patman66 wrote:bdpecore wrote:patman66 wrote:
No idea why you say Middleton's game will age well, when he has not played 1/2 the season in the last two. Being on the court in your mid 30s is the very meaning of aging well.
My point was Middleton's game doesn't rely on his athleticism but instead on his BBIQ. He wasn't blowing past players when he was in his prime but is smart enough to create space offensively and anticipate defensively to offset his lack of agility. He's been playing an old man style of ball his entire career which means he won't have to adjust his game as he continues to age.
But he is not on the court, whether or not his game relies on athleticism is my point. He does not play enough to justify 65 mil of cap space to a team with depth there already.
If a team can justify paying an injury prone 34 year old (PG13), $211 mil over the next 4 years, then I don't see why a team wouldn't find value in paying Middleton, who will be 33 in August, $65 mil for the next 2. BTW both players have played about the same number of minutes over the last 5 seasons (PG = 10235: KM = 10303). This tells me teams are willing to gamble on top tier players even if they are injury prone.
If you would prefer I use a player with a similar salary, Kristaps Porzingus just received a 2yr/$60 mil extension while only playing over 60 games once in the last six seasons.