Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts?

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Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#1 » by dirkdiggler4177 » Sat Jun 14, 2025 2:54 pm

So a lot of finals teams has screwed themself up by giving their best players max contracts. Looking at Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. I can't see them both getting a max contract while also keeping the rest of the team together.

Like Jrue Holiday should have been the first one, but it did not happen and now Celtics are screwed.
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#2 » by Effigy » Sat Jun 14, 2025 3:42 pm

Both those guys will get them, they just won’t both be in OKC
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#3 » by SA37 » Sat Jun 14, 2025 3:49 pm

dirkdiggler4177 wrote:So a lot of finals teams has screwed themself up by giving their best players max contracts. Looking at Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. I can't see them both getting a max contract while also keeping the rest of the team together.

Like Jrue Holiday should have been the first one, but it did not happen and now Celtics are screwed.


I could see Chet and Jalen taking less to stay in OKC. Specifically to Chet, I think he'll end up taking less and having his contract be laden with games-played incentives as is the case with Zion.

In general, I think the NBA's middle class will be most hit, in particular 3 & D guys. Those 4/5-year, $15-$20M/season days are over.
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#4 » by giberish » Sat Jun 14, 2025 9:34 pm

25% contracts aren't that onerous. Even if one pushes to 30% it can work. It's really when guys get to 3rd contracts that teams have trouble. So OKC still has several years before extreme salary problems.

The main issue for OKC is that if they use their assets to get another high-salary player then they'll have issues very soon.
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#5 » by YogurtProducer » Sat Jun 14, 2025 11:40 pm

giberish wrote:25% contracts aren't that onerous. Even if one pushes to 30% it can work. It's really when guys get to 3rd contracts that teams have trouble. So OKC still has several years before extreme salary problems.

The main issue for OKC is that if they use their assets to get another high-salary player then they'll have issues very soon.

Disagree. OKC is immediately in problems if they max Chet, JDuband SGA. They’d be capped out and will need to extend Wallace, Topic, etc. in very quick order as well.


Plus they need guys like Hart and Caruso still.
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#6 » by YogurtProducer » Sat Jun 14, 2025 11:41 pm

SA37 wrote:
dirkdiggler4177 wrote:So a lot of finals teams has screwed themself up by giving their best players max contracts. Looking at Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. I can't see them both getting a max contract while also keeping the rest of the team together.

Like Jrue Holiday should have been the first one, but it did not happen and now Celtics are screwed.


I could see Chet and Jalen taking less to stay in OKC. Specifically to Chet, I think he'll end up taking less and having his contract be laden with games-played incentives as is the case with Zion.

In general, I think the NBA's middle class will be most hit, in particular 3 & D guys. Those 4/5-year, $15-$20M/season days are over.

I don’t think so. I think finally we might start seeing teams hesitate to give every young guy the max. Maybe finally we will see more contracts in the high range but not quite maxing

League woudk be healthier if it was closer to the NHL salary wise where there’s only one guy at the top
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#7 » by Richard4444 » Sun Jun 15, 2025 1:28 am

I think OKC will try to max Chet and JDud. Things might complicate if they demand a supermax (if its possible).

If needed, they wil get rid of IHart. They can also dump Joe and Wiggins. They might trade Dort too depending on the ask to re-sign.
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#8 » by adubmac » Sun Jun 15, 2025 1:31 am

Are Chet and JDub worth the max?
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#9 » by RRyder823 » Sun Jun 15, 2025 1:32 am

Richard4444 wrote:I think OKC will try to max Chet and JDud. Things might complicate if they demand a supermax (if its possible).

If needed, they wil get rid of IHart. They can also dump Joe and Wiggins. They might trade Dort too depending on the ask to re-sign.
id be suprised if either becomes eligible for one

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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#10 » by Richard4444 » Sun Jun 15, 2025 1:35 am

adubmac wrote:Are Chet and JDub worth the max?


Yes. Due to the potential.
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#11 » by Richard4444 » Sun Jun 15, 2025 1:46 am

Assuming the cap in 26/27 is 170M, they will get 42,5M each one (max).

Core
Chet: 42,5
JDud 42,5
Shai 41
Caruso 20
Dort 18
Wallace 7
Total: 171 (total core 6 players)

IHart: 29 (NG)
Joe: 11
Wiggins: 9
Total (9 players): 220

Tax: 207
1Apton: 215
2Apron: 230

They can also try to extend IHart for around 20M to save more money. Try to trade Joe or Wiggins and get cheaper rotation players.
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#12 » by reload141 » Sun Jun 15, 2025 1:51 am

RRyder823 wrote:
Richard4444 wrote:I think OKC will try to max Chet and JDud. Things might complicate if they demand a supermax (if its possible).

If needed, they wil get rid of IHart. They can also dump Joe and Wiggins. They might trade Dort too depending on the ask to re-sign.
id be suprised if either becomes eligible for one

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Really? JDub needs to make one more All-NBA team which is pretty much guaranteed barring injury next year
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#13 » by RRyder823 » Sun Jun 15, 2025 2:01 am

reload141 wrote:
RRyder823 wrote:
Richard4444 wrote:I think OKC will try to max Chet and JDud. Things might complicate if they demand a supermax (if its possible).

If needed, they wil get rid of IHart. They can also dump Joe and Wiggins. They might trade Dort too depending on the ask to re-sign.
id be suprised if either becomes eligible for one

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Really? JDub needs to make one more All-NBA team which is pretty much guaranteed barring injury next year


I forgot he got named 3rd team this season so my bad.

