Chapter 939: Free Agent at a Glance

Arenas and the Pelicans broke up, kicking off the free market in the summer of 2014, just two days after Miami Heat forward LeBron James announced that he was testing the free market, and then, a large wave of stars entered the free market, including Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Zach Randolph and others jumped out of the contract.

To that end, ESPN's Charlie Wood wrote a "Free Agent at a Glance":

Carmelo Anthony, even though he is not the best player in the league, not even the best free agent in 2014, Anthony has enough talent to carry the team forward and remain competitive, he is still in the top ranks, but technically he is not capable enough to challenge for the top spot in the league.

This past year, Anthony has had his best season on the offensive end, and he has enjoyed the thrill of switching to power forward and creating countless misalignments to become the new scoring champion. He fired on all cylinders, cutting back on inefficient 20-foot jumpers and setting career highs for three-point attempts, three-point attempts and three-point attempts. Although he is not the most gifted scorer, he has the most comprehensive means of scoring. However, despite his omnipotence on the offensive end, Anthony's ability on the other end has not improved, which is the biggest obstacle in his path to greatness.

Anthony AAV is premised on the fact that he eventually jumps out of his contract and signs a contract with a three-year salary cap and a 4.5% annual increase (with a third-year player option). If a team is determined to make up for it and is willing to put up this contract, that's the biggest temptation to get Anthony out of New York, but I can't guarantee it. Even so, the Nets have the option to call and go all-in, offering a five-year cap salary of $129 million (average annual salary of $25.8 million).

LeBron James, it feels like "TheDecision" was yesterday, and the phrase "I'm going to bring my talent to ___" can be compiled into Baidu entries. Now that the sequel is just a few months away, it's up to James to jump out of his contract and test the 2014 free agent market. Although there is no shortage of his suitors in the market. But given the stunning beaches on the south coast, the pleasant climate, the eye-catching babes and the avid fans, leaving this basketball Shangri-La was a tough decision.

Needless to say, he's the best basketball player on the planet, but James' AAV ranks behind fellow Anthony only because of those terms he signed in 2010. The only way Miami wants to laugh at the free agent market is for the Big Three to be willing to cut their salaries; For James, he accepted a contract with a starting salary of $14.5 million instead of a starting salary of $16.6 million (which he could obviously sign). Because the maximum annual increase of 7.5% is based on the first year's salary, James has been paid less and less than he should have been paid in recent years.

The new deal stipulates a maximum salary of 105% of 201314 season's salary, so James will receive a starting salary of $20.1 million. A five-year, $115.3 million contract (AAV: $23.1 million) with an option to terminate early in the fifth year (come on, can't James pick the most advantageous one?). )。

Obviously, James' decision will depend on Miami's construction blueprint, but one thing to note is that James can get up to a four-year, $85.6 million contract (AAV: $21.4 million) with other teams that will have to prove their roster, management, coaching staff, and geographic location. It's worth giving up $30 million in a single stroke.

Chris Bosh, his numbers aren't as good-looking as they are in Toronto, but Bosh is still the top interior player in this league, which is why he's been an All-Star for years. He is willing to silently accept the coach's arrangement to become a pseudo-giant to help Jenway shine. Watching them in the spotlight talk and laugh. His enormous sacrifice made people underestimate his important contribution to the Miami Big Three era, and he grabbed a crucial rebound in the final minute of Game 6 of the Finals to Ray Allen to shoot a life-saving ball and the last key block in overtime to declare that he was a giant, and he was just pretending.

In terms of his style of play (high IQ, big man with pick-and-roll ability) and his personality (willingness to adjust roles on the court). He's the perfect match for LeBron James. He is indeed embarrassed to be a leader who commands and is determined, but he is a deputy who charges into battle. He is more than enough. In fact, James' decision directly affected Bosh's final belonging. If they want to win more championships, they'll stay together.

