    $11,850,000
4. Marcus Camby    C    34    $7,650,000
5. Greg Oden    C    20    $5,361,240
6. Ben Wallace    C    34    $14,000,000
7. Shaquille O'Neal    C    36    $20,000,000
8. Zydrunas Ilgauskas    C    32    $11,541,074
9. Mario Kasun    C    27    $465,850
10. Andrew Bogut    C    24    $8,182,598 Re-Signed
11. Brad Miller    C    31    $12,250,000
12. Andrew Bynum    C    21    $3,771,786


- You would expect that the center class provide the weakest group of potential free agents, but this class does a complete 180 as it may be the strongest group overall. Amare Stoudemire is one of the top players in the NBA while Chris Bosh and Tyson Chandler are in that next tier down. Marcus Camby and Ben Wallace have the chance to win defensive player of the year in any given season while Greg Oden is perhaps the NBA's brightest young star. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Andrew Bogut and Brad Miller are all very good starting centers. Mario Kusan is a productive newcomer and Andrew Bynum is the youngster to watch lower down.


Top 25 Overall:

1. LeBron James    SF    23    $15,779,912
2. Dirk Nowitzki    PF    30    $19,795,714
3. Amare Stoudemire    C    24    $16,378,325
4. Dwyane Wade    SG    26    $15,779,912
5. Carmelo Anthony    SF    24    $14,520,000
6. Chris Paul    PG    24    $6,033,355 Re-Signed
7. Tracy McGrady    SF    29    $23,239,561
8. Chris Bosh    C    23    $15,779,912
9. Tyson Chandler    C    26    $11,850,000
10. Joe Johnson    SG    27    $14,976,754
11. Kevin Durant    SF    20    $4,796,880
12. Jermaine O'Neal    PF    29    $22,995,000
13. Marcus Camby    C    34    $7,650,000
14. Ray Allen    SG    33    $18,776,860
15. Greg Oden    C    20    $5,361,240
16. Josh Howard    SF    27    $10,890,000
17. Larry Ayuso    PG    30    $465,850
18. Richard Hamilton    SG    30    $11,375,000
19. Andrea Bargani    PF    23    $6,294,306
20. Ben Wallace    C    34    $14,000,000
21. Luke Ridnour    PG    27    $6,500,000
22. Al Horford    PF    22    $3,189,982
23. T.J. Ford    PG    25    $8,500,000
24. Francisco Garcia    SG    26    $2,885,924
25. Mike Dunleavy SF    28    $9,780,992

Predicted Salary Cap:

$65 Million

Predicted Luxury Cap:

$75 Million

*Note: Management is the wildcard. They determine where the $$$ is allotted and if they want to dive into the Luxury Cap.

Predicted Warrior Payroll:

Monta Ellis:                11 Mil
Corey Maggette:        10 Mil
Andris Biedrins:        9 Mil
Ronny Turiaf:             4 Mil

Marco Belinelli:           5 Mil
Brandan Wright:         8 Mil
Anthony Randolph:    8 Mil

---------------------------------

55 Million

10 Mil Under The Predicted Salary Cap
20 Mil Under The Predicted Luxury Cap

This is a rough estimate at how our cap may look like come 010. With an entrance into luxury tax, I would say we WILL be able to sign a big free agent. hopefully a Center or PG (If Monta doesn't pan out at PG or if we draft a PG). Chris Bosh or Andrew Bynum may be perfect candidates at C. Perfect candiadtes at PG are Conley or Fisher (Personal Pick, will be past his time imo.). A best case scenario lineup of:

PG: Conley Jr.
SG: Ellis
SF: Maggette
PF: Biedrins
C: Bosh or Bynum

Reserves:
Turiaf
Randolph
Belinelli
Wright
Randolph
Filler (PG)
Filler (G)

Looks pretty damn sexy.

For a PG. We may trade future pick(s) for one. Here are the candidates:

Mike Conley Jr.

Javaris Crittenton

Kyle Lowry

OJ Mayo (Restricted Right Now?)

All 4 of them are still very young and their PG skill sets way  outmatch those of Monta and Watsons. More so then any Free Agent that is attainable right now. I would want either Javaris or MC Jr., but would be happy with either. OJ Mayo is pretty much untouchable unless we S/T Monta (which I wouldn't mind).

If we get a PG I would say this off-season was not as bad as it should've been.

Stars are personal ratings on the player. Factors include Contract, Age, Potential, What the team wants for him, and so on. I personally would try to strike a trade with Memphis for Conley or Mayo or Portland for Bayless (Imagine Baron leading that squad for the next half decade). I would not mind most of these guys (List may be incomplete), but for some its best to get a veteran for them to learn from. Our Trade Assets are mainly Picks, S/T (Baron, Monta, Bieds), and our young guys.

Memphis:

Mike Conley Jr. ****

Javaris Crittenton ***

O.J. Mayo *****

Kyle Lowry ***

Charlotte:

Raymond Felton ****

Chicago:

Ben Gordon ****

Kirk Hinrich ***

Detroit:

Chauncey Billups ****

Rockets:

Aaron Brooks ***

Nets:

Marcus Williams ****

Portland:

Jerryd Bayless *****