Would people still pay IT a max?

[jbpats]

Yet another should IT get a max extension conversation. Although I feel this time it's warranted.
All season, pre/mid/post, I have been saying do not extend IT to a max, I've stated he is worth a max just on a different team. I more or less got berated all season with this opinion, with the exception from a select few who agreed with my argument.
The argument for a max is simple, 2nd team all NBA, and he led this team to the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Notice I didn't say he led this team to the ECF because in my mind he didn't, we can thank Bradley and Horford to our playoff success. Like last year, IT was once again exposed in the playoffs and like last year his defense became a major liability and teams added defensive pressure to his offensive game which he has had difficulty reacting to.
IT is a great player, he is fun to watch and carries a chip on his shoulder. In an ideal world he would accept a 3 year max extension, and that is something i'd be okay with.. but it's not realistic. The man is going to expect a 5 year max that will bring him to 34 years old, and to me that is just not something that this team should bury themselves with, especially with how promising our future looks with the youth.
Simply put there is no scenario where I give IT the max, we draft Fultz, definitely not. We sign Hayward and draft Fultz, definitely not. We sign Hayward, and trade Fultz for PG13... this scenario is a little harder to decide upon, it's probably the only scenario where i'd be ok with giving IT a max. With that being said we wouldn't need IT's scoring if we had those two guys so a true pass first PG probably makes more sense (and also spending the money on somebody who can rebound instead).
I'm also not buying that IT is hurt, I think he knows his future with Boston might be in jeopardy since we got that #1 pick, and his playoff performance isn't helping his case right now. We're getting destroyed and if he isn't out there he can't be blamed for it. I mean Bradley had hip pointers, came out and played some of the best basketball of his career. It's the playoffs you fight through it.

[Darío SpanishFan]

I'm one of "the select few who agreed". And I keep on it. TP for trying to explain this to the (each day more) people who backs our point.

He'll get maxed by a team who is not a contender to sell tickets and enjoy their fanbase.

EDIT: Either the poll has been modified or I've voted wrongly. I didn't want to vote he deserves a max with us under any scenario.

[Roy H.]

All-NBA 2nd Team

[jbpats]

All-NBA 2nd Team

Yea what's your point? Harden was all NBA first team and I cringe at the thought of him ever being a Celtic.

[Roy H.]

All-NBA 2nd Team

Yea what's your point? Harden was all NBA first team and I cringe at the thought of him ever being a Celtic.

Is Harden worth the max?

Teams should sign and support their great players. IT carried this team to a #1 seed and the ECF despite a flawed roster.  It's non-sensical to start over once again, when we have the option of winning now and in the future.

[Who]

Yes. Better to pay him than lose him for nothing.

[jambr380]

No real reason for the last poll option (it wasn't there before). You just needed to re-word #2 to:

Yes, pay him even if we keep the pick.

That covers paying him under any scenario, while #3 covers paying him only if we are going for it. #3 is the option I chose, but I also don't want to see him walk for nothing after next season.

[jbpats]

For those who say walk for nothing? What do you think we could get for him 2 years into a max deal if he lost a step? Think teams are really going to take on that contract?
Would a better option to the poll be don't sign him but trade him next season so we get something in return?

[SHAQATTACK]

no five year max period . His little frame can't take the abuse of a starter playing that many minutes ,I go three year max , if we must .

I d make  him a Celtic for life if hed take less money and accept lesser roles as he ages, and play some off the bench after two years.  He demands more work than he can handle IMO.

Bradley is a walking injury magnet .  The older he gets , the harder it will be to throw off and recover .   He ll be in wheel chair by 30 . 

im just not for signing these guys long term with broken down bodies .  Bad idea. 

[RockinRyA]

All-NBA 2nd Team

Yea what's your point? Harden was all NBA first team and I cringe at the thought of him ever being a Celtic.

Just because you don't like a player doesn't mean they dont deserve the max.

In a world where there is a limit, some max players will be rated more than the rest. Guys like Lebron, Durant should be getting more money than guys like Harden. But with how the CBA is structured, there's no way to do that.

If you don't want to max any player not named Lebron, Kawhi, Durant, or Curry, you will end up with a team that has Nicholas Batum as your best player.

[Fred Roberts]

3 years, $60 million for me. Since when did everyone need to get maxed out?

He deserves his $$$$. I think the above is fair. Maybe add a team option for the 4th year?

$30m per is too much. Let him go if he gets that elsewhere.

[jbpats]

All-NBA 2nd Team

Yea what's your point? Harden was all NBA first team and I cringe at the thought of him ever being a Celtic.

Just because you don't like a player doesn't mean they dont deserve the max.

In a world where there is a limit, some max players will be rated more than the rest. Guys like Lebron, Durant should be getting more money than guys like Harden. But with how the CBA is structured, there's no way to do that.

If you don't want to max any player not named Lebron, Kawhi, Durant, or Curry, you will end up with a team that has Nicholas Batum as your best player.

For the case of IT I said he is worth a max just not with Boston. Another poster simply said all NBA 2nd team, I assume as a shut up and "case closed" argument. I brought up Harden to show that's not the only metric that should be considered.

[RockinRyA]

3 years, $60 million for me. Since when did everyone need to get maxed out?

He deserves his $$$$. I think the above is fair. Maybe add a team option for the 4th year?

$30m per is too much. Let him go if he gets that elsewhere.

Since the market dictated it so.

There's no way you will get an All NBA 3rd team caliber player without the max, much less 2nd team. Rookie contracts aside, its impossible to sign an all-star talent without using the max.

Plus if you are a franchise that never gives any max contract, It will hurt your free agency recruitment in the next few years. Use your brain people.

[SHAQATTACK]

3 years, $60 million for me. Since when did everyone need to get maxed out

agree......the NBA let too mant cities have teams . So now players that could not have made a team in the 60-80's are being paid outrageously for less than true star performance .  the TRUE NBA level talent guys are spread too thin amoung too many teams .  So you have to go way over the cap to keep a few true stars together even.  Or be extremely lucky drafing a bunch of guys who are star material , then like OKC ....with the cap you have to trade off the players .   OKC would have had a dynasty if there was no cap.

we have a watered down product and paying guys more for it.

[jbpats]

3 years, $60 million for me. Since when did everyone need to get maxed out

agree......the NBA let too mant cities have teams . So now players that could not have made a team in the 60-80's are being paid outrageously for less than true star performance .  the TRUE NBA level talent guys are spread too thin amoung too many teams .  So you have to go way over the cap to keep a few true stars together even.  Or be extremely lucky drafing a bunch of guys who are star material , then like OKC ....with the cap you have to trade off the players .   OKC would have had a dynasty if there was no cap.

we have a watered down product and paying guys more for it.

The fact that he is definitely getting a max is why this is a debate. If it was a simple as pay him a short term contract for less then his worth all would be right as rain in Celtics land.