End of an era?

[DrReality]

With the Spurs title and the big three taking lesser contracts it sets a precedence that points to the end of huge deals for a guy.  And that's what the Heat and their big three are contemplating now.  If so it would indicate the end of the huge contracts that strap a team from developing depth to win it all.   This could become a significant thing for the Hawks very soon. 

[Afro]

I can see Milsap taking "less" to stay here

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Not even close.

 

Because most teams aren't even close to winning a title and will get into bidding wars with other teams to get their best player.

 

Is Kevin Love going to take less to stay in Minnesota, if he hits free agency next year?  How about Kyrie Irving?   You see what Portland is about to do with LaMarcus Aldridge.  They're already promising him a max deal.

 

The guys who are taking less are the guys who have already made their big money contracts.  And plus, the NBA Players Union is not going to allow their best players ( especially the young ones  to all of a sudden start taking tens of millions of dollars less money on contracts.  That would defeat the purpose of them having a players' union in the first place.  The agents would have a fit as well.

 

This is how I think the Heat contracts will go:

 

Lebron:  5 years - 115 million ( ascending contract ) . . . player options in Years 3 - 4 and 5 . . . This not only sees him making his 20+ million a year ( and rightfully so ),but also gives Lebron the freedom to hit free agency once again.   It's probably the only way they can convince him to stay with the Heat.

 

 

Bosh:  5 years - 80 million ( ascending contract ) . . . player options in Years 4 and 5 . .  Bosh could probably hit free agency right now, and secure at least a 4 year - 70 million deal from somebody like the Lakers.  But he's the one guy that wants to stay in Miami, and will do it for less money.  Give him the option to get out of town, in case he gets tired of being the 2nd or 3rd wheel.

 

Wade:  4 years - 50 million ( descending contract ) . . player option in Year 4.  You basically tell Wade that he is going to make the 40 million due to him, but just not in 2 years.  He'll make that 40 million in 3 years, with an extra "thank you for your service" 10 - 12 million in that final year.  But if Wade thinks the Heat's run is over, and if he can secure another tens of millions of dollar contract at age 36, then he'll have the leeway to opt out in Year 4, and get that last sizeable pay day.  But that is unlikely.   That's why it is really on Wade to take significantly less money, and defer that 40 million he'll make by another year.

 

 

So instead of those 3 all making 61 million together next season, you may see something like this for them:

 

Lebron - 21 million

Bosh - 14 million

Wade - 14 million

 

Total . . 49 million

 

 

If the cap goes up to 63 million ( as projected ), you now see the Heat with just a little cap space to work with, to possibly bring on a few quality but low cost guys to the squad.

 

One of the names that was thrown out last night on ESPN, was this man:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zn-ham_zpE

 

I could see the Heat going after him with a 3 year - 12 million a year deal.   His value is low these days and he's essentially a role player that does have the ability to be a starter of DeMarre Carroll's caliber.

 

The other name was this guy:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq5RQd6HXxA

 

He's the type of veteran who would sign for the league minimum to chase a championship.  If you want to surround Lebron with shooters, he's the type of player you want on the team.

 

How about one more

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDZvW_ToxN8

 

I think NBA teams are foolish as hell for not bringing this guy to their team.  Especially if you're a team like the Heat, who could use a high energy bad azz on the frontline to bring off the bench.  Imagine him and Birdman coming off the bench, for teams to deal with.   Attitude problems or not, he should be in the league simply off of his talent.

 

As for the other guys signed to Miami, Norris Cole will make his 2 million for one more year.  Udonis Haslem could do a 2 or even 3 year deal for 5 million, which would defer the 4.6 million he was due to make this year, for a few years.

 

Then you have Napier coming in as the young talent.  Riley has said that he wants to get younger and more athletic, so he'll add a few more of those guys with unguaranteed contracts after summer league.

 

The Heat will be just fine, as long as their Big 3 re-sign and adjust their contract.

