Post by Lakers GM on Jan 12, 2006 16:19:12 GMT -5
Early on in the season, we've already had four teams extend players max contracts. These players were all max-worthy, and such contracts were expected. But many teams face more of a conflict with letting very good players hit the market. Should they lock up their players before a retooling team steals them in free agency, or should they skip out on overpaying and compete with other teams for the player's services? The following five players are fringe-max players who will force their teams to ask, to max or not to max?
1. Michael Ray Richardson, Sonics--
Richardson is among the best point guards in the league. He's got top handles and defense, and a B outside game. He also overwhelms opponents with his size at 6'5. However, his team is looking at having some cap space for a decent FA market, and his statisitics at PG won't overwhelm you--he averages near three turnovers per game, hasn't shot over 44.7% from the field, and his careers high of points and assists are 14.1 and 8.8, respectively. Nothing special, although he's had a lot of talent around him.
Verdict: MAX. Perhaps as much as anyone, he's a big part of the Sonics core. It's gone under a lot of renovation, and he's been the mainstay there for three or four years now. He's got great size and great ratings. He's a max player.
2. Reggie Theus
Reggie has been the centerpiece of the Suns future for a long time, and though a bit inconsistent, he has proved to be a capable number one option. He plays big minutes, is solid from outside, and has seen his rebounds, points and assists improve every year. May eventually be a capable pg, as well.
Verdict: No max. He's worthy of the max as a great scorer with good handles and defense, but the Suns should instead use their max on...
3.Bill Cartwright- He's emerging as one of the best centers in the league this year. However early it may be, he's numbers are gigantic. 21 and 15, 2 bpg on 46% fg and about 80% ft. Add to that a steal and two assists a game, and at this size, the verdict is easy.
Verdict: Max. Monster numbers, and if he keeps them up, he's going to be the league's best center pretty soon. Great ratings and still has B potential. A franchise caliber player.
4.Kevin Love-Love's putting up the best numbers of his career, and looks to be a big piece in Philly's great young core. He's got great size and PF, and everything you'd want at the position, save for a few blocks nightly. Decent FG% that should improve as he gets older. He's still very young with B potential. A few good RC's and training camps and he might have one of the most polished games at PF, next to guys like Caracter.
Verdict: Max-Philly has everyone else locked up, and if Love hit the market, he'd be sure to get a max offer from somebody. He's going to be a stud PF in Philly for a long time. Plus, I'm sure a nice sig could be made out of Philly's nickname, the city of brotherly love.
5. Al Jefferson-early on, Al is off to his best season yet. He's got awesome size and ratings, and backs it with 15 points and 13 rebs a night. His fg% could use a boost, but like Love, he's young. He is one of the most unrecognized stars in the league, tucked away in Washington. They have a great core of guys hitting-or in- their primes, so they probably can't afford to lose him.
Verdict-no max. Washington is off to a really rough start, and Jefferson is coming off a huge contract. He makes a lot, which would make his max contract bigger than the typical 13+ mil starting for players of his age (usually coming off their rookie contracts, unlike Al.) He's a great player, but Washington can't throw money around like that on an underachieving team...especially not with Richard Hendrix waiting in the wings. No doubt, they must re-sign him, but they can afford to risk free agency with Hendrix backing him up.
Another notable conflict is in NJ. They have two fringe-max players in Maurice Cheeks and James Bailey. However, Cheeks is backing up Shannon Brown, and Bailey has always put up bad field goal percentages. However, the issue is moot, as the max has been extended to Moncrief. Should be interest to see these two hit the market...
Coming up sometime soon, To Max or Not to Max: Veteran Edition.
1. Michael Ray Richardson, Sonics--
Richardson is among the best point guards in the league. He's got top handles and defense, and a B outside game. He also overwhelms opponents with his size at 6'5. However, his team is looking at having some cap space for a decent FA market, and his statisitics at PG won't overwhelm you--he averages near three turnovers per game, hasn't shot over 44.7% from the field, and his careers high of points and assists are 14.1 and 8.8, respectively. Nothing special, although he's had a lot of talent around him.
Verdict: MAX. Perhaps as much as anyone, he's a big part of the Sonics core. It's gone under a lot of renovation, and he's been the mainstay there for three or four years now. He's got great size and great ratings. He's a max player.
2. Reggie Theus
Reggie has been the centerpiece of the Suns future for a long time, and though a bit inconsistent, he has proved to be a capable number one option. He plays big minutes, is solid from outside, and has seen his rebounds, points and assists improve every year. May eventually be a capable pg, as well.
Verdict: No max. He's worthy of the max as a great scorer with good handles and defense, but the Suns should instead use their max on...
3.Bill Cartwright- He's emerging as one of the best centers in the league this year. However early it may be, he's numbers are gigantic. 21 and 15, 2 bpg on 46% fg and about 80% ft. Add to that a steal and two assists a game, and at this size, the verdict is easy.
Verdict: Max. Monster numbers, and if he keeps them up, he's going to be the league's best center pretty soon. Great ratings and still has B potential. A franchise caliber player.
4.Kevin Love-Love's putting up the best numbers of his career, and looks to be a big piece in Philly's great young core. He's got great size and PF, and everything you'd want at the position, save for a few blocks nightly. Decent FG% that should improve as he gets older. He's still very young with B potential. A few good RC's and training camps and he might have one of the most polished games at PF, next to guys like Caracter.
Verdict: Max-Philly has everyone else locked up, and if Love hit the market, he'd be sure to get a max offer from somebody. He's going to be a stud PF in Philly for a long time. Plus, I'm sure a nice sig could be made out of Philly's nickname, the city of brotherly love.
5. Al Jefferson-early on, Al is off to his best season yet. He's got awesome size and ratings, and backs it with 15 points and 13 rebs a night. His fg% could use a boost, but like Love, he's young. He is one of the most unrecognized stars in the league, tucked away in Washington. They have a great core of guys hitting-or in- their primes, so they probably can't afford to lose him.
Verdict-no max. Washington is off to a really rough start, and Jefferson is coming off a huge contract. He makes a lot, which would make his max contract bigger than the typical 13+ mil starting for players of his age (usually coming off their rookie contracts, unlike Al.) He's a great player, but Washington can't throw money around like that on an underachieving team...especially not with Richard Hendrix waiting in the wings. No doubt, they must re-sign him, but they can afford to risk free agency with Hendrix backing him up.
Another notable conflict is in NJ. They have two fringe-max players in Maurice Cheeks and James Bailey. However, Cheeks is backing up Shannon Brown, and Bailey has always put up bad field goal percentages. However, the issue is moot, as the max has been extended to Moncrief. Should be interest to see these two hit the market...
Coming up sometime soon, To Max or Not to Max: Veteran Edition.
