If you were an NBA Player...

[Storm Surge]

So you have just come off of your automatic rookie contract, got paid 2.5 million a year. You're an all star already, considered one of the top young talents in the game, on par with other stars like D-Will, LeBron, Paul etc.

You elected not to extend at all during your rookie contract, now you are an FA. Looking at max contracts from a lot of people.

Would you
1. Sign a max deal for 8 years with a losing club in rebuilding mode? Like the Seattle Supersonics?

2. Sign a 3 year MLE(4.5 million per) to play for an already legit title contender, like the Lakers, Spurs, Pistons, or Celtics. Or maybe your favorite team.

3. Go overseas to play in Australia for 50K per year.

[Mr. Savage]

I'd choose to play in Italy or Spain, where you can get good money and culture actually goes beyond Big Mac's and Hot Dogs.

[Alex_De_Large]

sign for my favourite team even if it's not a contender.

[ljp24]

Sign with that best team, win at least two championships and have 9 years to finish my legacy.

[legacyinthemakin89c]

sign with seattle and pair with durant to form the next greatest one two punch in the league.

i'm amazing and free agents are going to follow me, so ill make seattle a contender

[Nebroc]

Get that money.

[BRINGTHEPAIN]

Sign an 8-year-deal with New York.

[Philly Fresh]

sign for my favourite team even if it's not a contender.

[aikgtd]

I would sign a 3 year deal with the Spurs and win MVP

[nate33]

They don't have 8-year contracts. If I am an unrestricted free agent, I can sign a contract with a maximum length of 5-years (6 if I'm resigning with my own team).

In your hypothetical, I would look for option three: a shorter contract for less than max money but more than the MLE, even if it's a losing team. I wouldn't mind losing for 3-5 years, but I wouldn't want to be locked into a contract with a horrible franchise for the entire prime of my career.

[HumbleBumbleBee]

the window for winning is so small in pro sports...i'd take the 3 years and better my chances

[SabasRevenge!]

I'd either sign for MAX money with my current team or try to work a S+T with another team. Playing for a contender would be nice, but it's not worth making a fraction of the money. If you're that good you should be able to turn your team into a contender with a halfway competent front office. I've got to say though, I'd love to play in NY.

[Carnage]

"Straight Cash Homey" - Randy Moss


With that in mind, the max contract with a terrible team.

[bleu]

I'd go play in Australia for 500K a year.

[BigSlam]

Give it all away and go and try out for a baseball team.

[bleu]

Give it all away and go and try out for a baseball team.

DANG! Why didn't I think of that?! It hasn't been done allready has it?

[tracey_nice]

I got that butter, whats crackin?

[mattyBoi]

You get your money before anything because nothing is guaranteed...Sign for the Max and then once that first Max deal is done and you have money in the bank already...Sign for MLE and focus on a championship

[gswhoops]

Sign the 8 year max deal then complain and demand trades until I end up on a contender anyway.

[BrooklynBulls]

I'd take the 3 year MLE deal, win a championship my first or second year. Then, in my last year, I'd shatter my hip in a freak fly-fishing accident.

On second thought, I'll take that max deal.