When will we see a star player sign with a contender for MLE

[Biz Gilwalker]

I want you guys' input on this. When (if ever) are we going to see a player who gets max offers (or close to that) from lottery/treadmill teams, but turns them all down to sign for the MLE (or even the minimum for that matter) with a major contender, sacrificing tens of millions of dollars for the chance to win multiple titles?

I personally have no idea what I'd do if I already had $40M+ to my name (arbitrary number, get over it). Will there ever be that player that thinks they've got enough money for a lifetime and decides he'd rather immortalize himself as one of the most winning players in NBA history?

Is there a current player you could see doing this?

[giberish]

IMO the only way this happens is if it's a well past his prime star that's still good (and obviously famous). Like Payton and Malone signing with the Lakers.

I could have seen Nash possibly do this, or KG if the Celtics had gone rebuild. They'd still be biased towards teams that could at least give the full MLE over the mini-MLE.

[Prospect Dong]

Yeah, I think Payton counts. He was traded for Ray Allen, more or less straight up only a few months before he signed for the MLE. While it didn't work out, the bucks wanted to resign him and he would have been offered at least 13-14 million in today's money (relative to the size of the cap back then), though probably not quite the max he was entitled to.

Even based on his play for the lakers I'd say he was worth far-above-average starter money, so more than 10mil. Just because that team fell apart during the finals you shouldn't underrate how much talent they had.

[I_Socrates]

Doesn't Ray Allen count? The C's are no treadmill team, championship contenders themselves, but he left a $10million (or similar) a year offer on the table to sign with the Heat for MUCH cheaper.

[co_laper]

I think Artest should count as this when he signed with Lakers. Artest was incredible with Houston and Sacramento. As a 28 year old, and in his prime, I thought he would have garner something close to the max. Atleast 10 mil a year kind of deal IMO.

[JellosJigglin]

Malone turned down $18M to sign with the Lakers. He even took the minimum so that the Lakers could use the MLE on Payton. I don't think we'll see anything like that again.

[smith2373]

Doesn't Ray Allen count? The C's are no treadmill team, championship contenders themselves, but he left a $10million (or similar) a year offer on the table to sign with the Heat for MUCH cheaper.

Ray is not a star player. No one is offering Ray Allen max money. The OP's main point is basically "Will we see a star player turn down a max contract from an average/bad team to go play for the MLE on a contender"

[Ignitowsky]

You will never see a star player sign for the MLE.

[SalamiNCheez]

Never, unless they're getting paid under the table

[gethigh]

Never, unless they're getting paid under the table

This. As to which team is most likely to do such a thing, I nominate the Russian with the Nets.

Opulence, he has it

[MagicTownBaller]

It'd be really weird if Dwight did that to sign in Brooklyn this summer.

[Young_Star11]

Not that it would ever happen, but what stopped LeBron James from signing for the MLE in Miami (when he gets so much more $ from endorsements)?

[Never Wrong]

Not that it would ever happen, but what stopped LeBron James from signing for the MLE in Miami (when he gets so much more $ from endorsements)?

His brain I'm assuming

[I_Socrates]

Doesn't Ray Allen count? The C's are no treadmill team, championship contenders themselves, but he left a $10million (or similar) a year offer on the table to sign with the Heat for MUCH cheaper.

Ray is not a star player. No one is offering Ray Allen max money. The OP's main point is basically "Will we see a star player turn down a max contract from an average/bad team to go play for the MLE on a contender"

Just because he wouldn't get max money doesn't mean he's not a 'star.' The man is averaging 13 points in 26 minutes playing with 3 top 10 NBA players.

I would only take about 5-6 shooting guards over Ray TODAY, even at this point in his career. Kobe, Wade, Harden, E.Gordon, P.George (if he's considered an SG) and Ellis are the only clear cut guys you take before Allen. After that, you can make the case for a lot of guys, but not many would do what Ray can at his price on that Heat team.

[Stat Padder]

I think dwight howard should do this and go to miami. Then lebron wade and bosh should give him some of their money.