Arenas is 3 years younger, though.
I still say, we have the leverage in the situation. Period.
Regardless of his agent, and whatever beleifs they have about when PGs turn 30 they become better.
Here are the possible scenarios:
1) Baron doesn't opt out
2) Baron does opt out
3) Baron doesn't opt out, but asks for a trade
I'm sure I'm forgetting one or two more, but those are basically the most talked about.
IF Baron doesn't opt out, but wants to talk contract reupping, we probably won't over pay because we have his services for one year. Meaning, its inhis best interest to play out of his mind and prove all the naysayers wrong. By doing that, he may wind up leaving us, but he'll go get paid which is whathe ultimately wants.
Baron opts out, that would suck, but he would quickly learn, very few teams are going to give him near what he thinks he's worth. Why pass up a year ofguaranteed money, at 17m?
Ask for a trade, we have no reason to oblige him because if we don't and he complains, he'll hurt his own value.