I just don't like the number being thrown out there. He looks like a very useful role player, but I do not see the offense creator.
He is a player I would see spending more to add to a team with it star core already in place. For a team like the Celtics, I could see signing him at slightly more then good player money, but not this near max money being thrown around. That is how rebuilding teams choke off their flexibility as they try to improve.
I agree to a point. the key is to not pay him for his potential.
The point in signing a guy like Middleton is that he is young and still improving. I would sign Middleton in hopes that he eventually goes from decent starter to very good starter. however if you pay him very good starter money and he ends up staying at decent starter youve screwed yourself.
So long as everyone is on good contracts you will never lack flexibility. I dont think IT4 or AB are hurting flexibility because I think they could both be moved for a late #1 in the blink of an eye.
Now if we pay Middleton 15 million and he stays at his current level, now you are killing flexibility.
But that's the point here;
are you really killing your future flexibility with a guy like Khris Middle taking $15 million of a 108 million dollar salary cap?
That's less of the cap than we paid Jeff Green AND he's got 2 years on once that number goes from 16% to 14.8%
15 million of the current cap is ALOT. 15 million could be a bargain deal for Middleton or it could be a perfectly valued deal. It's hard to see how this money is over HORRIBLE for us because we'll still have 93 million dollars to go and get more stars!
That's right, $93 million AFTER securing Middleton on our roster with two remaining years on his deal and his bird rights.
Thats a bit unfair because you could sign him to a 30 million dollar deal ans still say you have 78 million to spend but thats still a huge overpay.
I mean 15 mill under the new cap is the equivalent of signing him to about a 10 million dollar deal under the old cap. If he doesnt play to that level which is entirely possible. He could be having a classic contract year, maybe he never progresses maybe he loses the defensive tenacity that makes him valuable who knows its entirely possible. Now its hard to move him and you have to move a guy like AB or IT or KO or Sully or whoever it is that is outplaying their contract to create that flexibility.
Id happily sign Middleton to any number under 15mil, anything over is risky to me.
Not apocalyptic, not "HORRIBLE" per se just a risk that could end up hurting you in the future.
It is never good to overpay guys unless they are the final piece of the puzzle. I see 14.8% of the cap for this guy as an overpay.
That being said, I have
100% 95% trust in Danny, and whether it is in the draft via trade or through siging a guy like Middleton, If Danny thinks he is gonna be a star then pull the trigger on him go all the way up to 16 or 17 million if you think he can be a 18ppg guy who locks down the opposing 3.
I feel the same way in the draft. If Ainge sees Hezonja or what have you as a superstar than I have no problem with him overpaying to get into the top 10.