Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Chicagojk]

So, if you’re a GM with a player who’s at the end of their cheap deal, but is now looking for their big (maybe max) payday, but you have a different opinion of the player’s value, what do you do?

Guys like Markkanen or Kuminga or Franz Wagner or Quickley. Good, solid young players, but if you give them max contracts it’s hard to build a championship team. But they are real assets, and it’s painful to let them walk for nothing.

Trade them to a team that IS willing to pay them an overpriced deal, maybe in a S&T for a more appropriately priced player plus draft capital?

Just bite the bullet and overpay, hoping they turn into a superstar?

It seems like a lot of teams are currently having to just keep players with bad contracts, whereas in years past they could pawn them off more easily.

They are tricky decisions.   Some of the max offers for the younger players surprised me.   While the calculus of the new cap has changed, I think most teams will bite the bullet.  Even if they plateau, they still should keep their value due to their ages.  Injuries could change that.

The second and third contracts as players approach 30 is going to be real interesting.  The Jerami Grant or Karl Anthony Towns of the world are where things may get real interesting.  Dallas may have a similar tricky negotiation if Kyrie is looking for a high contract next summer.   The extensions near or at 30 are where things can get real messy if that player does not live up to that contract.