Here's my issue with that notion. IF the Lakers see Thomas as a band-aid starter and an eventual sixth man, they have to know that if their plan comes to fruition they are paying $7-8 million or more for a backup PG/sixth man. The BEST sixth man in the league this year is making $5.2 million this year and Crawford's deal tops out at $5.6 million. And the guy who has been one of the top sixth men in the league (and the third best player on championship teams) for years is slated to make $7 million the next two years. Is Thomas a better sixth man (not just better but significantly better and deserving of a bigger contract) than Crawford and Ginobili?
No, I have to think that the only way IT gets a contract that earns him $7 million or more per year is if a team looks at him as their long term PG solution and the guy that can be the lead guard on a playoff/contending team.
Personally I don't view him that way. We'll find out in the offseason if other teams do.
No, I have to think that the only way IT gets a contract that earns him $7 million or more per year is if a team looks at him as their long term PG solution and the guy that can be the lead guard on a playoff/contending team.
Personally I don't view him that way. We'll find out in the offseason if other teams do.
Thomas was averaging 20 points a game off the bench before he became the starter, which is insane. To a team not named the Spurs, that might be more valuable them Ginobili who is only playing 22 minutes a game in the regular season. And Crawford hasn't always been this good. He's streaky as hell, and his FG% is consistently just not good enough for me. I think if Thomas was on the Clippers coming in off the bench, he'd be just as good if not better. And Crawford is 34 (Ive never been a fan, so grain of salt yadda yadda yadda). It might come down to how we view each player, but I think Thomas is in the conversation with those 3, if we are calling Thomas a bench player. Of course, I'm talking about those players at the ages they are right now. Ginobili in his prime is clearly the better player. I can see a scenario where Thomas makes what those guys make, if not a tad more because of durability and age.
I think Thomas could be the best bench guard in the league. I mean, that would be the hope, anyway, but I think it is a realistic hope .. not some pipe dream. Especially RIGHT now, in his prime .. if he's ever going to get paid, this will be it.
I think the Lakers could benefit from offering Thomas something front loaded (to the max you can front load these days) which would help them in the future when Thomas is a bench player, and hurt the Kings chances of signing him if Rudy opts in to the 19 mil option.
The more I think about Thomas, and the market .. I just don't think he's going to get overpaid (depending on what you call an over payment) ... I think 8 million is the absolute high mark. 7 is more likely, but I just don't know if the Kings want him back. The number in their head might be 5 or 6, and they've shown us they aren't afraid of letting a player go if it's not the number they want.