NavLDO wrote:Two issues I have with this is Tucker's contract and Dragic's as well. I mentioned it a few pages back, I believe, but Tucker's contract is not a good one. It's 'ok', but I would not characterize it anywhere near a steal. I'm sure one can show an example of a lesser player making more, but that doesn't prove that Tucker's contract is some sort of great deal. Tucker has regressed, along with a good number of other players, since last year. The only ones that have improved, IMO, are Kieff and Len. Bledsoe, Dragic, Green, Plumlee, Mook--all have either stagnated (EB/Mook) or regressed--and it shows via our record. Mook is a better player than Tucker, overall, and is paid less, so his contract is fine.
Where has he regressed? Athletically? Not from what I've seen. Statistically? per36 production is about in line with last season.
If showing an example of a lesser player making more doesn't prove Tucker's contract is a great deal then how about showing the opposite? Good players making less than Tucker at his position. These are the guys who are averaging at least 7pts, 5.5rpg, 25mpg and .555TS%
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Rookie deal)
Harrison Barnes (Rookie deal)
Jimmy Butler (Rookie deal and about to get paid)
Tucker is on front loaded deal, the guy play hard every night, he's often asked to guard PG's to PF's and he sets the tone defensively for the team. He's a guy that can help ANY contender and I'm sure they would love to him.
So again, blasphemous as it may be, Dragic should be paid at a level commensurate with his production, and to me, that's $10-12M. We will have made a mistake if we pay him as much or more than EB. EB is younger, still learning, and hopefully, improving, and $14M was a slight overpay, but that's ok, IMO, because he's still young and improving. But Dragic? Sorry, but he's peaked, IMO. He may yet have a season or two better than this year, but I doubt he ever gets back to last year's level. If we pay him $15M per, we will have roughly $37M invested in 3 PGs--of which not a single All Star. That's just not a good thing. IT is on a steal of a contract, because he plays at about a $10-12M per level, as does Dragic. So pay Dragic what he deserves, but I really hope they do not pay more than $12M.
Peaked? He's in the prime of his career right now with room to improve before hitting his peak. Considering the style of basketball he plays where he doesn't rely on crazy athleticism but craftiness to score, he could potentially still be playing at a high level beyond his mid-30's like Ginobili. This is a down year for Dragic, due to the PG situation, but had he still been producing the same last last year, we wouldn't even be having this conversation. I don't believe for a second that 13-14 Goran has just disappeared.
Goran deserves a Bledsoe level contract because he's proven he can produce at an All-NBA level (just last season). As for having $37m
invested in the PG position, I don't think it's a reason not to resign Goran and if we are resigning Goran, it's more than likely we would move IT.
If we are to get better, IMO, we need to shed one of our PGs, and pick up a PF with that savings, and the most logical, even if not desired, would be Dragic. Take the emotion out of what you think of Dragic, then look at the impact/production, and then, I challenge anyone, with a straight face, explain how/why Dragic is worth more than $12M per.
Shed IT since he's at his best a spark off the bench ala Nate Robinson/Aaron Brooks but better. Unless the plan is to keep IT on the bench and start a traditional back court line up with Bledsoe and a legit SG, then we're keeping Dragic.