A five-year, $100.3 million (AAV: $20.1 million) contract with a $6 million guarantee in the final year has the following benefits: first, Bosh's $20.1 million annual contract (the most money he can get in the first year of a new contract) brings stability to Miami's rising salary space, second, if James leaves, Miami can also flexibly get rid of the contract and rebuild the team, and third, it gives Bosh more security (at least $86.4 million over four years), while he can only get up to $85.4 million for four years with other teams.

Paul George, one of the league's top swingmen, has quickly become the team's signature player for his excellent playoff appearance. He's one of the best wing defenders, with his long arms, agility and athleticism, which make up a lethal weapon on the defensive end, from Derrick Rose to LeBron James. Of course, this is also due to Indiana's defensive system, which minimizes gambling tackles and close-quartering principles.

While his offense isn't as intimidating as his defense, he's still beyond imagination on the offensive end, creating opportunities for his teammates as a ball-handler in pick-and-rolls; You can also run without the ball to open up the space, and shoot when you catch the ball; Sprint with all your might in the transition between offense and defense, and come up with a powerful dunk. Don't forget, he's 6-foot-9 tall, which makes him a mismatch for most defenders.

Happily, George has grown exponentially every year with the Pacers, and it's clear that George has grown into a cornerstone of the Pacers' team, which is why the Pacers will offer him a five-year, $79 million contract extension (AAV: $15.8 million) by October 31; Otherwise, they could also offer a five-year contract for their restricted free agent the following summer, keeping in mind that other teams can only offer a maximum of a four-year, $58.4 million contract (AAV: $14.6 million).

Bryant. Bryant is probably the hardest player to measure value for. It is undeniable that as a veteran who has played at the highest level for 17 years, Kobe Bryant is full of honors and has left countless records. He has proven his ability to succeed at a high level of sporting and has made the same to his teammates and coaches. On the other hand, Bryant's paranoid personality alienates everyone, whether it is teammates or coaches, and sometimes he misinterprets team goals as personal achievements.

For the sake of the team's results, but also for the sake of being able to play their best. Bryant had to learn to share the pressure and responsibility with his teammates, try to make changes, move away from going it alone, reduce risk-taking out-of-position, and get back into the defensive end. Otherwise, it's hard to imagine that he could still be a leader in the free agent market.

Of course, all of this depends on Bryant's recovery from an Achilles tendon injury, and the latest reports show that Bryant's recovery is taking much longer than expected. Even so. Coming back early but playing below par will not contribute anything to his value; Not only that, but he has to be that high-level Kobe.

Ideally, Bryant would be willing to accept Paul Pierce's role with the Celtics: still an integral part of the offensive end, but cede his shot to allow his teammates to be more involved in the offense. The contract that Pierce signed in 2010 could serve as a reference for Bryant's new contract (AAV: $15.3 million). The $46 million for three years, with a $4 million guarantee for the final year, allowed the team to walk away with Kobe Bryant if he couldn't adapt to his new role, just like Allen Iverson did at the end of his career.

Zach Randolph,

The good news is. Randolph's style of play, which doesn't rely on speed and athleticism, puts him in his prime. Instead, he uses his strength, feints, and soft touch to call the wind and rain under the basket. He is a top rebounder on both ends of the floor. And can shoot from 20 feet out. After his chaotic first few years, Randolph has proven himself capable of helping the team succeed, he is a reliable teammate who has gone from a thorn in the pan to a big fish on the free market.

The bad news is that while he's impeccable on the offensive end, aside from rebounding, he's not as good on the defensive end, and he needs good defensive players around him and a good defensive system to keep him from losing the interior. In addition, while he is mature enough in Memphis, we have to consider the potential pitfalls in him, especially as he plays his best and continues to gain exposure and playing time, Randolph deserves a four-year, $56 million contract with a $7 million guaranteed final year (AAV: $14 million).

Dwyane Wade, Wade is 31 years old, he's older than most of his class of 2003, and his aging is starting to show, and you can see the undeniable decline in the game. This decline is partly due to the fact that LeBron James and Chris Bosh share his possession, but more because of the high-intensity, difficult way of playing throughout his career, which is admittedly what made him so great, but we have to admit that it shortened his professional life.

