« Reply #82 on: May 19, 2017, 07:12:56 PM »
I want to address this narrative because I think it's the byproduct of group-think and lazy media members parroting each other.
Who is going to sign IT to a max contract?
Everyone keeps insisting that IT is going to get a max contract, but what team is indicating they want him this badly? His last contract was for 27 million over 4 years.
Literally EVERYONE agrees he's a gifted scorer who's a complete liability on defense...This is exactly what his reputation was the last time he signed a contract three seasons ago and, by the way, the team that signed him to that contract traded him for a late first round pick within half a season of signing him.
Nobody wanted him for peanuts three years ago when he was essentially the same exact player... Even his staunchest fans are concerned about signing him to a max deal so what GM in the NBA is going to sign Isaiah to the max?
The last time Isaiah was a free agent people were SHOCKED that 27 million over four years was the best deal he could get. He was coming off a season where he scored 20 points a game, averaged 6 assists, and shot .35% from three.
I think there's a very good chance that his open market value is MUCH less than what people keep insisting it is. If Danny's smart he'll Belichick this negotiation and wait for the market to set the terms of the deal.
There's no way Thomas is "essentially the same exact player" as he was when he signed his last deal. He averaged 20 ppg for a terrible Kings team and was thought of as a back up on any good team. He's now a 2-time all star and All NBA 2nd Teamer who just averaged almost 30ppg on a very good Celtic team.
All that said, I think your overall point still has merit. With IT's age, size, defensive limitations, and the amount of quality PG's throughout the league right now, I just don't see it as a forgone conclusion that IT will get maxed out by someone.
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