Exclusive OFFICIAL Around the NBA thread: October 2019

curious...if the Siakam contract is shit, what is CJ's contract?

 

That 2016 draft class:

1. Simmons - signed for max
2. Ingram - will get paid next year
3. Brown - signed for close to max
4. Bender - nearly out of the league
5. Dunn - fringe player
6. Hield - signed for $20M+
7. Murray - signed for max
8. Chriss - nearly out of the league
9. Pöltl - fringe player
10. Maker - nearly out of the league
11. Sabonis - signed for $20M+

How Suns managed to end up getting two players who have no role.

 

CJ has proven himself over time to be worthy of his contract. Siakam has had one good season. And yes he would be worth that contract if he continues to improve, but he also won't be playing with Kawhi any more and his usage is about to go up significantly. I like him and hope he is able to step up. But don't pretend that playing next to a super duper star like Kawhi didn't make his job a lot easier. Call it the "Lebron effect".

 

I read a rumor yesterday skimming around for Blazers articles that said the Blazers were one of 3 teams the Clippers are talking too about moving some of our players or picks for Harrell and Harkless...they said if we did it we'd probably waive Harkless and I think Trent was included…they claimed Harrell would make us a contender.....probably a big nothing burger but it was a scenario I hadn't thought about...if I can find it again I'll link it.

 

Wow.

 

So much for those preseason dunk highlights.....

 

This is what most of us were worried about. Sucks for the kid.

 

Damn that sucks...wonder if I should keep him on my fantasy team and just wait it out. I'll probably just wait and hope it pays off.

 

Are we even able to trade for Harkless?

 

Most predictable news ever. As I was saying back when he was at Duke, he needs to lose weight. That is wayyy too much load to put on his knees.

 

apples meet oranges...CJ had played one good year, just like Siakam, when he signed his rookie extension. And Siakam's 3rd season was much better than CJ's. Further, CJ's rookie extension will pay him more next season than Siakam will make on his extension.

I don't mind if you think CJ is a better player, although it would be hard to justify. But when it comes to contracts, Toronto has Siakam for 5-years/132M; Portland has CJ for 4-years/130M. And as I pointed out, Siakam was significantly better last season statistically, and unlike CJ, he's a 2 way player. To call Siakam's contract "shit" while rationalizing CJ's is just homerism IMO

 

CJs contract is shit.

 

CJ had already averaged over 20 ppg for 4 striaght seasons before he signed his last extension. Huh?

You also don't seem to acknowledge the fact that playing next to Kawhi made Siakam's life extremely easy.

 

I wouldn't call it shit, but I would say it's bloated. Worse is it limits what Portland can do and he's not really an all-star level player. But the NBA is filled with bloated deals

that's true, but Toronto wasn't signing Siakam to his 3rd contract. It was his rookie extension. Teams pay players in that situation, especially after they just lose a top-5 player in free agency. Portland paid Roy, Aldridge, Dame, and CJ in the same fashion

I'l acknowledge that but then you need to acknowledge that CJ playing next to Dame has made his life easy. Dame may not be quite at the level that Kawhi is, but he may be just as effective, if not more so, at making teammates better

and you're not getting it. As I said, I wouldln't have pushed back if you had just said Siakam had a bloated deal...like CJ. But you're basically arguing CJ's contract is fine while Siakam's is "shit". That's an extreme contrast and makes no sense at all

 

Jesus, all the rookie contract extensions today....

15M for Taurean Prince? I mean sure but.....damn. Didn't a lot of people want this guy?

 

I suppose we just have differing opinions on these players. What I will acknowledge though, is that a team can't just let young and talented draft picks just leave after their rookie contracts. Raptors really did need to keep Siakam. And I probably would have offered the same contract, even though I don't like it.

 

I think a lot of players are signing the extensions now before the China stuff hurts the salary cap in the upcoming years.

 

1. Why would we waive Moe?
2. I don't think we CAN trade for Moe, at least for a while.
3. Harrell would not make us a contender