nene and ty are up there too. I think denver would have been better served waiting for jr smith and wilson chandler to come back, then they could have bid chandler, smith, gallo, afflalo against each other
So are those guys playing in China going to be free agents when their contracts expire in March? If so, I would like to pickup Brooks.
It's not like he's a max money guy ... but regardless, whether you like it or not, when guys on their rookie deals start to realize their potential, teams typically lock them up.
Brooks will be a UFA, I believe. As will Patty and KMart. I'd like him too. Chandler is a RFA, however and DEN still holds his bird rights.
I don't like it or dislike it. I just think that the reason so many players end up being perceived as overpaid is because somehow the agents have had a lot of success framing the argument: If you are good you get paid. If you might be good you get paid. If you were good you get paid. If you are a good citizen you get paid. If you score a lot of points, but otherwise aren't very good, you get paid. If you lead the league in something, you get paid. And so on. And, wags say the owners only have themselves to blame. Yes, that is part of it. They could exercise a little more self-control. But, in terms of free agency, the influence of a tiny handful of superrich teams has outsized influence on setting the market. Call it the Knicks effect. As long as the Knicks keep so badly overpaying, it distorts the market in the players favor and makes it very difficult for the average franchise to retain quality talent over time without matching those prices. The owners and teams have really done a piss poor job in framing the argument in recent years. They need to establish a better framework for the value of players and what deserves star salaries, vs starter salaries, vs bench salaries, etc. Not every single starter in the NBA should be paid $10+ million a year. The numbers just don't add up.
Aaron Brooks would be an interesting addition. With the way Felton has played it wouldn't take much for him to be the starting PG. In March we will have what 15 games remaining? So players signing then would only be paid 15/82 of their full years salary. I bet Brooks would be more interested in going to a team he has a shot of a big role then a mid level salary, especially since he won't be paid 80% of it! So even if we only have the veteran minimum available for the rest of the season perhaps he'd consider coming back to Oregon. He could then increase his stock and try to get a big contract for next season.
Did I ever make that case? I said he's playing a like a borderline all-star and now he's getting paid like one ... that's it.
jwquick Jason Quick Blazers president Larry Miller says "it looks like we may not get anything done" with extension for Nicolas Batum. "We tried,'' Miller added jwquick Jason Quick Blazers' president Larry Miller on Batum extension: "If we don't, which it looks like we won't, he's restricted, so we can always match.'' jwquick Jason Quick Miller on Batum: "He's still an important part of our future plans and we hope to get it done. But we couldn't come to an agreement.'' jwquick Jason Quick Blazers president Larry Miller stressed that acting GM Buchanan still talking with Batum's agent and will up until 9 p.m. deadline jwquick Jason Quick "I would expect we probably won't get something done, though,'' Miller said re: Batum extension jwquick Jason Quick Batum had an animated discussion with asst. coach Dean Cooper on the bench. He did not appear happy. He wasn't upset, but clearly frustrated
Lol @ Quick trying to start shit. That last tweet had nothing to do with the stuff about his extension.
