Kings free agent signings vs. the rest of the NBA

[NoBonus]

I have been struggling a lot with what in the world is happening in the NBA vs. with the Kings.

The Kings signed Jason Thompson for $6.6 mil/year and Aaron Brooks for $3.3 mil/year; the Nets signed Kris Humphries for $12 mil/year, the Nuggets signed Jevale McGee for $11 mil/year... Are Kris Humphries and Jevale McGee that much better than JT? And why was Aaron Brooks so cheap? Jimmer, in his second year of his rookie contract make $2.4 mil/year... how are the Kings getting guys so cheap? Are they that much worse?

 

[DesertFox]

Yes, these last 2 deals look really bad in comparison to JT. Humphries has slightly better stats and a shorter deal, but he's also slightly older. Nowhere near a 12 mil kind of player. And while McGee has loads more potential, his overall package right now is below JT. Maybe Denver thinks they can fix him, but I would rather pay JT 7mil than McGee 11.

Brooks was a decent deal but the expected level of PG play has gone up so he's really just a decent backup at this point. If they paid anything more I would be pretty unhappy.

 

[Entity]

If I'm not mistaken the final numbers on JT was 6 mil a year.

 

[Section 101]

Don't forget Brook Lopez getting $12mil/per year.

 

[sidney]

Don't forget Brook Lopez getting $12mil/per year.

14.5/year actually.
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/brooklyn.htm

Crazy

 

[mr. moustache]

I think you guys have accidentally been mixing up Boozer and Noah. Noah doesn't get traded to the Kings for anything less than Cousins. Boozer on the other hand...

The Bulls have been one of the best teams the last few years and Noah is a HUGE part of that. The exact reason *you'd* make the trade is the exact reason they won't. He makes your team better.

 

[Kingsguy881]

I think you guys have accidentally been mixing up Boozer and Noah. Noah doesn't get traded to the Kings for anything less than Cousins. Boozer on the other hand...

The Bulls have been one of the best teams the last few years and Noah is a HUGE part of that. The exact reason *you'd* make the trade is the exact reason they won't. He makes your team better.

Wrong thread?

 

[ParniValjak]

If I'm not mistaken the final numbers on JT was 6 mil a year.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/sacramento-kings-team-salary

Starts at $5.25 million and ends at $6.825 million (partially guaranteed) in year 5.

JT's deal is more than fair and reasonable for us. In fact he is proving to be a bit of a bargain when you look at the other team.

Brooks himself is a bargain BUT he is not the right type of player on this team. To me, Brooks would a great scoring guard off the bench on a great team. A high octane player who scores in a hurry and would be a perennial 6th man of the year candidate but when you have IT, MT and Reke, the last thing we need is another undersized scoring guard!

 

[swisshh]

JT was one of the best deals of the off-season. For his age and ability, the salary is at a great point. He was one of the better two-way PFs available. He rebounds, has improved his defense and can score if needed. Guys like Asik, McGee and Anderson are all strong on one end and weaker at the other, and they all cost more than JT.

Brooks could be a good deal as well, but that depends on roster fit.

Does playing for the Kings lower your value? Possibly. I haven't heard of any interest in Donte Greene since the Kings informed him that they wouldn't be resigning him.

 

[mac]

JT was one of the best deals of the off-season. For his age and ability, the salary is at a great point. He was one of the better two-way PFs available. He rebounds, has improved his defense and can score if needed. Guys like Asik, McGee and Anderson are all strong on one end and weaker at the other, and they all cost more than JT.

Brooks could be a good deal as well, but that depends on roster fit.

Does playing for the Kings lower your value? Possibly. I haven't heard of any interest in Donte Greene since the Kings informed him that they wouldn't be resigning him.

I guess it doesn't look very good on paper when you can't even put up numbers/ get consistent PT on a lousy team.

