Crazy Shams stat there - Dame will earn over 70 million the next two years - highest in the NBA. Over $140 million total.
Dame gets $106,000,000 for the next to years from the Bucks and now $14,000,000 from the Blazers for the next two years, one of which will be to rehab? Not a bad gig if you can get it. That is why I don't understand why they paid Dame the full MLE instead of the Vet Min. They could have spent that money elsewhere to improve the team and Dame would have still got all of his money from MIL.
Who's "they"? Dame made that choice. If he wanted maximum roster flexibility he would've told the Blazers to keep the money. Seems like he forced Portland to match the other MLE offer(s) he had. Dame is awesome, but he's always prioritized making money vs giving the Blazers max salary flexibility. He has every right to do that. Portland had a choice if they wanted to sit on that MLE and do nothing, get someone like Mario Hezonja or Derrick Jones Jr, or sign Dame. I'm ok with option 3.
Dame gets all the money. Milwaukee just gets a credit on the cap. If Dame took 2 mil vet minimum he'd lose $12 mil each year or $24mil.
Dame contract with Milwaukee is a "sunk cost" for Milwaukee and I guess you'd call it a "sunk bonus" or such on Dame side. I don't see why anyone would think that has a bearing on what Dame signs for.