Wade's new contract will determine Miami's future; Just as he was asked to cut his salary in the summer of 2010 to attract James and Bosh, only this time, he will have to cut his salary even more to keep the team. A five-year, $70 million (AAV: $14 million) contract with a 50% salary guarantee for the fourth year and a 25% salary guarantee for the fifth year may seem cheap, but it accurately describes Wade's value today (or, more heavily, his future value). By giving him a contract that decreases year by year, Wade can get the most money in the first few years and enough in the final two years.

Other teams could offer Wade a big four-year, $83.8 million (AAV: $20.9 million) contract, but these teams pursuing Wade know that they can't buy Wade's glory days anymore.

Pau Gasol, although 20122013 season has been difficult for everyone on the Los Angeles Lakers, and Gasol is particularly bitter, he has been plagued by injuries and role problems, making only 49 appearances, a career-low, and his points per game, rebounds and shooting percentages are also career lows. Rested all summer (including abandoning the responsibility of the national team and missing the European Basketball Championship). He is preparing for a strong rebound in a contract year. Dwight Howard's departure has put him back in his most comfortable position as center. In addition, a strengthened roster, a healthy Nash and a full training camp could also bring more fluidity and space to the Lakers' offense.

Gasol is still capable of performing at a high level in the right position, with his all-round skills and excellent passing ability making him a central point in attack, but he is no longer able to provoke attacking pillars (you can watch his replays, he is no longer able to take on the scoring load). Similarly, he's a high-IQ player on the defensive end and has excellent rebounding protégés, but his physical condition doesn't allow him to be a defensive gatekeeper. The best fit for him is to be a character with a champion pedigree. Experienced veterans who teach young players and help the team through difficult times. Like David West (3 years, $36.6 million) and Kevin Garnett (3 years, $36 million), a 3-year, $40 million contract should fit him well.

Dirk Nowitzki, Nowitzki, and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban have long agreed that Nowitzki will end up in Dallas. What kind of contract he signs means he will be a contender in his twilight years, or if he just wants to retire in Dallas.

In his lackluster season (compared to his normal level), Nowitzki's performance slipped after two months of knee injury, but he was able to recover in time with his experience and housekeeping skills. But. He averaged points per game for the lowest season since his rookie season, and again, he missed out on an All-Star for the first time in 13 years. Even the playoffs.

Shooting over 40 percent from the three-point line, one of the league's best mid-range shooters, and a reliable rebounder on the defensive end, Nowitzki remains the league's top big man. The best-case scenario: He can get into Tim Duncan's form, and the automatic pay cut allows the team to add talented players. At his age (35), Nowitzki is on par with Duncan. Appears as a support star. A two-year, $25 million (AAV: $12.5 million) contract with a second-year player option would give Dallas the leeway to pursue the right players and keep the roster alive and take it a step further.

Andrew Bogut, one of the best defensive bars in the NBA, and his biggest problem is health. When he's healthy, he can catapult Golden State — "I can't defend the team" — into a playoff contender. He's very talented in team defence and he's the commander of the backline, he's exactly the centre-forward you need. Although he is not very good at jumping, his keen sense of smell and timing can ensure that he is a master of blocking, and he knows how to use his blocking deterrent power to force opponents away from the basket. All in all, his defensive prowess speaks for itself.

On the offensive end, the team can rest assured that Bogut is involved in the attack, whether he is in the high post or in the low post, he has a beautiful pass, and he can also finish the attack with quality after the pick-and-roll. However, the constant injuries not only made him retire from the All-Star stage, but even the opportunity to score easily under the basket was frequently missed.

Finally, he has missed 104 of his last 148 games, and poor attendance can clearly undermine the value of his contract, as happened to Stephen Curry last season, with a four-year, $50 million contract (AAV: $12.5 million) that reflects the current value of the injury-plagued starting center.

Danny Granger, Indiana is basically not going to renew Granger, and after the team unsurprisingly renews the contracts of hopefuls George and Stephenson, the Pacers are close to or even at the threshold of paying the luxury tax, and, as a small-ball city team, Indiana must live a small life on a budget.

