Years, Not Dollars May Set The Bar

by Jeff Clark on Jun 30, 2009 3:22 PM EDT in Articles Comment 26 comments

There's a lot of talk about the free agents not getting what they want. People look at the teams under the cap who can offer free agents over the MLE. The group of free agents able to get that kind of cash is expected to be a short list. After that, players will have to settle for the MLE. Lots of teams will be willing to use the MLE to snatch up a top free agent player. Players will prefer teams with a chance at winning something (Boston, Cleveland, San Antonio, etc.). However, annual salary and city preference won't be as big of a factor as you might think.

I think the key will be how many years teams are willing to pony up. The MLE for all 5 years is a lot better than the MLE for 3 or 4. For older players, the MLE for 3 years is better than 2 years at a higher annual salary because they might be on their last contract.

Look at last year. The Celtics could have held onto James Posey if they had added a year to their offer. Look at the free agents this year. I'm willing to venture a guess that someone like Shawn Marion or Rasheed Wallace would be willing to take (or be forced to take) the MLE. But how many years is a team willing to commit? Marion is 31 years old and appears to have started declining already. Wallace is 34. How many good years does he have left?

Will teams be willing to pay a player past his projected usefulness in order to get him now? We'll see starting tomorrow.

Also see:

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"Will teams be willing to pay a player past his projected usefulness in order to get him now?"

Nope.

by The Real Large James 2 on Jun 30, 2009 3:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

exactly

which is why we may still have a shot at signing someone real good

but we’ll see

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Jun 30, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Will teams be willing to pay a player past his projected usefulness in order to get him now?"

Sure, some will. Why wouldn’t some? We’ve had plenty of posters here who were openly advocating giving James Posey more years then they thought he’d be useful for.

by no kidding on Jun 30, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exacto mundo, Jeff

That is the key issue here. All the contending teams are in the same boat. It is a level playing field for Cleveland, LA, Orl, Boston, etc. Even the non-contending playoff teams are restrained similarly. The teams with cap room are not going to spend any money, save for maybe Detroit and Portland. But even they probably won’t.

So improving our team will not be hindered by the competition having more money than us. No, it will come down to other teams outbidding us, despite the fact that our money situations are almost exactly the same.

by MetroGlobe on Jun 30, 2009 3:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

excellent point jeff

danny has shown he wouldn’t do this in the past. will we reach this year to make up for the mistakes of last year?

by ssspence on Jun 30, 2009 3:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

?

how will making another mistake of overextending a player’s contract make up for last year?

Not signing Posey to that 4th year wasn’t a mistake. Not getting someone better than TA to fill the wing spot was a bad judgement call.

by slamtheking on Jun 30, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Length

While I’d prefer to keep the years at 1-2 with some of these guys, I’d be willing to go to 3, since that’s when KG’s contract ends and formal rebuilding will likely start.

by Jon on Jun 30, 2009 3:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No way

Any of the free agents the contending teams are going after will get offers of 5 years. I doubt even 4 years. 3 years seems to be the most anyone would get, which could work for the C’s, given KG has 3 years left. Sheed for 3 years would be a close call. If he doesn’t work out, then what. Dice shouldn’t be offered more than 1 year. Marion might get 4 years, but again 3 seems more realalistic.

by 420celticsFAN on Jun 30, 2009 4:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Call me crazy

but I’d throw the full MLE at Artest at 4 or 5 years. Only 29 years old.

[img width=500 height=84]http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo115/greentownsfinest/GreentownsFinestHeaderCBlogLQual.jpg[/img]

by Prof. Clutch on Jun 30, 2009 4:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Call me crazy

I’ll call you crazy!

by Little D on Jun 30, 2009 4:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Artest

At the full MLE for 4 years would be a steal. He is worth way more than that based on talent. Obviously the economy and his penchant for mental meltdowns are lowering his market value. But, just imagine Pierce and Artest starting with Allen off the bench. That would be ridiculous.

by 420celticsFAN on Jun 30, 2009 4:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I couldn't agree more...

