He's going to want more than that and CLE are rumored to be willing to offer a contract that starts at $11m/per. S&T Batum!
How much cap space would we have left if we sign Hibbert to a max deal and let Batum walk? I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff Green was targeted by Portland if we had the money, he fits the rest of the criteria.
Hibbert to a max deal? ... Ouch! I know there's a lack of quality centers in the league today, but that'd just be a piss poor move on Portland's part. I mean, come on, think long term. That'd be setting them up for a Rashard Lewis type contract fail.
I'm not saying you're wrong, but what would you do? Portland will always have to overpay to get FA's...
The frontline is going to be huge. C: Roy Hibbert (7'2") || Meyers Leonard (7'1.25") PF: LaMarcus Aldridge (6'11") || Joel Freeland (6'11")
Unless its a s & t it would only be for four years. Hibbert is 25 and I believe a max for him starts at about 14.5. Nowhere near rashard lewis 20+ million when he was on the downside of his career
As a fan from a fellow small market team, I feel you on not being able to sign big time free agents. However, it's not like Roy Hibbert is a franchise changing player. He's one of those guys that only got his "All-Star" tag this year due to circumstance, not production. A move like this can set Portland further back into more years of mediocrity and impede progression. I also question the move considering picking Leonard in the lottery. I understand that Leonard is a project and is not ready for starter-type minutes at center, but if you give an above-average center a maximum contract, you have to be commited to making him a face of your franchise. How does Leonard fit into that scheme; how is he going to grow?
The fact that Hibbert is considered a top-5 FA is just indicitive of how weak this year's free agent class is at the top. This year's class has a lot of depth for teams looking to add contributing pieces, but it's one of the worst classes I've seen in a while in terms of franchise changing players. It's essentially Deron Williams, a bunch of old vets that still have a few years left in them, and some average to above average players who will be severely overpaid with Joe Johnson sized contracts (*insert Hibbert*). I just feel like Portland would have been better off trying to get some quality role players at a good value and holding off to improve their team through trade or next year's free agency/draft before commiting themselves to a ridiculous MAX offer to someone like Roy Hibbert.
My answer to your last question might also be why he isn't worth a max contract: Hibbert hasn't averaged 30mpg any of his first three seasons, so there will be 18-20 minutes a game for Lenoard to grow.
This is a great point. The new CBA makes it more difficult to sign players to crippling contracts unless they turn around and get injured in their first year.