The Craziness Of NBA Free Agency 2016

Roger Herring| BKD TV Insiders & Published by Demarus Dye| BKD TV Insiders

DeMar DeRozan, Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond & Mike Conley’s total guaranteed $ = 11 starting NFL quarterbacks’ total guaranteed $


The craziness of NBA Free Agency has struck a nerve in 2016. Not only did the Salary Cap rise from 70 million in 2015 to 94 million in 2016. It made a significant impact on how a lot of players were paid. A lot of NBA players were given Max Deals that were over 120 million dollars. These guys were not even considered to be elite and they were paid like they were. I am all for players getting their money because they sacrifice there bodies for an 82 game regular season. This doesn’t even include the playoffs that some these players make but it’s deserving. There were some free agents that have stayed put with their collective teams. Guys like Bradley Beal who was paid 128 million for 5 years to stay with the Washington Wizards, Andre Drummond was also paid 130 million for 5 years to stay with Detroit Pistons, Nicolas Batum who was paid 120 million for 5 years to stay with the Charlotte Hornets and Mike Conley who was paid 153 million dollars for 5 years to stay with Memphis Grizzlies. Now like I said before I don’t have a problem with guys getting their money but Mike Conley clearly got over with his contract. He is the highest paid point guard in basketball and there are at least five point guards who are better than him.

The Biggest Free Agent move that has been made this year is Kevin Durant going to The Golden State Warriors. A lot of people seem to have a problem with his decision to move teams. NBA greats like Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller made some damaging comments on his decision. Charles Barkley said “He was disappointed because he weakened another team and he’s trying to gravy train on terrific warriors team” While Reggie Miller says “Durant sold out giving up his legacy for a chance at cheap jewelry.” I can understand where both of these legends are coming from. It does make it seem like Durant is choosing an easier path to the championship and it is unfair to the small market teams like Oklahoma City Thunder. The thing that doesn’t sit well with me is the fact that six years ago Lebron James did the same thing. Now granted it wasn’t an if you can’t beat them join them kind of deal but he still formulated a team that had a bunch of All-Stars in their prime years. We live in a society today that tells us that in order to be one of the very best you have to be a champion. So I don’t blame Kevin Durant’s Decision to take his talents to Golden State to win a ring.


In other free agency news there a bunch of free agents that did some moving Dwight Howard went to Atlanta Hawks on a 3 year 70.5 million dollar contract, Joakim Noah went to the New York Knicks on a 4 year 72 million, Along with Dwayne Wade leaving the Miami Heat to go and play with the Chicago Bulls for 2 years 47 million. It was a bittersweet ending for Dwayne Wade because him and GM Pat Riley had a falling out over Dwayne’s contract. Dwayne wanted more than 20 million dollars a year and Pat wouldn’t budge on the initial offer sheet. So Dwayne felt disrespected and went to the Chicago Bulls. I thought Pat Riley could have done a better job in making Dwayne Wade feel like he was still the center stone of the Heat. Dwayne Wade was a key reason in why the Miami Heat was able to capture 3 NBA titles and it’s a shame that he wasn’t treated better in this ordeal. There are other free agency moves that have happened but check out NBA Free Agency Tracker for the full list.




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