Tons of players in the league get max contracts... how many are really worth that?

[Shogon]

In my humble opinion, there are only roughly 10 guys in the entire league worth max contracts, if they were a free agent today... right this moment.

These things are handed out far too frequently, I think.

In no particular order...

Kawhi Leonard
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kevin Durant
Stephen Curry
James Harden
Anthony Davis
Nikola Jokic
LeBron James (arguably not because of age)
Joel Embiid (arguably not because of health)

Actually, that ends up being a total of 9 players league wide, 2 of which are questionable. Pretty crazy stuff, considering how many max deals are out there. Owners will continue to overpay because they kind of have to. Too many short sighted GMs giving them out like they're water drives the market up for all the fringe max guys.

[warriorfan]

In my humble opinion, there are only roughly 10 guys in the entire league worth max contracts, if they were a free agent today... right this moment.

These things are handed out far too frequently, I think.

In no particular order...

Kawhi Leonard
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kevin Durant
Stephen Curry
James Harden
Anthony Davis
Nikola Jokic
LeBron James (arguably not because of age)
Joel Embiid (arguably not because of health)

Actually, that ends up being a total of 9 players league wide, 2 of which are questionable. Pretty crazy stuff, considering how many max deals are out there. Owners will continue to overpay because they kind of have to. Too many short sighted GMs giving them out like they're water drives the market up for all the fringe max guys.

Teams with smaller markets and that are less desirable places to live always have to overpay. They get desperate and will throw big money at guys who are not worth it. What if they kicked out the bottom half of the league and had 16 stacked teams?

[imdaman99]

Lebron
KD
Giannis
Would lean towards Kawhi and Steph as well, maybe Harden too

[Smoke117]

Lebron
KD
Giannis
Would lean towards Kawhi and Steph as well, maybe Harden too

Melting down as always I see :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[imdaman99]

Melting down as always I see :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:
What the hell smoke, you're trying too hard now :lol I'm fasting so maybe it skipped my mind how I was melting down. Explain yo'self son

[Shogon]

Teams with smaller markets and that are less desirable places to live always have to overpay. They get desperate and will throw big money at guys who are not worth it. What if they kicked out the bottom half of the league and had 16 stacked teams?

You're right, but the arbitrarily capped contracts and salary cap just leads to an overall inferior product for the NBA. If they were to remove contract limits, and remove cap limits, this problem would balance itself out over time.

It is true that some teams would turn into complete garbage and couldn't compete, but there's a ton of teams that are already garbage regardless, even with the arbitrary caps.

If they removed all limits, some franchises would ultimately fold up shop.

I don't think the NBA is concerned with the quality of the product. They're just interested in maximizing revenue. It's the only explanation as to how some franchises still exist. The league makes more money with those franchises existing than they would if it didn't.

[Doranku]

What about a guy like Luka? If he were a free agent.. would a 20-25 year old Luka be worth a max contract?

I'd say yes.

[Shogon]

What about a guy like Luka? If he were a free agent.. would a 20-25 year old Luka be worth a max contract?

I'd say yes.

It's probable that he ends up being a max player, but as of right now? Clearly he does not belong in that tier of player, and as such, should not get paid as much as them, imo.

I was more so talking about the guys that we know who they are getting inked to max deals, when they clearly don't deserve it.

Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson... three free agents that will all get max this offseason unless Klay decides to willingly take a pay cut. These guys are examples of guys that don't deserve it. They shouldn't be making as much as that first tier of player, but they will. I can go on and on. The list has got to be close to 20 deep at least.

[sammichoffate]

What about Paul George, Dame, and Oladipo? I would consider Bradley Beal too, 26/6/5 on 48/35/80 is solid as hell.

[Doranku]

It's probable that he ends up being a max player, but as of right now? Clearly he does not belong in that tier of player, and as such, should not get paid as much as them, imo.

I was more so talking about the guys that we know who they are getting inked to max deals, when they clearly don't deserve it.

Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson... three free agents that will all get max this offseason unless Klay decides to willingly take a pay cut. These guys are examples of guys that don't deserve it. They shouldn't be making as much as that first tier of player, but they will. I can go on and on. The list has got to be close to 20 deep at least.

In that case, I'd say only the first 7 players you mentioned are actually WORTH a max contract. I'd MAYBE throw Paul George in there, but I'm far from a believer in the dude so I'll omit him.

[Smoke117]

What the hell smoke, you're trying too hard now :lol I'm fasting so maybe it skipped my mind how I was melting down. Explain yo'self son

I didn't even read your comment. I just knew if I said that it would trigger. Mission accomplished. :lol

[Shogon]

In that case, I'd say only the first 7 players you mentioned are actually WORTH a max contract. I'd MAYBE throw Paul George in there, but I'm far from a believer in the dude so I'll omit him.