 

[ParniValjak]

JT was one of the best deals of the off-season. For his age and ability, the salary is at a great point. He was one of the better two-way PFs available. He rebounds, has improved his defense and can score if needed. Guys like Asik, McGee and Anderson are all strong on one end and weaker at the other, and they all cost more than JT.

Brooks could be a good deal as well, but that depends on roster fit.

Does playing for the Kings lower your value? Possibly. I haven't heard of any interest in Donte Greene since the Kings informed him that they wouldn't be resigning him.

Actually Bulls have shown interest in Greene as has one other team that I cannot remember now but it was also a play off team.

 

[swisshh]

I guess it doesn't look very good on paper when you can't even put up numbers/ get consistent PT on a lousy team.

This could contribute to JT's lower salary as well. Stats wise, guys like McGee and Humphries are ahead of him (per 48 minutes), but it's tough for me to say that even though McGee averages more points that he is a better offensive player than JT. JT himself had inconsistent minutes and started a lower percentage of games vs someone like McGee, but he was also misused for a year at Small Forward. Basically, playing for the Kings means inconsistent use and common misuse.

I'd put it this way: Statistically, the numbers say McGee and Humphries are worth more than JT, but if a team like the Celtics had a choice between the three, they'd take JT.

 

[Bricklayer]

This could contribute to JT's lower salary as well. Stats wise, guys like McGee and Humphries are ahead of him (per 48 minutes), but it's tough for me to say that even though McGee averages more points that he is a better offensive player than JT. JT himself had inconsistent minutes and started a lower percentage of games vs someone like McGee, but he was also misused for a year at Small Forward. Basically, playing for the Kings means inconsistent use and common misuse.

I'd put it this way: Statistically, the numbers say McGee and Humphries are worth more than JT, but if a team like the Celtics had a choice between the three, they'd take JT.

Defensive bigs ALWAYS cost more, because its pretty much the most important thing you can do as a big. That's not JT's image.

And Humphries blew up and put up some very solid 10 and 10 sort of numbers as a starter in a major market.

Still, I don't disagree at all that we did well by trhe JT contract. Only team I think that did better with a big man contract was Memphis, when they got back Darrel Arthur (I like JT better because he boards, but at his peak Arthur was close) for something like $3-4mil. But that only happened because Arthur has had seveal major injuries in recent years which drove down his value.

In general right now JT and Thornton were good contracts for which we should get value. Hayes, Salmons, Outlaw bad ones. Cisco is bad too, but its an ender, so will help us. Then our kids are all on cheaper contracts than they will be eventually, except Jimmer who may be traded or let go.

 

[IfAt1st]

If JT continues to improve, as he did for parts of last year (on a team with no backup bigman and horrendous shooting), than it's likely his contract will provide value.

But mind this:
If he continues to have stretches of games where he simply inexplicably does not produce (as chronicled well by Brick in his Grades threads last year), and sits back, content with his long-term contract, he may not be as valuable as many on here are assuming.

The warning signs IMO with JT are:
* career backup big man - his game is likely matured to its ceiling
* history of horrendous on-court decisions (which got much better last year)
* has feasted on terrible shooting and low competition to get the meager numbers he has

I'm actually more worried that JT will regress next year than any other King.
I think Jimmer, DMC, Tyreke (not as much as people hope), Salmons, and Outlaw will all be better than they were last year - I'm not sold on JT.

That's simply my opinion.
I hope I'm wrong, and he buckles down after taking advantage of the opportunity provided him last year and shows everyone he's grown up and finally 'gets' the league and will add to his game, elevating him above a mere backup big man.

 

[Bricklayer]

Just to further emphasize how good JTs contract is compared to what has been going on:

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/222527/Jordan_Hill_Agrees_To_Two_Year_$8M_Deal_With_Lakers

 

[Agent23]

Just to further emphasize how good JTs contract is compared to what has been going on:

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/222527/Jordan_Hill_Agrees_To_Two_Year_$8M_Deal_With_Lakers

Don't tell it to the guy above you. He's still fuming about the left turn he missed last year.