 

Instead of a reduction of money for big contracts, you may see an increase in player options near the middle and end of these big money contracts.  And that could be good or bad for a team.

 

Look at Al Jefferson.   Had Charlotte signed him to a 4 year - 54 million deal with no options, they could have him at 13.5 mill a year throughout that contract.  But because he has a player option after next season, he can now command an even bigger deal from them, or from someone else, if he has another monster year.   Charlotte may end up having to pay Big Al an extra 3 - 4 million in Year 3 + plus another 30 - 50 million throughout his next contract, just to keep him around.   Because if he keeps them at playoff level or puts them in the top 4 of the East, he's going to command a lot of money.

 

So the Player Option will have it good and bad aspects to it.   I think that's where the league is eventually going, not the elimination of big money contracts.  Let's see what LaMarcus Aldridge's contract looks like, when he signs his big money deal.   He may get the max, but have player options at the end of his deal, to possibly give his team the flexibility to renegotiate a more cap friendly deal, while still paying him his money.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

I can see Milsap taking "less" to stay here

 

Millsap is GROSSLY UNDERPAID at 9 million a year.   No way he takes even less money, if he's still playing at the level he's playing at.  

 

If he's still an All-Star in the eyes of the coaches, his next contract will be for 10+ million a year.   A guy like Mark Cuban ( who needs another star player as Dirk nears retirement ) will come right after Sap with a 4 year - 50 million dollar deal.  No way is Sap turning that down, if the Hawks come at him with a 5 year - 40 million deal.

 

Sap is putting himself in position next year to make a lot of money with his next contract.   Why he took that smallish deal ( in years ) from us, I have no idea.  But its about to pay off for him in a longer term, big money contract.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

I mean, how different would the Joe Johnson mega deal have looked, if he had a player option going into years 5 and 6?

 

He's owed almost 48 million dollars over these next 2 years, with no optoins.  But if he had a player option, the team could possibly convince him to opt out, and re-sign him to a longer deal of maybe 4 years - 64 million.   That's still a lot of money for him, but it would guarantee that he'd make his 48 million, plus another 16 million.  

 

If he made a flat 16 million on a 4/64 deal, he'd make that 48 million in 3 years instead of 2, plus pay him an extra 16 million at age 36.  That would essentially turn his 6 yr - 123 million deal into an 8 year - 155 million deal.   Insane, yes.  But much more cap friendly for his team.

[PSSSHHHRRR87]

If anything, this is going to cause the salary cap to grow more year to year.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DJlaysitup]

Millsap is GROSSLY UNDERPAID at 9 million a year.   No way he takes even less money, if he's still playing at the level he's playing at.

Wouldn't we all love to be grossly underpaid at $9million a year!

Seriously though - you are right.

[Afro]

Millsap is GROSSLY UNDERPAID at 9 million a year. No way he takes even less money, if he's still playing at the level he's playing at.

If he's still an All-Star in the eyes of the coaches, his next contract will be for 10+ million a year. A guy like Mark Cuban ( who needs another star player as Dirk nears retirement ) will come right after Sap with a 4 year - 50 million dollar deal. No way is Sap turning that down, if the Hawks come at him with a 5 year - 40 million deal.

Sap is putting himself in position next year to make a lot of money with his next contract. Why he took that smallish deal ( in years ) from us, I have no idea. But its about to pay off for him in a longer term, big money contract.

Theres a reason less is in quotations. Less as in his market value. Not current contract.

[Buzzard]

Some players will take less once they are established stars. But players like Hayward, Parsons, Ariza, Stephensen are not going to give any team a five million dollar a year break. That is to much a cut in pay %wise; and their marketing dollars are not close to Bron, Durant, Wade, Bosh, Duncan etc...

 

I love the new luxury tax rules, because it makes both players and teams come to some hard choices. 

Edited June 30, 2014 by Buzzard