AB vs IT question/poll

[Csfan1984]

OK so I was thinking about a few things today as far as salary management and roster. So let me lay out some points first as this isn't about a trade but simply who is more important to sign, AB or IT. Please feel free to also add in points. I think collectively we can make this an interesting debate. Alright so here are some points that pushes me to pick AB.

1) The Brink truck money. IT for many isn't a max player. And for most people it's not believed he (even if he recovers) will be as great as he was this past year in 2+ years from now. That's a hard decision for any GM to pay him max money expecting a decline in a couple of seasons. Now with AB you may get him for Beal money which then gives 8 million to sign Smart if we divide the IT 30 million. So possibly Smart and AB for the cost of IT. Which is the the better deal to you if this is the $?

2) Roster crunch at PG. It's clear Rozier and Smart are best when at the PG spot. Fultz's best use is also at the PG spot in which he can create/score but it's clear he has size to play some SG. One could argue IT isn't a true PG and doesn't exactly rely on BS system so much as he thrives on probing the defense at will. Is IT a must resign with so many options a PG?

3) Who is actually the better player for the life of his next contract? AB is one of the best two way players in the league right now. I'd say top 15 for 2 way players. He is also just 26. So in his prime for the next few years. Compared to IT at 28 who is closer to the end of his best days.

4) Demand and need for the player. League wide demand for AB is higher than IT. Simply there are a lot of good PGs out there. Even on our own team AB may be a bigger need as far as position SG vs PG. We can also look at leadership. We all seen IT have mishaps as a leader. They werent huge but they were there. I have never heard or seen anything bad come from AB as a leader on or off the court. We have to think about who can help this team better with so many young guys.

5) The team's hypothetical fit. Okay so this last point is based Hayward pick up. Hayward isn't a bad defender in truth he is at the same level if not better than Crowder. That means there is even greater defensive switch capability between the 1-3 with AB, Hayward and Smart/Fultz Vs IT, Fultz and Hayward combo. And on offense Hayward and AB would make it two great players playing within the system vs IT doing his own thing.

6) The bargain of an extension. Right now AB is healthy and Smart is healthy. We don't know the status of what IT will recover to. Often players will take a discount to ensure guaranteed  $ vs getting injured and not being under a decent contract. So right now we can work out something with AB to offer him Beal $ and Smart to consider a two year 8 million per extension. Smart has had a record setting bad offense so in truth he wont have a big market. An extension now is a buy low and if he proves he is in for a bigger pay day fast. IT's injury and the market having a flood of good PGs means there is no way you extend him right now so you miss a possible discount.

7) Finally lets now look at lineups.
Fultz, AB, Hayward, x, Horford. (Smart, Brown, Crowder, Zizic)
Vs
IT, Fultz, Hayward, x, Horford. (Rozier, Brown, Crowder, Zizic)

Clearly the first roster is better defensively and their roles/niches would be better defined. The second looks like it would have a better offense but could have chemistry issues similar to what we see with the Bullets.


So who you got AB or IT and why?

[Roy H.]

I'm not even sure that AB will sign for $22 million. George Hill is seeking a max deal and apparently turned down a 3 year extension that would have paid $88.6 million (!)  He was allegedly advised that he can do much better this summer.

[A Future of Stevens]

AB gives us more roster flexibility going forward, and allows us to remain a great 2 way team. If it wasn't for the fact that IT is the face of the franchise, and that AB has injury and consistency issues of his own, I would almost surely pick AN.

Depending how Fultz looks early, and how IT recovers, I would have to think long and hard about extending Bradley.

[Csfan1984]

I'm not even sure that AB will sign for $22 million. George Hill is seeking a max deal and apparently turned down a 3 year extension that would have paid $88.6 million (!)

A gm would be making a huge mistake giving Hill the max. Even AB isn't worth the max too many negatives for both those players. At least in IT's case he was deemed max worthy for having a top 10 player performance season.

[Jvalin]

I'm not even sure that AB will sign for $22 million. George Hill is seeking a max deal and apparently turned down a 3 year extension that would have paid $88.6 million (!)  He was allegedly advised that he can do much better this summer.

So in your opinion what's Bradley's value in the open market?

[Csfan1984]

AB gives us more roster flexibility going forward, and allows us to remain a great 2 way team. If it wasn't for the fact that IT is the face of the franchise, and that AB has injury and consistency issues of his own, I would almost surely pick AN.

Depending how Fultz looks early, and how IT recovers, I would have to think long and hard about extending Bradley.

If AB gave us the option of extension at $22 million before season starts or he goes to market would you do the extension?

[Roy H.]

I'm not even sure that AB will sign for $22 million. George Hill is seeking a max deal and apparently turned down a 3 year extension that would have paid $88.6 million (!)

A gm would be making a huge mistake giving Hill the max. Even AB isn't worth the max too many negatives for both those players. At least in IT's case he was deemed max worthy for having a top 10 player performance season.

Oh, I agree.  He's 31 years old. It's crazy to me that he turned down $29.5 million per year (which is what his increased salary plus extension would have amounted to). But, I feel his agent thinks that that is his market value, what are the chances that a younger and better AB takes $22 million.