Charles Barkley said it best, “Ron Artest can paly with me anytime… Ron Artest can play with charles Wade Barkely anytime. He’s a fox hole guy!! he’s a fox hole guy!!”
I would love Artest on this team. He has matured allot in the last couple of years. I can take a couple/ three ejections a year. Him on this team = championship, period.

by B-ball on Jun 30, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps there will be some 1 year deals

Given that many teams have $$ freeing up for next year’s run at the big-ticket FAs, I would imagine some will fall short and have extra money lying around. So, perhaps some of the better FAs might be willing to take a 1 year deal this year, and take their chances in next year’s FA class.

by libermaniac on Jun 30, 2009 5:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Let's see if we can create an "All Knucklehead Team"...

We could try to resign Marbury, then we could see about Rasheed and Artest. Who else is out there that we could try and find that might destroy team chemistry?

by VtCeltics on Jun 30, 2009 5:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Risky Davis!!!

We all know he’d be a perfect fit for the knucklehead squad.

by MetroGlobe on Jun 30, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And maybe

… we could get Isaiah Thomas to coach!!!

by VtCeltics on Jun 30, 2009 5:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And I forgot to add...

ALLEN IVERSON!!!!!!

by VtCeltics on Jun 30, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

KG

“Act a fool” on this team, and you get pimp slapped by KG. Oh, and how many of those “knuckleheads” have a Finals MVP, like Pierce. I don’t think Sheed, Artest, and obviously not Marbury, could kill this teams chemistry.

by 420celticsFAN on Jun 30, 2009 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Buchers Twitter

KG pleas have worked – Bos is on Sheed’s list w/Dal, Orl, SA. Don’t count out Lakers, either.

from about 3 hours ago. who knows with Sheed.

by Silhouette on Jun 30, 2009 5:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Does Anyone Know . . .

how much these guys make in endorsements? Also, do they make extra money for the playoffs?

My point is that if a player goes to a winning team, will he make a lot of money in various endorsements long term due to being on a high profile team? And if extra money is given for the playoffs, how much money is given?

by amenhotep04 on Jun 30, 2009 5:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

As far as I know there are no set playoffs bonuses across the board for NBA players. The only way the playoff bonus comes into play would be if it was set into their contract that reaching the playoffs or winning would give them more money. I have heard they get paid for the playoffs, but if anything it would be equal pay for all players—can’t verify that though.

As far as endorsements, I haven’t been able to find a site where the endorsement deals of only NBA players are listed but they do indeed make a lot of money off endorsements, depending how well-known or good the player is. For a list of top 50 earning athletes including endorsements and salaries check out this link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/specials/fortunate50/2008/index.html

by Rebounder on Jun 30, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Marion

Chris Brousard just came on sportscenter and said that Turkoglu was between going to the Raptors and the Blazers. If Turk goes to the Raptors, then Marion will be making MLE and we have to be on his list.
I think we should offer more years than other teams, we aren’t going to end up having financial flexibility as long as we’re good, why not lock up someone who could be the best 6th man in the league for a bunch of years.

by Evantime34 on Jun 30, 2009 6:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A bunch?

I don’t see a “bunch” of years out of Marion.

by Big_Easy on Jun 30, 2009 6:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Marion might have to sign for the MLE,

but he will not have to do multiple years. If this is a bad year and you are a good player, why not sign a 1 year deal and wait for things to improve?

by correcttitle on Jun 30, 2009 7:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

cuz marion 'ain't getting any younger

his play seems to have deteriorated (though its probably because he’s no longer playing in the perfect system for him [phoenix]). if he signs a one year deal and doesn’t have a great year (which is entirely possible), he might not sniff the MLE again.

by guy incognito on Jun 30, 2009 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good point.

He is not as good as he seemed in Phoenix, but he is good enough to back up Pierce, and Ray Allen while Pierce swings to Guard. If you gt him, it is almost s if you are getting 2 backup spots. Marion can back up those 2 guys nd House can get the leftover minutes or play when they need more 3 point shots. i’m not opposed to Marion being in Boston, but not for more than 2-3 years.

by correcttitle on Jun 30, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs