SI.com with five "buyer beware" free agents... guess who made the list?

Natebishop3 · Jul 1, 2013

http://nba.si.com/2013/06/29/2013-free-agency-al-jefferson-andrew-bynum-monta-ellis/?sct=uk_t11_a9

Andrew Bynum
Almost every bit of information on Bynum’s wobbly knees comes through the filter of his agent, who naturally paints a rather rosy picture of where his client stands in his rehab and allegedly impending return to the court. Bynum, 25, is the most obvious risk in this free-agent class after missing last season, but he brings a greater potential reward than most.

If healthy, Bynum is a definitive No. 3 on the free-agent big board, behind Dwight Howard and Chris Paul. But “if” is a dangerous word in his case, as we’ve now waited through a full season of arbitrary deadlines, public missteps and broken promises of Bynum’s comeback. He’s massive and talented, and his unique allure makes it easy to see an eager team committing too much to sign him. Most NBA executives are relatively risk averse, but productive big men tend to make even the most logical decision-makers lose their minds a bit, injury troubles be damned.

None of this is to imply that Bynum will get the max, or any deal approximating the kind of offers he might have received if healthy. But teams must also grapple with the urge to lock up Bynum on a long-term deal for below-market value, all without yet knowing if he can contribute regularly without posing so much of an injury risk. The temptation to nab a max-level player for a sub-max salary is understandable, and it could pay off big for a team willing to roll the dice. But if the troubles with Bynum’s knees persist, that deal could well become a crippling load on a team’s cap sheet without much hope for relief.
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and just for good measure...

Tiago Splitter
Restricted free agency encourages ridiculous overspending. Rival suitors have little choice but to loft high-ball offers at their targets in the hope of outpricing the incumbent teams, who have matching rights. In Splitter’s case, that means paying more than the Spurs — who know the 28-year-old center’s game better than anyone — would be willing to spend. (San Antonio can make Splitter a restricted free agent by extending him a $4.9 million qualifying offer.) Deliberately outbidding one of the savviest organizations in the league should be a warning in itself, but Splitter’s game should also make teams wary of tossing him an eight-figure salary based on their need for a big man.

Splitter does two very valuable things quite well: execute pick-and-rolls and guard them. Both warrant playing time and compensation, but Splitter also hasn’t been tested as a high-usage player (he played a career-high 24.7 minutes per game last season) and offers inconsistent bits of offense. He’s good for the odd post-up and doesn’t waste opportunities to catch and finish, but Splitter isn’t a big man who goes to great lengths to make himself available or assume a dominant role in the offense. He floats into open spaces and capitalizes. That’s useful, but it isn’t characteristically rewarded with the kind of contract that might be necessary to pull Splitter out of San Antonio.

Making an offer too rich for the Spurs to match would basically necessitate paying Splitter at a near-star clip, which could ultimately be counterproductive to a team still in need of later additions. If Splitter is the final piece of a championship formula, then adding his salary on top of the pile could make little difference. But problems could arise if his overpayment stands in the way of adding players necessary to account for his limitations. Defense-first big men are often maligned for this very reason, and one could easily see Splitter’s becoming a scapegoat for a second- or third-tier team’s bumping up against the cap or tax line without much potential to realistically contend for a title.
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Pinwheel1 · Jul 1, 2013

I see Al Jefferson and Jarrett Jack also made that list.

Big Al seems to get slammed from everyone regarding his lack of D.
He is a decent player, just not worth his previous salary. It will be interesting to see how much he gets this time around.

Natebishop3 · Jul 1, 2013

Pinwheel1 said: ↑

I see Al Jefferson and Jarrett Jack also made that list.

Big Al seems to get slammed from everyone regarding his lack of D.
He is a decent player, just not worth his previous salary. It will be interesting to see how much he gets this time around.
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Funny how nobody is talking about JJ Hickson

Draco · Jul 1, 2013

Natebishop3 said: ↑

Funny how nobody is talking about JJ Hickson
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I'll be curious how much he gets, I don't see why any team would pay him more than $6 million MLE level money. Maybe we end up keeping him on a one year deal again.

magnifier661 · Jul 1, 2013

Draco said: ↑

I'll be curious how much he gets, I don't see why any team would pay him more than $6 million MLE level money. Maybe we end up keeping him on a one year deal again.
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I'm down!

Masbee · Jul 1, 2013

Pinwheel1 said: ↑

I see Al Jefferson and Jarrett Jack also made that list.

Big Al seems to get slammed from everyone regarding his lack of D.
He is a decent player, just not worth his previous salary. It will be interesting to see how much he gets this time around.
Click to expand...

Exactly, Jefferson is a very good rebounder and a fucking beast on the low block.

But, he is not a franchise player or a guy you build around because he hurts you on the defensive end and doesn't aid offensive flow.

For 10-12 million a year I would love to have him on the Blazers and figure out a way to get him to mesh his talents with the team. But there are media comments that teams are considering offering him a max contract. That is a bad idea IMO. But, bigs that don't suck are hard to get.

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SI.com with five "buyer beware" free agents... guess who made the list?

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Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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SI.com with five "buyer beware" free agents... guess who made the list?

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Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

Draco Well-Known Member

magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

Masbee -- Rookie of the Year

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