Happy Rookie Extension Day

http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/2014/11/01/15-footer-1112014-happy-rookie-extension-day-yall/




There are twelve basketball games today, but more importantly, yesterday was the last day for rookie extensions for the 2011 draft class. Let’s look at who got paid:

Pick..................................Player........................................Extension....................................Terms
1......................................Kyrie Irving.................................Yes............................................5 years/$90 million
2......................................Derrick Williams...........................No.............................................Final year/Kings
3......................................Enes Kanter.................................No.............................................Final year/Jazz
4......................................Tristan Thompson.........................No..............................................RFA
5......................................Jonas Valanciunas.........................European.....................................Signed through ’15-16
6......................................Jan Vesely...................................European.....................................Not a NBA player
7......................................Bismack Biyombo..........................No.............................................Final year/Hornets
8......................................Brandon Knight..............................No.............................................Alec Burks money?
9......................................Kemba Walker..............................Yes............................................4 years/$48 million
10....................................Jimmer Fredette.............................LOL............................................Pelicans – 1 year/$900K
11....................................Klay Thompson...............................Yes............................................4 years/$70 million
12....................................Alec Burks.....................................Yes............................................4 years/$42 million
13....................................Markieff Morris...............................Yes............................................4 years/$32 million
14....................................Marcus Morris.................................Yes............................................‘Kieff has the tab
15....................................Kawhi Leonard.................................No............................................Show me the money
16....................................Nikola Vucevic.................................Yes............................................4 years/$53 million
17....................................Iman Shumpert................................No.............................................JR Smith
18....................................Chris Singleton.................................No.............................................Waived by Pacers
19....................................Tobias Harris...................................No..............................................~Markieff Morris $$
20....................................Donatas Motiejunas...........................No...............................................TO ’14-15
22....................................Kenneth Faried.................................Yes..............................................4 years/$50 million
24....................................Reggie Jackson.................................No...............................................Show me the money
60....................................Isaiah Thomas..................................Yes..............................................Suns – 4 years/$32 million



I don’t believe it’s fair to compare some of these salaries to extensions from previous years. The teams have a new media agreement, and are reacting like a bunch of kids who just found out their allowance got upped. (You mean I get $7 a week instead of $5? I’m rich! I’m rich!)

That being said, how great does the Markieff Morris signing look? He’s not an All-Star, but he plays replacement level defense at the power forward position, he can stretch the floor, knock down free throws, and when on the same team as his brother Marcus, has the cool twin-factor for marketing. Isaiah Thomas’s contract with the Suns is also great. He’ll be a solid sixth man off the bench behind Dragic and Bledsoe, he can torch second units, and if a starter gets hurt, he’ll fill in. What a valuable asset he is for their team – the kind of move winning teams make in the league.

The Jazz must believe strongly in Alec Burks, extending him on a 4 year, $42 million contract. Dennis Lindsey may have preferred continuity and potential over results, because Burks hasn’t been producing near the level of players at his position with similar contracts. He’s been the fourth option on the Jazz, and has been productive enough to merit an increased role. What confuses me about the deal is his role going forward with the team. If he’s going to be worth that contract, you’d like to see him starting, or being really efficient off the bench and in the fourth quarter. But the Jazz just drafted Dante Exum, and last year they drafted Trey Burke. If they are going to return value, shouldn’t they be playing 30-35 minutes a game? Where does that leave Burks? I don’t have a problem with Alec Burks, and think that being free of Ty Corbin’s quagmire of an offensive scheme will help the young guard, but it seems like this was too much to pay for a guard who won’t do too much when he plays.

Reggie Jackson, Brandon Knight and Tristan Thompson should all sign extensions with their respective teams in my opinion, but shouldn’t allow any discounts. If the teams that drafted them want to win with those players, they should pay for it. If they don’t get fair value, get into free agency and find someone who will.




bob
MY NOTE:  So, all the NY media idiots were trying to convince the Knicks fans that a package for Rondo that included Amar'e and Shumpert was realistic, and the Knicks don't even pick up Shumpert's option.



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