What a Shaq extension/restructure could look like

[ECHornet]

Contract info pulled from Spotrac. Very possible I got some of the math wrong so tear my potential extension apart. 

 

Key points:

-Shaq gets a two year AAV of $11,580,000 with extension/restructure. Seems fair for him.

-Panthers get $8,996,250 in cap savings next year while also keeping an important piece for our defense

 

Do you think Shaq is worth a contract like this or should we just cut bait now?

[ChrisSimmsspleen]

I've never thought he lived up to a first round draft pick.  He is getting older so I would move on.  Great player and teammate though.

[JawnyBlaze]

I dunno. He’s had one good year his whole career, been a jag the rest. If the coaching staff wants to keep him and restructures him so his number is more manageable I’ll take their word for it. 

[Adb6368]

I do wonder if Shaq would be looked at differently if he didn’t have to replace luke… which he was never gonna be able to do

i also wonder what we’d think if he was playing the way he was supposed to be drafted… a sidekick of luke able to fly around the field 

[pantherclaw]

It's criminally insane how severally underrated he is by fans that have been spoiled with elite line backers the entire franchise existence.  

[Jackie Lee]

1 hour ago, ChrisSimmsspleen said:

I've never thought he lived up to a first round draft pick.  He is getting older so I would move on.  Great player and teammate though.

Looking back over it yeah he hasn't been what you really want out of a 1st rounder, but that draft class sucked. Not really anyone behind him through the 2nd round that would have made a significant impact on the team

[SetfreexX]

I'd say cut him for the full savings 13M'ish, look to sign Okereke who has history with Reich. He's younger, more athletic and would pair well with Smith as the iff ball LBs.

[SetfreexX]

55 minutes ago, Adb6368 said:

I do wonder if Shaq would be looked at differently if he didn’t have to replace luke… which he was never gonna be able to do

i also wonder what we’d think if he was playing the way he was supposed to be drafted… a sidekick of luke able to fly around the field 

He was drafted to replace TD, and Ron pandered to vets so Shaq was rotational, aside from health Luke would still be playing most likely. 

Shaq came in as a will LBer. Not a Mike.

[ECHornet]

1 minute ago, SetfreexX said:

I'd say cut him for the full savings 13M'ish, look to sign Okereke who has history with Reich. He's younger, more athletic and would pair well with Smith as the iff ball LBs.

I like your plan. I’m not a big fan of void years anyway, and it seems that would be the only way to work out a Shaq extension. 

[Icege]

Would appreciate the veteran presence but also understand the business side of it.

Lots of waiting and seeing atm.

[Ricky Spanish]

I'd prefer to extend him at a cheaper price because it's a gamble that we'd actually be able to replace his above average play for cheaper via Free agency.

[ECHornet]

3 minutes ago, Ricky Spanish said:

I'd prefer to extend him at a cheaper price because it's a gamble that we'd actually be able to replace his above average play for cheaper via Free agency.

It’s tough because it also has to be a deal that Shaq will accept. I think he would like to stay a Panther, but I don’t think he’s willing to take a pay cut based on what others have heard. 

[pantherclaw]

At this point, whole sale changes to defense, arguments can be made to keep him and to discard him. 

I'm not sure that we could upgrade the position and even come out even money wise. 

My preference is to extend him, but it's not going to be the end of the world losing him.  

[panthers55]

He is going to be restructured for this year. They might extend him and add voidable years but he said he wanted to retire after this season as a Panther and would be amenable to working things out.