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Nachwuchsspieler
Dumars thinks Prince will sign
Pistons president says although the deal is not done, he's confident it will be by the deadline.
By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News
DALLAS -- Pistons president Joe Dumars and small forward Tayshaun Prince were checking out of the hotel together a couple of hours before the game here Thursday.
Dumars looked at his bill, specifically at the long and expensive list of phone calls, and handed it to Prince.
"I told him, 'You should pay this bill,' " Dumars said, laughing. "I had been on the phone with his agent all day."
And despite a new wrinkle, Dumars believes he and agent Bill Duffy are moving closer to an agreement on a five-year contract extension for Prince.
"I still feel that at the end of the day, we will get it done," Dumars said. "Pretty soon we'll be sitting here talking about we got Tay locked up for another five years."
The Pistons, who were defeated by the Mavericks 103-97 Thursday, have until midnight Monday to sign Prince to an extension, otherwise, he will become a restricted free agent in the summer.
The Pistons have had a five-year offer, believed to be worth $45 million, on the table for over a week. Duffy has been trying to stretch that closer to $50 million.
Over the last couple of days, a new wrinkle has come to the bargaining table -- a wrinkle named Mike Dunleavy.
The Warriors fourth-year forward is also working on a five-year extension, and reports out of Golden State believe Dunleavy wants a $50 million deal.
The Warriors, it is believed, have offered him a deal closer to $40 million.
How does this impact Prince? From the Pistons' standpoint, it doesn't. Dumars has said repeatedly that he can't let how other teams structure their payroll dictate how he structures the Pistons'.
But from Prince's point of view, Dunleavy's contract matters. Dunleavy was the third overall pick in the 2003 draft, Prince was the 23rd. Both are the same size and play the same position.
Since the two have been in the league, Prince has been to the playoffs every year, including two straight trips to the Finals and one title. Dunleavy and the Warriors have never been in the playoffs.
And Prince has dominated statistically, especially when the two have matched up against each other. Prince has more points, rebounds and assists over his career -- despite generally being the fourth option. He's also by far a better defender.
Two years ago in a game at Oakland, Prince hit seven straight shots on Dunleavy at the start of the game, causing Dunleavy to be benched.
So to Prince, accepting a contract for less money than Dunleavy would be unconscionable.
If the Warriors compromise and give Dunleavy $45 million, the Pistons will have to go a bit higher. If they don't, Prince will probably test the free-agent waters.
"You don't want it to come to that," Prince said. "But at the same time, you have to do what's right for yourself."
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