2014 NBA draft/off-season thread

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

Top 10 shoe contracts... Durant is the only small-market guy on the list.

LeBron James: $42 million (Nike)

Kobe Bryant: $34 million (Nike)

Derrick Rose: $21 million (Adidas)

Kevin Durant: $14 million (Nike)

Dwyane Wade: $12 million (Li Ning)

Carmelo Anthony: $9 million (Jordan/Nike)

Amar’e Stoudemire: $6.5 million (Nike)

Dwight Howard: $6 million (Adidas)

Blake Griffin: $6 million (Jordan/Nike)

Chris Paul: $4 million (Jordan/Nike)

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

FWIW, I think he's generally seen as a middle of the pack defender now. He's not great, but he eliminates second chance opportunities because he's a strong rebounder, and he has enough bulk to bang around with people in the post. It probably doesn't help that he plays next to Pekovic, who has most of his same weaknesses on defense (not a shotblocker, not really quick).

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

When did amare get his deal? It was a pretty small window that he was both in a big market and a top player.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

Nike's paying him $6m to wear Adidas.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

I'd be very curious to know when some of those contracts were signed. Yes, 9 of the 10 are in "Big Markets" now, but between Paul (New Orleans), Amar'e (Phoenix), Howard (Orlando) and Melo (Denver) that wasn't always the case.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

I would guess Paul's is old, because I would think he would have a bigger deal than that now that he's in LA.

It seems hard to imagine that Stoudemire would get that kind of shoe deal while in Phoenix, but who knows?

Melo and Howard have been with new teams long enough (If you count his time in LA) that I'm assuming the new deal reflects the new team.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

Another interesting rumor... Philly might be willing to trade the rookie of the year, Michael Carter-Williams and take Dante Exum with the No. 3 pick.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24574767/rumor-sixers-have-considered-trading-carter-williams-to-draft-exum

I know Exum's stock has skyrocketed, but I'd be a little surprised if someone passed on Jabari Parker to take him, assuming Embiid and Wiggins go 1-2.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

It seems to almost be accepted as fact at this point that Milwaukee is taking Jabari Parker at No. 2, assuming Wiggins or Embiid go No. 1.

I wonder if they figure a Chicago kid might be more likely to commit to being in Milwaukee for the long term. I understand that thinking, but you have to take the best guy, not that Parker is a reach in that spot.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

Honestly, Embiid might be a better bet to stay somewhere such as Milwaukee long term because he doesn't have pre-established expectations or ideas about what his NBA career should be. Luc Mbah a Moute told Embiid's father he should give hoops in America a shot because NBA players could make $50 million. He thought he meant $50,000 and was still sold on the idea. Embiid saw a picture of Kevin Durant the other day and couldn't remember his name.

Of course, his agents and people will surely push him to the most lucrative spot.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

Everything I've read recently has Embiid going No. 1 and Wiggins falling to the Sixers.

Might just be wishful thinking on my part, though. If everyone is healthy and lives up to their potential, MCW, Noel and Wiggins could be huge for a long time.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

There's some talk of Philly trading up to No. 1 to make sure they get Wiggins. I have no idea how his workout there went today though.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

I believe they're under a "win or else" edict still, which is why they're linked more heavily with Parker than others. However, to me, this draft does seem pretty loaded at the top anyway, and I think you could at least argue for five different guys at #1. While there ultimately might not be a franchise defining, can't miss all-star in the batch, it definitely seems like the inverse of last year, where teams were just hoping to get a rotation player even with a lottery pick. (And after a year, it doesn't seem like the evaluation of that draft was that off.)