[SirSaab]

I find that front- or back-loading (depending on your financials) a contract and packing it with options is the most effective way to distribute the cost of a player asking for huge money.

If there is a guys you really want or need, offer him that 10-year deal, and defer the big money behind whatever options he’ll agree to, and leverage the use of the player opt-out on top of the options.

I often find that I can get a guy effectively on a three or four year deal, because often they’ll execute their player opt-out. And if they don’t exercise the opt-out, I’ll usually at least be able to avoid paying big money during their declining years, because of team options (which you can very often get, instead of player options, I have found).

Also, I never guarantee roles, just in case the worst case scenario plays out and I have an ancient albatross on my team lol