Adonal on Free Agency

By Adonal Foyle, with Chris Navalta

As you all know, I will be doing a bit of “job hunting” this off-season. I officially become a free agent in July. A lot of fans don't really get to see what goes through the mind of an athlete when they step into free agency. A lot of them assume all they have to do is sit back and wait for the right pay day. But nothing can be further than the truth.

Let's say for one minute, that you are a GM and I want to play for you. If you are a GM, you should sign me because first off, I'm probably one of the best defensive players in the league that nobody has ever heard of. I am extremely active in my community. And I think it's very important to continue doing that. I am a good citizen in the locker room. I think I can always earn the respect of my teammates. I am very aware of, not only my relationship to my teammates and the organization, but also to the community and the NBA at large. I am a hidden offensive talent. And basically, I have a serious love for the game. I could have done anything in my life and I chose to play this game. And it's because I love it. And I think that speaks volumes for my approach to the game. Not everyone who is playing in this league can say they love it and mean it. I truly love it. I do.

Reflections
When you think about stepping into free agency, you have to reflect on the season. I began by looking at some of the wasted opportunities during my injury, but I also look at some of the things I have accomplished as well as the obstacles that I've overcome.

General Managers often look at only the last months of a player's most recent season in their search for new team members, but I find that somewhat misrepresentative. I would like to go to a team where they've been looking at me for the past two or three years. I shouldn't feel like I have to play great during my contract year ONLY. Players should be playing great all the time. I try to play great all the time, which is most important. If there is someone hiding in the stands, watching me perform, I want that person to say, This guy left everything on the floor - and not just one year, but every year. He works hard and he gets it done'. To me, that is more important.

When a season is done, a player will always think How did I do?' Yes, we evaluate ourselves. But I do that during a contract year and I do that during a non-contract year. It should also be about what needs to be done during the off-season and what do I want my game to look like when I come back on the floor. What do I want fans to see? What do I want to add? What do I want to take away? And what do I want to strengthen? Those are things I think about at the end of every year.

Free Agent Anxiety
Anytime someone doesn't have a contract, it's always nerve-racking. Anything can happen. Teams may be fighting over you. Or teams may be fighting over other guys and forget all about you. At the same time, I can rely on the fact that, were that to happen, I know that I am a good player. That's the kind of mindset I'm trying to have. It doesn't really do you any good in terms of finding a job. But if you're honest with yourself, you will know that sometimes there are other factors involved other than your skills and your talent.

Factors to Consider in Picking a Team
I'm looking at a lot of factors when thinking of who I'd like to sign with. What type of organization does the team have? What kind of people are running that organization? The most important thing for me is going to a place where I know I will play. I want to go to a place where they will want me be there and be a basketball player. That's important.

I would be lying to you if I said financial compensation was not going to be a factor. At the end of the day, you want to make a good living and you want to receive your market's worth. Before, I always thought money was really irrelevant. But it's not. Money can give you power and some sort of say in an organization at times. So it's not to be trifled with. I've learned that if the organization is significantly investing in you, then they will have to pay more attention to you. So, money becomes an issue because it represents your worth in the organization.

A much lesser thing is what is the aspiration of the team? What kind of goals does this team want to achieve in the short term and not 10 years from now or 20 years from now. That is going to be a consideration as well.

Staying Put
There's also the possibility that I stay with the Warriors. Certainly, I'm very fond of the Bay Area. I love the Warriors organization and I love the work they have done for the community. But I would like to know if I were to be a priority: Am I going to be a part of the future of this team – not just the same marginal role I seem to have had over the past few years. I am not going to do that again for the next five years of my career. I look at this moment in my life as the pinnacle. I'm 29 years of age. I'm young. But by the time I step into my next contract year, I will be in my mid 30's, and in the league, that's Over the Hill. I want honesty and a true assessment of what the Warriors want and what they want to achieve together.

Playing the Market
I think it is important to take the time to look at about seven or eight teams for whom I would like to play. I have to really take an intense (both on the micro and macro levels) look into what goes on behind the scenes.

I plan on meeting with my agent and plan out the type of strategy we want to do, as to what we should do and how we should go about marketing myself in the summer. Quite frankly, the whole thing makes me feel a little queasy. I don't like it when people are fussing over me because I've always seen myself as just another player. The way I see it, nobody has to fuss over me. I'm just a boy from the islands. I'm very easy to negotiate with.

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