July 1st.
It marks the official first day of NBA free agency. This is the day where several players – superstars, stars and role players – change addresses. It’s even more interesting when said superstars are the headliners.
Case in point: Kevin Durant.
And while folks out there are on pins and needles on where Durant will land (I think that he should take his ass back to Oklahoma City if he is serious about winning a title), people are talking about the amount of dollars handed to free agent role players.
Let’s count the ways, shall we?
- Dwight Howard signed with the Atlanta Hawks agree on 3-year, $70.5 million deal
- Chandler Parsons agrees to 4 year, $98.5M max deal with the Memphis Grizzlies
- Evan Turner agrees to 4-year, $70M deal with the Portland Trailblazers
- Matthew Dellavedova agree on 4-year, $38.4M offer sheet with the Milwaukee Bucks
- Jeremy Lin agrees to 3-year, $36M deal with the Brooklyn Nets
- Nicolas Batum re-signs with the Charlotte Hornets for five years and $120M
- Al Jefferson agrees to a 3-year, $30M deal with the Indiana Pacers
- New York Knicks signs Joakim Noah to a 4-year, $72M deal
- Hassan Whiteside re-signs with the Miami Heat for four years and $98M
- Bradley Beal re-signs with the Washington Wizards for five years and $128M
- Evan Fournier: five years, $85M with the Orlando Magic
- Solomon Hill: four years, $52M with the New Orleans Pelicans
- Jordan Clarkson: four years, $50M with the Los Angeles Lakers
- Timofey Mozgov: four years, $64M with the Lakers
Now after typing that list, and looking back at said list a few more times, a few thoughts entered my head.
First, these NBA owners that dished out those ridiculous contracts better not go on strike again. They can’t complain about players getting too much money ever again, especially if one of those teams signed dudes like Mozgov, Hill, and Fournier to big money contracts.
Second, it’s obvious that I chose the wrong line of work.
If I ever had a reliable jump shot, a decent handle, and could play good defense, I could be making damn near $10 mil a year sitting on an NBA bench. Hell, I’d take the NBA minimum right now. What is it, $2 million?
I know one thing for sure, I have to start helping my six year old son with his jump shot and dribbling (and throwing a fastball).
Categories: NBA, sports story
role players now get paid like superstars and superstars are now owners of countries. Its crazy how much this salary cap is affecting the pay around the league.