Re-Signed: The PJ Washington Jr. Thread (3yrs/$48m)

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

PJ frustrates me. He has the tools to be a floor stretching PF/C who plays great D. He just rarely does it for sustained periods. I also feel like he's a net negative influence in the locker room, but that's mostly reading tea leaves - have little concrete to base that on.

[JMAC3]

No lie Klay Thompson signed a "MAX" contract with Warriors for 4/70 million dollars in 2014.

Luckily the MLE scales to the Salary Cap, so it doesn't really matter since he's topped out at MLE money. I'd also argue he's a more impactful player than PJ.

Crowder JUST signed his 3/29 deal. Are we saying PJ is better in a vacuum? Is he worth more than that?

Small market teams do well when they maximize assets and get the most value possible. Carrying a negative asset (4/60 for example) isn't going to help you get anywhere other than tying up 15 million a year you could've thrown at a B or A tier guy who looks at Melo as a viable star to play with.

Can you replace PJs production for under $15mil? I'd argue definitely yes.

Crowder is that guy who is going to always choose playing for a championship team. I am sure he could get more money to play for a garbage team, same for PJ Tucker. You don't think they had better offers? Also both of these guys are older. Comparing PJW to these guys is cherry picking and shouldn't be looked at in same scope.

Pj is 8 years younger and 14 years younger than the other guy. GTFO lol

This is like pointing to Otto Porter and claiming you shouldn't pay bench players because you can find good players that will sign for the minimum.

[SWedd523]

... I wasn't the one who brought them up so...

[JMAC3]

... I wasn't the one who brought them up so...

I don't think the on court value is a bad comp, but comparing what they make is kind of foolish.

If PJ Tucker was 23 he would be getting a lot more money
Same with Crowder.

Realistically I don't think PJ is getting 15 million+


I would say DFS and WCJ are probably the two most accurate prospect types and they got 4/52 and 4/50.

[BigSlam]

I don't think PJ is a needle mover, so signing him to a long term deal is going to be an immediate mistake

Agreed.

PJ on a rookie scale contract? Sure.

PJ on an inflated contract? Nope.

[JMAC3]

I guess it depends on what we think is a bloated contract.

I don't have any issue giving him 13 mil a year. If that number is 18 or 20 per year then yeah I would look to move him in deal now/sign and trade.

Not sure any franchise is lining up to give him that much though. OG got 4/72, and I would think most would prefer him to PJ so I would expect that to be more than he will get offered by a decent margin.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

13 seems a bit high to me. Would do it only if he's a full time starter by the end of the year and giving consistent effort.

If PJ is still coming off the bench, it seems like an overpay.

[CuseMayne]

11-12 per year is dope. 13 is when it starts to get a bit marginal, but I'd still do it. Solid role player.

[GoBobs]

I see PJ as a really good player. He probably had his best year last year. His attempts were down and he never complained once. His TS% was the best out of his 3 years here. He is probably the best defensive player on the team even though he is by no means elite on that side of the ball. Shoots the 3 at an elite level for a big. I expect him to break out soon and be worth a max deal if he does it next year. Dude is 23, his best basketball is ahead of him.

[BigSlam]

13 seems a bit high to me. Would do it only if he's a full time starter by the end of the year and giving consistent effort.

If PJ is still coming off the bench, it seems like an overpay.

Agreed.

I’d limit any contract in length as well. I wouldn’t want to invest in him long term at all. He hasn’t earned it IMO.

For me that would ideally be 3 years with the 3rd year a team option.

[Diop]

didn't Miami declare interest in PJ?

[chabber]

didn't Miami declare interest in PJ?

yes, their ears perked up when they heard he was on the block this year.

[LofJ]

We need a boost of Heat culture in this organization. They dominate at the end of games and overtime because they demand their players be in peak physical condition. If they're interested in PJ that should tell us something.

[Diop]

PJ is a very solid forward, i don't want to lose him for nothing, but I don't want to over spend on him either.

bit of a dilemma for Mitch. he more deserves the treatment that Miles got last year with a very modest offer otherwise show your worth.

[BigSlam]

We need a boost of Heat culture in this organization. They dominate at the end of games and overtime because they demand their players be in peak physical condition. If they're interested in PJ that should tell us something.

They also gave Duncan Robinson his contract.

That should tell us something.

[LofJ]

We need a boost of Heat culture in this organization. They dominate at the end of games and overtime because they demand their players be in peak physical condition. If they're interested in PJ that should tell us something.

They also gave Duncan Robinson his contract.

That should tell us something.

It tell us that they find unheralded guys, make them into NBA players, and then reward them for putting in the work.

[chabber]

We need a boost of Heat culture in this organization. They dominate at the end of games and overtime because they demand their players be in peak physical condition. If they're interested in PJ that should tell us something.

They also gave Duncan Robinson his contract.

That should tell us something.

It tell us that they find unheralded guys, make them into NBA players, and then reward them for putting in the work.

Riley definitely rewards the guys they've developed or rehabilitated for their hard work. They also know they can get off the contracts because they have their use. Robinson right now is moveable and plenty of teams would take him on.

Anyway it sounds like most here agree we should try to get him on a team friendly deal. Getting an extension done would probably be best. Say we draft Williams or find another center and he fills in nicely with rim protection and rebounding, that lessens PJ's burden. His value will only go up if he keeps his level of play up from the end of the season while we're winning. He still has potential.

[JDR720]

For better or worse, this team is on the Melo Timeline.

Do you think he's going to stick around long term with a capped out team that rosters Rozier, Hayward, Miles, and PJ?

Is that a championship contender? Does it beat any of the top 5-6 teams in the East? No? Then you should probably cut your losses and do everything you can to change that status quo.

Melo sure as hell won't stick around for mediocrity like Kemba did. They're on the clock

That's why we need to trade Gordon and Rozier. Gordon doesn't fit the timeline and Rozier is a terrible fit.

Meanwhile, all the teams left in the playoffs have PJ-type players. Except for maybe Dallas, but they have Luka to make up for it.

[LofJ]

Read on Twitter

[HornetJail]

For better or worse, this team is on the Melo Timeline.

Do you think he's going to stick around long term with a capped out team that rosters Rozier, Hayward, Miles, and PJ?

Is that a championship contender? Does it beat any of the top 5-6 teams in the East? No? Then you should probably cut your losses and do everything you can to change that status quo.

Melo sure as hell won't stick around for mediocrity like Kemba did. They're on the clock

That's why we need to trade Gordon and Rozier. Gordon doesn't fit the timeline and Rozier is a terrible fit.

Meanwhile, all the teams left in the playoffs have PJ-type players. Except for maybe Dallas, but they have Luka to make up for it.

Kleber fits that mold