Real GM:Toronto Star - While Mike James claims that money won't be paramount when he sits down in the coming off-season to negotiate a new contract, the Raptor's free agent also doesn't want to be underpaid as he is right now.
James, who has blossomed in Toronto, averaging 18.8 points and 5.6 assists, will earn $3.4 million (all figures U.S.) this year. He can earn $3.72 million next season if he invokes his contract option for 2006-07.
Such a scenario appears unlikely considering his growth, and according to the Toronto Star James he's almost certain to declare himself a free agent this summer and seek the security — and cash — of a deal that could go as long as five years and give him a hefty salary hike.
"The money that I make — the multi-year deal or whatever you guys want to call it — just give me what I deserve," James explained.
"Don't underpay me. I'm tired of being called an underachiever. I'm tired of being underpaid. And I've been underpaid since I've been in this game. Now it's time for me to get what I deserve."
"The money don't motivate me. The money don't motivate me at all."
"But the thing is, maybe I do want to wake up one morning and say, `Baby, let's go to the Bahamas. Today.' That costs money. So what if I want to do that? Why shouldn't I have the ability to do that if for six, seven, eight months I give you my heart on the basketball court?"
He owned the Knicks so he definetly got his.
. Hopefully he can stay in Toronto where the future looks great, and not go to Atlanta or Seatle were he will just waste the prime of his career over money, and then when his going to retire go to the Magic or something trying to look for a chamionship.
