As NBA teams attempt to show some economic restraint with their budgets -- are we finally starting to figure out the CBA, fellas? -- and make sensible contract decisions (aside from Chris Duhon) with an eye on having cap flexibility, leave it to those crafty agents to figure out a new way to negotiate: go East, young man.
I saw plenty of this in my years of covering the NHL, where there is a much greater percentage of international players among the population. I don't find it alarming that non-Americans such as Tiago Splitter, Carlos Delfino, Boki Nachbar and Jorge Garbajosa choose the riches of Europe over the demands of the NBA (and the U.S. government's hand in their wallet). In the NBA, most of these guys are role players. But in the Euroleague, they are heralded superstars.
Even what high schooler Brandon Jennings did when he signed with an Italian team because he could not make the academic eligibility standards for the NCAA shouldn't come as such a shock. What's shocking is no one did it sooner. I can guarantee you someone will do again it soon.
But Josh Childress, an established NBA player? That's got to grab your attention. It certainly grabbed the attention of agent Buddy Baker who introduced the Euro-leverage into his negotiations with the Houston Rockets for his diamond-in-the-rough client, Carl Landry.
We're not naive here. We know most NBA players who grew up in the U.S. want to play in the NBA. Childress' move is about money and about making a point and I applaud Rick Sund for not allowing the threat of losing Childress to cause him to make a stupid contract offer. Josh Childress is a nice player, but he's not going to make or break the Atlanta Hawks.
Same goes for another Hawk who remains unsigned: Josh Smith. A dynamic athlete, but is he really worth the max? Really? How many NBA players are currently legitimately worth a max contract if they were free agents right now? Let's see, off the top of my bloghead: Kobe, LeBron, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Brandon Roy, Chris Bosh....you're starting to lose me at this point. Second-tiers would be Gilbert Arenas, Deron Williams, Kevin Martin, Rip Hamilton, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobilli, Elton Brand, Paul Pierce . . . maybe Carmelo.
You've got to make these choices not just based on fear but based on what you'll get out of the money you're paying. I put Carmelo in the second tier because I wonder about his long-term status, based on his attitude and committment level. The guys I mentioned in the top tier are flat out ballers: hardcore, dedicated-to-the-game ballers. The second tier either includes guys who are hardcore but with a lesser talent impact (meaning, they are the type you build with but not around) or guys with the talent but not the hardcore attitude (i.e.: Pierce, Melo).
History shows more often than not the max contract rarely results in results and most of the time winds up as being most valuable when it's at the end.
So, with that in mind...Ciao bella, Stephon!
Comments (10)
Often times a GM overpays for fear of losing a player without compensation, not considering that the long term damage to the team that comes from being hamstrung by a bad contract is often worse then if the player had just been allowed to walk. Childress was a no brainer - Atlanta would have been foolish to offer the kind of money he signed for. Smith is a trickier one, since he is still improving. I guess it depends on how good you think he'll become.
"History shows more often than not the max contract rarely results in results and most of the time winds up as being most valuable when it's at the end." To my mind, there is no point offering max money to someone who isn't going to be a top two guy on a legitimate contender. Look at the Sixers - They are paying out huge contracts (not all max) to Brand, Dalembert, Miller with Iggy coming up. There is no way that group wins a title, but there is no room to make improvements either.
The cap is supposed to impose some financial discipline on teams by creating these problems. Europe may offer some way around that, but how many team there have the money to dole out multiple 8 figure deals?
Willis - I wasn't suggesting the Knicks just add Landry since the roster is full, but unless he pulls in a crazy offer from Europe he MIGHT be worth considering trading for.
Jennings did academically qualify. The NCAA just didn't believe he did it righteously. The NCAA flagged his second score. His low score was from his sophomore year. His high score, which was pretty darn high, was from his senior year. Apparently, the NCAA (and people who are running with the story) doesn't believe a kid can improve their score in 2 years, especially when that kid moves from distraction-free, beacon of higher learning, Compton, CA to big, bad and bustling Mouth of Wilson, VA.
Although I agree with your Melo assessment, I have a hard time separating the second tier players from your first tier players. I would have to go deeper to find second tier players.
@Jason - thanks for the 411. Admittedly I haven't delved too deep into that situation because it's out of my jurisdiction (college/prep hoops). I just understood the surface of his decision to play in Europe.
is Peace still alive?
did he OD yet?
i heard he just got out of prison
and is now flippin burgers @home depot - lol
Best regards to Peace
Blog "telephone tough guyz"...gotta luv 'em!
I see that Peace is busy bloggin here and even posting some jokes.
Thats what happens when u have 2 much time in prison.
Amen to Mayhorn.
Brandon Roy top tier player? What are you smoking? You’re putting him in the same sentence with Kobe and Lebron. Come on man. I'd put Paul Pierce in the top tier way before I'd put Brandon Roy. Way too early for that. Nice player but take it easy. Mind you that goes for Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh.
Brandon Roy? That's insane, Alan!
As stated above, I defintely do not consider Brandon Roy a max player. Deron Williams however, should be in that group because he is the second-best young PG in the league, and the value of a great PG in this league is sky-rocketing