RGM's Top 25 most valuable players - vote for #8

[Trader_Joe]

V: LMA
N: Bosh

[loserX]

Love is great, but he's a long way from being a superstar (if he ever is one). Add to that the (restricted) free agency over his head,

Why do you see this as a bad thing? The way the CBA is written, virtually every rookie star signs an extension, because it's way too risky to gamble the first $40-50 mil free agent deal that you won't get an injury. He doesn't have the money in the bank, and he won't have leverage to force a trade until year seven or eight (like some vets already do - a serious problem right now to many oftheir trade values). And finally, he's far cheaper this year, and even if he gets a max deal, he's going to be cheaper than some of the veteran stars on max deals.

I can understand argueing that even though he's a Top 10 NBA scorer, he's not the typical superstar who can create his own shot if it isn't coming off an offensive rebound. However, I think the contract part is a big benefit.

Sorry if this sounds like I'm a homer, but I've been saying the same thing to people who think they are going to get Eric Gordon in free agency, or hope to get Blake Griffin away from LAC in a couple years. The CBA makes those stars on rookie contracts gold.

And yet Love continues to hem and haw about whether he's going to sign one of those max deals with Minnesota. I agree that it's likely that he eventually will, but it's still a risk that he either accepts his QO instead, or holds out, or demands an S&T, or who knows what. Being RFA is way better than being UFA, but it's not as good than having contract in hand.

Extend-and-trade him if possible, and that risk goes away, so his value would go up. (Though still not as high as Dirk or Kobe, IMHO). But that hasn't happened yet. So yes, RFA status is a negative, at least relative to being under contract.

[gswhoops]

LaMarcus Aldridge
Kyrie Irving

[SamBone]

V: Kevin Love
N: Eric Gordon

[shrink]

And yet Love continues to hem and haw about whether he's going to sign one of those max deals with Minnesota. I agree that it's likely that he eventually will, but it's still a risk that he either accepts his QO instead, or holds out, or demands an S&T, or who knows what. Being RFA is way better than being UFA, but it's not as good than having contract in hand.

We assess risk to determine a player's trade value, and when you only say that he extends is "likely" tells me you're greatly over-valueing the risk. The Sporting News wrote an article about last week saying the same thing I've been saying for years -- the CBA makes defection before extending virtually impossible for top players.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2011-12-27/cba-reality-drafting-a-star-gets-you-seven-years

Historically, can you think of any player besides Ben Gordon that turned down a $40+ mil deal, to go risk an injury for two years (no extension and accept the QO) to become a UFA? I can't think of anyone else in the seven years I've been following under the last two CBA's.

Moreover, the fact that these top players on rookie scale first become RFA's allows teams to match them. Further, even if they didn't want to do that (in Love's case, everyone in MIN says give him the max though), this is trade value - a team doesn't lose trade value as long as the player is put up for trade to more than one other team.

The idea that there is some big risk of defection is one of those myths that I know we'll always see in the news, but one I'd like to see disappear on the boards of RealGM, like the inherent value of expirings. You've got a good reputation for being a mythbuster here, and if I've convinced you, I hope you'll help me convince others.

[JasonStern]

LaMarcus Aldridge
Kyrie Irving

+1.

aldridge: young, talented big leading a winning team locked up long-term to a below market contract.

irving: strong chance he ends up rookie of the year. what's not to like about a potential 20ppg player in the first year of his first contract?

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Vote: Aldridge. A top big man locked into a less than max contract.


Nominate: Irving. #1 pick who is showing very well - hard to beat the rookie scale for a promising young player in terms of value.

[Relentless88]

V: Melo
N: Bosh

[Narf]

Vote Love
Nominate Bosh

Honorable mention S Curry

[HanginAround]

V LMA
N Irving

[Guy986]

I think Love and Aldridge are close enough that voting either one is ok. Love's defense is still subpar and his team is situated in the bottom of the west but man he is having a monster of a season statistically.

Almost 24 points and 15 rebounds with a 24PER.

And i'm not concerned about his status as a RFA. Nobody has ever turned down a max extension for a one year qualifying deal. He's essentially locked in for the next 4-5 years.

[mkwest]

Vote: Kevin Love
Nominate: Chris Bosh

[powerhitter545]

V: LMA
N: Irving

[DerrickNoah]

LMA
Bogut

[babyjax13]

I hate Kobe, but if you are trying to win a championship you'd pick him way before Aldridge and Love. He may be old, he may be paid a lot, but he's on a completely different level as a player.

[Krapinsky]

V: Aldridge
N: Rubio

[SportsFan215]

Vote: Kobe
Nominate: Eric Gordon

[eitanr]

Vote: Wall
Nominate: Horford