That said i dont think he anywhere near a lock for next season

He barley made 3rd team this year on a 68 win team. Wemby stays healthy and the Thunder see a few less wins its gonna be real dicey for him to make the cut

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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#14 » by LarsV8 » Sun Jun 15, 2025 2:11 am

Brown, KAT, Lavine, Lauri, George, Murray, Bam, come to mind as guys who are ridiculously overpaid and snuck in I think before people learned the new rules. If not already, they will likely be soon seen as no trade value guys, even though they have good impact.

Herro, Trae, Fox, Ja, JJJ, Shai, Doncic are the next round of guys who could be candidates to get overpaid.

Only Shai is worth super max.

I would not feel comfortable giving Doncic supermax. He seems like a 50-55m player to me.

Herro, Trae, Fox, Ja, JJJ are all 35-45m players to me.

Other players of note

Booker, Giannis - These guys will be approaching ridiculous salary levels, 70+m. Giannis is tricky, If it is like 2 years at 70 extension, probably okay, 4 years, I think is really gonna suck down the line. Booker is worth about 50m to me. Once he gets that 2 years 150, he is a bad contract and loses his value.

Durant is worth about 25m, another 2 years, 120m, is a massive overpay.
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#15 » by meekrab » Sun Jun 15, 2025 2:14 am

SA37 wrote:
dirkdiggler4177 wrote:So a lot of finals teams has screwed themself up by giving their best players max contracts. Looking at Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. I can't see them both getting a max contract while also keeping the rest of the team together.

Like Jrue Holiday should have been the first one, but it did not happen and now Celtics are screwed.


I could see Chet and Jalen taking less to stay in OKC. Specifically to Chet, I think he'll end up taking less and having his contract be laden with games-played incentives as is the case with Zion.

In general, I think the NBA's middle class will be most hit, in particular 3 & D guys. Those 4/5-year, $15-$20M/season days are over.

This will definitely not happen. The players association is all about stars getting as much money as they can.
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#16 » by giberish » Sun Jun 15, 2025 2:21 am

YogurtProducer wrote:
giberish wrote:25% contracts aren't that onerous. Even if one pushes to 30% it can work. It's really when guys get to 3rd contracts that teams have trouble. So OKC still has several years before extreme salary problems.

The main issue for OKC is that if they use their assets to get another high-salary player then they'll have issues very soon.

Disagree. OKC is immediately in problems if they max Chet, JDuband SGA. They’d be capped out and will need to extend Wallace, Topic, etc. in very quick order as well.


Plus they need guys like Hart and Caruso still.


They'll salary tirage some of their depth guys and look to refill those roles on the cheap with their pick stash. They can keep SGA/Williams/Chet and several of their next most important guys. They can keep their core and stay under the 2nd apron for several more years (until 3rd contract issues start). They'll be in the tax but any team can easily pay that up to 2nd apron levels if they're getting the extra revenue from being a top team.
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#17 » by giberish » Sun Jun 15, 2025 2:21 am

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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#18 » by SA37 » Sun Jun 15, 2025 3:04 am

meekrab wrote:
SA37 wrote:
dirkdiggler4177 wrote:So a lot of finals teams has screwed themself up by giving their best players max contracts. Looking at Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. I can't see them both getting a max contract while also keeping the rest of the team together.

Like Jrue Holiday should have been the first one, but it did not happen and now Celtics are screwed.


I could see Chet and Jalen taking less to stay in OKC. Specifically to Chet, I think he'll end up taking less and having his contract be laden with games-played incentives as is the case with Zion.

In general, I think the NBA's middle class will be most hit, in particular 3 & D guys. Those 4/5-year, $15-$20M/season days are over.

This will definitely not happen. The players association is all about stars getting as much money as they can.


Chet is not a star and is injury prone. He may refuse to take less, that is always possible.
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#19 » by jokeboy86 » Sun Jun 15, 2025 3:50 am

LarsV8 wrote:Brown, KAT, Lavine, Lauri, George, Murray, Bam, come to mind as guys who are ridiculously overpaid and snuck in I think before people learned the new rules. If not already, they will likely be soon seen as no trade value guys, even though they have good impact.

Herro, Trae, Fox, Ja, JJJ, Shai, Doncic are the next round of guys who could be candidates to get overpaid.

Only Shai is worth super max.

I would not feel comfortable giving Doncic supermax. He seems like a 50-55m player to me.

Herro, Trae, Fox, Ja, JJJ are all 35-45m players to me.

Other players of note

Booker, Giannis - These guys will be approaching ridiculous salary levels, 70+m. Giannis is tricky, If it is like 2 years at 70 extension, probably okay, 4 years, I think is really gonna suck down the line. Booker is worth about 50m to me. Once he gets that 2 years 150, he is a bad contract and loses his value.

Durant is worth about 25m, another 2 years, 120m, is a massive overpay.


This is exactly what the owners wanted cause it's essentially killed the super teams or made it impossible to have any sort of depth or have 3 players making that kind of money teamed up for long. The owners know that no matter how bad some of these stars want to win that it'll be extremely hard for them to pass up these contracts they could be eligible for.
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Re: Which player will get screwed first because of big contracts? 

Post#20 » by nate33 » Sun Jun 15, 2025 3:54 am

Richard4444 wrote:Assuming the cap in 26/27 is 170M, they will get 42,5M each one (max).

Core
Chet: 42,5
JDud 42,5
Shai 41
Caruso 20
Dort 18
Wallace 7
Total: 171 (total core 6 players)

IHart: 29 (NG)
Joe: 11
Wiggins: 9
Total (9 players): 220

Tax: 207
1Apton: 215
2Apron: 230

They can also try to extend IHart for around 20M to save more money. Try to trade Joe or Wiggins and get cheaper rotation players.

Yeah, they can just move Joe and Wiggins and replace them with rookie contract guys. It might cost them a couple of regular season games, but those 8th and 9th men barely play in the playoffs.

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