Fear the Deer? Milwaukee Should Be Afraid of Losing Salmons

He's no LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, or Chris Bosh, but John Salmons is planning on becoming a free agent this summer just like his bigger-name counterparts.

And when it comes to comparisons, he'd be just fine if you call him Lamar Odom.

As first reported in the Racine Journal Times, the Bucks are attempting to extend the contract of the 30-year-old swingman, who has an early termination option on his final season. When asked if he plans to exercise the option, Salmons told FanHouse's Chris Tomasson in Atlanta Tuesday that it's not yet on his mind.

"I'm not thinking about it right now," Salmons said prior to MIlwaukee's Game 2 against the Hawks. "I'm trying to do the best I can in these playoffs and go as far as we possibly can go and win any games as we can. And when it's all said and done, go home and pray on it and talk to my agent (Joel Bell) and see what's the best decision.''

Salmons did say he'd "entertain the offer" should the Bucks offer an extension but was noncommittal about whether he could see himself staying in Milwaukee, later conceding, "It's good to have options."

A source close to Salmons said there is "not much" of a chance an extension agreement will be reached because of the financial limitations in taking that route.

The extension would have to be based on his 2010-11 salary of $5.8 million, with 10.5 percent annual raises in the years thereafter. And with Salmons averaging 19.9 points per game after being traded to the Bucks from Chicago Feb. 18 and Milwaukee going 22-8 in that span, the eight-year veteran is confident his market value is considerably higher.

Like, say, in Odom territory.

The 30-year-old Lakers small forward signed a three-year deal worth $24.6 million in guaranteed money last summer (starting at $7.5 million), and Salmons sees himself as worthy of a similar deal. His career is certainly on an upward swing after a slow start.

Salmons floundered in his first four seasons in Philadelphia, due in large part to the ball-dominating ways of then-Sixers icon Allen Iverson. After signing a five-year, $25.5 million deal with Sacramento, he was overshadowed once again by then-King Ron Artest at the start and averaged 8.5 points per game as a reserve.

But Salmons -- a deft penetrator and defender whose addition of an outside game has taken his skills to a new level -- was averaging a career-high 18.3 points per game before he was traded to Chicago at last season's February trade deadline. He has since led the playoff charge for the Bulls (last season) and these Bucks (this season), albeit while slumping in between.

Ben Gordon's departure to Detroit and the emergence of center Joakim Noah in Chicago early this season minimized the motion in the Bulls' offense, thus taking Salmons out of the attack mode with which he's most effective. It has clearly been a different story with the Bucks, the "Fear the Deer" crew who have good reason to be afraid of losing Salmons.

The good news for the Bucks is they will have Salmons' Bird rights even if he exercises the early termination option on the final year of his contract. That exception not only allows them to exceed the salary cap to sign Salmons (which is a non-issue), but to give him the 10.5 percent annual raises while all other teams can only offer eight percent.

Where the more-prominent free agents wind up will certainly play a part, with Salmons likely becoming a priority for prospective teams about the time they're considering the likes of Memphis' Rudy Gay. Salmons could keep aiding his cause by helping the Bucks in their first-round series against Atlanta, as he hit just 6 of 18 shots for 16 points as they fell 102-92 in Game 1.

As Odom showed last summer, postseason success plays a part in a player's worth as well.