Yeah, I wouldn't argue in favor or against Embiid & James.

If that list of guys are tier 5 guys, Paul George is a tier 4 player. He has spurts of Tier 5 play, but overall? Nah.

If he was a genuine tier 5 guy, he would have been able to get past Portland... when he has Westbrook and Adams as teammates.

[NBAGOAT]

i agree mostly with your list. I might throw in Towns, he was fantastic this year even with the stuff going on around him and is 23. he's worth the 5 yr 190 minnesota gave him.

I think guys like Kyrie and Dame arent worth quite the max but still like 30+/yr reasonably. Not sure about george, he had a breakout year this year that was definitely worth it but cooled off at the end and hasnt shown that level of scoring before. he's only on a 4 yr 137 mil deal however, I think that's fine.

[tontoz]

I would agree that max contracts are a bad idea. If you leave the overall cap number the same but put no max limits on individual contracts then it would be harder to form superteams.

[Celtics 1825]

Durant
Curry
Giannis
Kawhi
Harden
PG
Jokic
Embiid
Dame
AD
Possibly KAT

[baudkarma]

If the NBA didn't cap team and individual salaries, there would be 30-40 guys making over what the current max salary is. And superstars like KD and Steph and Giannis would be making three or four times what they're making now. Maybe more. How much would an owner like Mark Cuban be willing to pay Durant to play for the Mavs? If KD could make $60 million a year playing for the Mavs, then I'd argue he's worth $60 million.

[Shogon]

What about Paul George, Dame, and Oladipo? I would consider Bradley Beal too, 26/6/5 on 48/35/80 is solid as hell.

Welllllllll, with all due respect, any pause for reconsideration with this?

[sammichoffate]

Welllllllll, with all due respect, any pause for reconsideration with this?If Harden gets one, then Dame gets one. I'll leave it at that :lol

[Shogon]

If Harden gets one, then Dame gets one. I'll leave it at that :lol

As underwhelming as Harden has been in the playoffs, they are very clearly a different class of player, both in the regular season and post season.

There is no comparison. Harden is literally miles better, despite being a total scumbag. Lillard pulls some of the same shit on the court in terms of exploits. He's just not as good at it.

[sammichoffate]

As underwhelming as Harden has been in the playoffs, they are very clearly a different class of player, both in the regular season and post season.

There is no comparison. Harden is literally miles better, despite being a total scumbag. Lillard pulls some of the same shit on the court in terms of exploits. He's just not as good at it.Lillard made First Team All-NBA, he definitely should get consideration for a max based off of just that. Harden plays completely different like you said, but his usage is also absurdly high because of his team and system. I would say Lillard is a tier below Steph and Harden, which is still max contract worthy.

[Tennis19]

In my humble opinion, there are only roughly 10 guys in the entire league worth max contracts, if they were a free agent today... right this moment.

These things are handed out far too frequently, I think.

In no particular order...

Kawhi Leonard
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kevin Durant
Stephen Curry
James Harden
Anthony Davis
Nikola Jokic
LeBron James (arguably not because of age)
Joel Embiid (arguably not because of health)

Actually, that ends up being a total of 9 players league wide, 2 of which are questionable. Pretty crazy stuff, considering how many max deals are out there. Owners will continue to overpay because they kind of have to. Too many short sighted GMs giving them out like they're water drives the market up for all the fringe max guys.

i agree with the list and would add towns, and possibly PG13 and RW also.

[UK2K]

You're right, but the arbitrarily capped contracts and salary cap just leads to an overall inferior product for the NBA. If they were to remove contract limits, and remove cap limits, this problem would balance itself out over time.

It is true that some teams would turn into complete garbage and couldn't compete, but there's a ton of teams that are already garbage regardless, even with the arbitrary caps.

If they removed all limits, some franchises would ultimately fold up shop.

I don't think the NBA is concerned with the quality of the product. They're just interested in maximizing revenue. It's the only explanation as to how some franchises still exist. The league makes more money with those franchises existing than they would if it didn't.

The salary cap needs to stay.

Restrictions on individual max contracts need to go. Someone like Lebron would get a 50m contract because hes worth that much.

Now can you construct a team around someone making 50m? Maybe, maybe not. Wouldnt leave you a lot of cap left over, but if you dont pay it, someone else will.

[PP34Deuce]

From a business standpoint a max contract player should be talented while putting butts in the seats.