At best, he's a great trio for a good team, a scorer who can open up space to catch and shoot, can cut through screens, and can hit the basket with the ball. For the sake of his own worth, he needs to regain his roots, which is defense (it's easy to forget that Jì Granger also started out defensively, just like George is now).

Rudy Gay,

Due to his high-paid and incompetent performance over the past few years, Gay's approval ratings have dropped significantly. After Memphis got rid of him, the Grizzlies focused more on interior players in the distribution of offensive balls, and their defense was more solid, while the team also eased the salary pressure by the way.

That's not to say Guy can't bring any value, he's a gifted scorer and one of the league's hardest wingers to defend. Similar to Anthony, he is a player who can quickly improve the team – but only by a certain amount of improvement. Unlike Anthony, he can't stand out from your team on his own.

Tim Duncan. What else can we say? Duncan has spent recent years challenging our understanding of professional longevity. He can continue to play as long as he wants, especially with Parker continuing to be an MVP-level contender and the Spurs improving youngsters such as Kawaii Leonard and Thiago Split. Duncan's style of play has kept him in the top ranks, and in this way, the Spurs can better control his playing time to keep his body away from injury.

Duncan may or may not exercise the player option, it doesn't matter, he's always been a Spurs. A two-year, $20 million contract is sufficient. The player option for the second year is also just so that he can consider whether to continue playing every year.

Marcingotat, although he has been in the shadow of Dwight Howard since the beginning of his career, Gortat was our main target when I was still in Suns management in 2010. We knew he was a potential rebounder, and we needed a player like him at the time, and we didn't think he was fully capable of attacking him. Eventually, he made it to the Suns, and Gortat unsurprisingly played a great game, with his ability to use his left and right hands and excellent timing to make him excellent at pick-and-roll. Furthermore. He also showed off an unexpected shot from 15 feet out. However, his appearance in the paint area is not satisfactory, unable to attract the defense to open up space, and his interior skills need to be improved. Plus, his defense is just average.

One question that has been haunting Gortat is. He always overestimated himself. In fact, he's just a good starting center, especially when paired with a top-tier power forward. As a result, he can be considered one of the league's players with equal wages and abilities. A three-year, $25 million contract (AAV: $8.3 million) not only gave him a salary increase. It also protects the team's salary space.

Eric Bledsoe, Bredsoe can see his time in Los Angeles this way - either he was delayed by Paul and compressed his meagre playing time; Either he was saved by Paul. Avoid exposing his shortcomings to the spotlight. Either way, Bledsoe will be given plenty of time this season with the rebuilding Suns, let's see if he has the potential to become a star as many (including LeBron James, but they are all the same agent) say. He's a top point guard with his physicality and his incredible scoring ability in pick-and-rolls, but he still needs to prove to us that he has what it takes to move the team's offense. Defensively, he already has the ability of a master defender with the ball, but he still needs to maintain some stability, especially on the weak side.

Gordon Hayward, the second well-rounded perimeter player since Butler, can double as a swingman on both wings, and Haywood is at his best. His three-point accuracy and ability to create opportunities on his own are his advantages over other spot shooters. Partnered with his teammate Favors, there is reason to look forward to Utah's future.

It's not hard to find players in the same position as a reference, with Kyler Korver (four years, $24 million), JJ Redick (four years, $27.8 million) and O.J. Mayo (three years, $24 million) all signing new contracts this summer. So, Haywood could probably get a four-year, $32 million contract.

Paul Pearce, throughout his career, was a great scorer. Pierce was traded to Brooklyn, officially ending that Green 34's glory days. Similar to Randolph, he is also a floor streamer, which means he is still a threat on the offensive end, which certainly can't be compared to his heyday. His final season in Boston has begun to transform, and he is confident that he will do even better with the Nets.

In addition to scoring, Pierce's experience and leadership skills will have a positive impact on the team, and he will be a mentor to younger players. Referring to Manuginobili's new contract, two years and $14.5 million, the second year of the player option can maximize Pierce's residual heat. (To be continued......)