There’s been a run on veteran extensions of late. Four players have signed such deals within the past six months after only two had signed them since the 2011 lockout that begat the existing collective bargaining agreement. Zach Randolph, Tony Parker, Anderson Varejao and Rudy Gay all agreed to forfeit free agency, where the rules would have allowed them to sign for more money over a greater amount of time. Players who sign veteran extensions can tack no more than three years on their existing deals, and they can earn raises of no more than 4.5%. Free agents can re-sign with their teams for five seasons and raises of up to 7.5%.
The timing of the recent spate of veteran extensions is counterintuitive, since the lockout prevented several would-be extension-eligibles from even considering the idea for much of this year. Players become eligible for veteran extensions three years after they sign their contracts. Those who signed long-term contracts in 2011 became eligible for veteran extensions in 2014, but because the lockout pushed the typical July flurry of signings into December, those players only became eligible this month.
The article goes on to list Horford as one of the veterans this scenario applies to.
Thoughts?
Predictions?
Concerns?