[Jvalin]

AB gives us more roster flexibility going forward, and allows us to remain a great 2 way team. If it wasn't for the fact that IT is the face of the franchise, and that AB has injury and consistency issues of his own, I would almost surely pick AN.

Depending how Fultz looks early, and how IT recovers, I would have to think long and hard about extending Bradley.

If AB gave us the option of extension at $22 million before season starts or he goes to market would you do the extension?

We need cap space to do that. If we sign Hayward we cannot extend IT-Bradley-Smart.

[Roy H.]

I'm not even sure that AB will sign for $22 million. George Hill is seeking a max deal and apparently turned down a 3 year extension that would have paid $88.6 million (!)  He was allegedly advised that he can do much better this summer.

So in your opinion what's Bradley's value in the open market?

Well, it depends on what teams have money, but I'd say he asks for 4 years, $110 million, minimum.

[Csfan1984]

I'm not even sure that AB will sign for $22 million. George Hill is seeking a max deal and apparently turned down a 3 year extension that would have paid $88.6 million (!)

A gm would be making a huge mistake giving Hill the max. Even AB isn't worth the max too many negatives for both those players. At least in IT's case he was deemed max worthy for having a top 10 player performance season.

Oh, I agree.  He's 31 years old. It's crazy to me that he turned down $29.5 million per year (which is what Thebes salary would have amounted to). But, I feel his agent thinks that that is his market value, what are the chances that a younger and better AB takes $22 million.

The injuries worry him and chance to wear C's green a few more years might help motivate a discount extension. He faces a lot of risk for $20 million total more you could lose double that if he is hurt.

[Csfan1984]

AB gives us more roster flexibility going forward, and allows us to remain a great 2 way team. If it wasn't for the fact that IT is the face of the franchise, and that AB has injury and consistency issues of his own, I would almost surely pick AN.

Depending how Fultz looks early, and how IT recovers, I would have to think long and hard about extending Bradley.

If AB gave us the option of extension at $22 million before season starts or he goes to market would you do the extension?

We need cap space to do that. If we sign Hayward we cannot extend IT-Bradley-Smart.

You sign Hayward first then you can extend your players.

[Jvalin]

I'm not even sure that AB will sign for $22 million. George Hill is seeking a max deal and apparently turned down a 3 year extension that would have paid $88.6 million (!)  He was allegedly advised that he can do much better this summer.

So in your opinion what's Bradley's value in the open market?

Well, it depends on what teams have money, but I'd say he asks for 4 years, $110 million, minimum.

Minimum? 27.5 million per year is 2.8 million short of this year's max . Do you even see him asking for 30+ million next year?

[Monkhouse]

I'm not even sure that AB will sign for $22 million. George Hill is seeking a max deal and apparently turned down a 3 year extension that would have paid $88.6 million (!)

A gm would be making a huge mistake giving Hill the max. Even AB isn't worth the max too many negatives for both those players. At least in IT's case he was deemed max worthy for having a top 10 player performance season.

Oh, I agree.  He's 31 years old. It's crazy to me that he turned down $29.5 million per year (which is what his increased salary plus extension would have amounted to). But, I feel his agent thinks that that is his market value, what are the chances that a younger and better AB takes $22 million.

He should've taken that offer and run.

I'm not even sure that AB will sign for $22 million. George Hill is seeking a max deal and apparently turned down a 3 year extension that would have paid $88.6 million (!)  He was allegedly advised that he can do much better this summer.

So in your opinion what's Bradley's value in the open market?

Well, it depends on what teams have money, but I'd say he asks for 4 years, $110 million, minimum.

Minimum? That's 2.8 million short of this year's max. Do you even see him asking for 30+ million next year?

He can try, I don't think Ainge would ever even entertain the thought, but unless the 76ers or some team needing a solid SG, could make some desperate moves to clear cap space.

I would say AB is favored pretty highly by most of the NBA.

[Roy H.]

I'm not even sure that AB will sign for $22 million. George Hill is seeking a max deal and apparently turned down a 3 year extension that would have paid $88.6 million (!)  He was allegedly advised that he can do much better this summer.

So in your opinion what's Bradley's value in the open market?

Well, it depends on what teams have money, but I'd say he asks for 4 years, $110 million, minimum.

Minimum? 27.5 million per year is 2.8 million short of this year's max . Do you even see him asking for 30+ million next year?

Again, a 31 year old George Hill turned down $29.5 million per year.  AB will ask for the max. I expect he'll settle for less than that, but almost certainly not $22 million.

[byennie]

IT hands down. It's great how far Bradley has come, but he's completely replaceable by Smart, Brown, Hayward or Fultz. Offensively, Bradley is an average starter. Defensively, he's good but not great. He also has health issues.

Meanwhile, IT is one of the best offensive players in the league, and we have a chance to bring in the #1 pick AND a better player in Hayward.

Context is important. I love AB and I'd love to keep him, but I think people are out of their minds if they want to keep a 6'2" shooting guard who scores 15 ppg over a 2nd team All-Star face of the franchise with a more unique skill set, when we are about to have 2-3 better shooting guards on the roster.