Nivek wrote:
Granted, the #1 pick is likely to be underpaid for his actual production. Green at $10 million per season would definitely not be underpaid. My salary formula had his total production value last season at about $5.8 million. You want to argue he's worth $5.8 million per season, I'd agree in the abstract.
But he's not worth $5.8 million over 3 years to the Wizards because of where they are in the rebuild. They need top-shelf players. All-around talents. Guys who are (or can be) elite players in the NBA. If Green improves 25% (which would be HUGE), he still wouldn't be elite. For an established team that needs help at SF, Green is worth a look. For the Wizards, he'd just take up cap space they could be using to acquire a true franchise building block.
I agree that paying Green $10 mil a season would be WAY to much. But I do think that, if healthy, he could be worth 5-6 mil a year. Green does have the high BBIQ that we all agree the Zards need more of. And, given the opportunity to come from out of the shadow of two all-stars (Durant and Westbrook), he could be a solid third option on a playoff team.
Yes, the Zards need elite talent but no team (that I can think of) has a starting five made up of all elite players. Most teams have 2, maybe 3, elite players in the starting lineup and the other starters, if you're lucky, are along the lines of Green... fundamentally sound players who, hopefully, develop their games to a point where they can be counted on to be a consistent contributor.
The Zards franchise building blocks are likely to be Wall, the first pick in this year's draft, and McGee, if he can get his head and act together. I can see a high-character guy like Green being part of a mix like that.