This deal is great for Crowders current level, if he improves it will be an amazing deal.
I wouldn't say it's great for his current level. He's a pretty limited player right now (his only major strengths are defensive versatility and hustle/motor) and is a fringe starter at best. I'd say he's worth MLE money at best right now.
I think this contract assumes that he's going to improve significantly from who he is right now.
It seriously bewilders me how people can criticise Danny so much for paying Avery Bradley around $8M a year, but then the same people seem to think $7m a year for Crowder is a bargain.
Avery Bradley is a much, much better player right now than Crowder is...I mean he is pretty much better than Crowder at everything except maybe (and that's a MAYBE) passing. Bradley probably has higher upside too.
I know the increasing cap plays a part, but still...so much bias around here.
I love Crowder and I'm fine with this deal, but then I also love Bradley and all that he brings.
I think you are just talking generally about Bradley, but I think his deal is good too.
I think I rate Crowder higher than you do. My reasoning is his play by the end of last season and a few quotes about him not really knowing what to do on O at frst and just shooting. By the end he was driving and CBS did start him our last game. Certainly I might be getting my hopes up just to be let down, but I'm not someone who is enamored with all our young guys. ok, maybe 8 mil next season isn't great, but it is still very good. I'm not budging past "very good"!
I definitely meant in general - sorry just realized that probably sounded like I was aiming at you!
I don't know about Crowder.
i feel that even his end of season play was merely 'good' rather than 'great' in my honest opinion.
If you look at his pure 'box score' numbers, he averaged 13.7 / 6.4 / 2.1 Per-36 Minutes over the whole of last season. As a Celtic he averaged 14 / 6.9 / 2.1 Per-36 so not much departure from that. I'd say those are genuine fringe-starter numbers.
If you look past these and check the 'advanced' stats, then his Real-Plus-Minus was actually slightly negative (around -0.5 from memory) so again nothing there to really indicate that he had a greater impact on the game more than his numbers suggest.
He's not especially physically gifted either. His height for his position (6'6") is pretty average. His wingspan (6'9") relative to his height is pretty averages. His pre-draft vertical measurement (34.5") was merely 'OK'. I'd say he's really only around average quickness and speed for an NBA Small Forward. He's got outstanding strength (240 pounds) which is his key advantage, but other than that he's physical profile is pretty average.
He's not especially skilled either. He's a strong (but not elite) rebounder for a small forward. He's an average scorer. He's a poor shooter, but shows potential. He's a pretty average ball hanadler. Decent (but not great) passer. Can't really create his own offense, and merely 'decent' at getting to the basket. He's a quality defensive player, but advanced stats don't indicate that he's an elite or even great one - just good.
I mean it doesn't really matter how you look at it, everything about Crowder seems to scream 'average'.
When I watch Crowder play, I see a guy who has earns his place based purely on unlimited will, unstoppable motor, and an elite work ethic. A guy who simple beats opposing players on a per-possession basis because he quite simply just wants it more, and I have complete respect for that. He's also a guy who's never going to be about getting his numbers, and who's always going to put what the team needs first, and I respect that too.
That's also why I am fairly confident that he will develop as a player - because when you are as hard working and as dedicated as he clearly is, it's pretty hard
not to improve.
I think Danny and crew are banking on that same premise, hence the (IMHO) fairly generous long-term contract. I have little doubt that by the time Crowder is half way through that contact, it will look like an absolute bargain.