The Grizzlies' $94 million gamble

[Crow]

The Griz gave Parsons a $94 million contract in last summer's spending frenzy. A player rated just a bit above league average by RPM, PER and Winshares per 48. Versatility impressed BPM rated him higher but not elite. Hadn't shown any meaningful recent improvement on these metrics. I can understand the concept of gambling to try to get over the top but Parsons wasn't a great bet or even a good bet considering that data, his health and price. Now out again. Major millstone. Oh well. All the major insiders got new contracts earlier in the year.

[J.E.]

I thought we had included him in our "worst offseason contracts" article, but apparently didn't (decided to whiff on Beal instead)

Was very surprised when he got signed to that contract, due to the points you made: Barely above per-possession impact and excessive injury history. His ~$24M/year contract runs through 2020

[Crow]

Big minutes can sometimes mislead. If you are not very good or better it is not that valuable and often fairly easy to replace cheaper with someone about as good (who might maintain or even flourish given more minutes and more thought). Pay the elite well and everybody else a lot less, unless spending more is part of your strategy.

[pdevos]

Isn't that something?! Parsons was already overpaid at $15M/per, got a 50% raise for someone with a questionable injury history!?

A 34% jump in a cap somehow had teams thinking that a $6-$10M player value before the jump would be worth $17M+? Something perhaps to be said for acquisition cost(s)...perhaps (not).

Luol Deng - 90% increase
Tim Mosgov - 323% increase

Had to overpay to get them to LA?

Evan Turner - 510% increase
Jeff Green - 60% increase

Portland matching Allen Crabbe at $18M+?! Also has a 15% trade kicker?! So he's 20M+ if he's traded...Portland actually has a few such instances -- I'm not entirely sure one or two of those three first round picks aren't going to be used to try to lure teams into taking a contract this summer (Leonard, Turner, Crabbe, Ezeli). Other flip side is they need 'cheap' help, e.g. rookie contracts. Jordan Bell seems like a good fit, although he's not quite the post defender they need.

Then just the natural beast of the new CBA and having star players

The Golden State Warriors already have a thin bench -- Durant likely opts out, gets another $5M/per, Curry gets $32M (?) + annual raises...is this the end of Iggy in GS?

[jgoldstein34]

The Golden State Warriors already have a thin bench -- Durant likely opts out, gets another $5M/per, Curry gets $32M (?) + annual raises...is this the end of Iggy in GS?

I think the Warriors bench is going to be very, very thin next year, to the point of, relative, concern. Might be the last year they're a lock for 65+ wins just because they're bench is going to be empty if Durant and Curry take the full max, which they should.

[Mike G]

Why should they do that, if it means a weaker team?

[pdevos]

A nice piece today on ESPN (not a joke, really) on the 107 players making $10M or more this year.

They take 'cuts' and look at which player(s) of those actually were valuable. Including the best bargain...any guesses before entering the abyss?

http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/ ... st-bargain

[jgoldstein34]

Why should they do that, if it means a weaker team?

I think not doing it makes them an even weaker team than doing it. You don't not sign Durant and Curry to whatever contracts they want to resign Iggy, even as good as Iggy has been.

[jgoldstein34]

A nice piece today on ESPN (not a joke, really) on the 107 players making $10M or more this year.

They take 'cuts' and look at which player(s) of those actually were valuable. Including the best bargain...any guesses before entering the abyss?

http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/ ... st-bargain

Not shocked at who was #1, but was interesting methodology for sure. Not sure it really is the best way of doing it, but came out with a good list so can't argue too much. Seems if you're a star/superstar who signed to a rookie extension before the recent cap explosion you rated pretty well here.

[pdevos]

A nice piece today on ESPN (not a joke, really) on the 107 players making $10M or more this year.

They take 'cuts' and look at which player(s) of those actually were valuable. Including the best bargain...any guesses before entering the abyss?

http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/ ... st-bargain

Seems if you're a star/superstar who signed to a rookie extension before the recent cap explosion you rated pretty well here.

^^ pretty solid summation right there.

[Crow]

Not much of a fan of methodology but whatever.

Could have just uses a plus 2 or 3 cut on RPM (or blend) then a performance to pay ratio cut.