01-29-2022, 02:20 PM
(01-29-2022, 02:03 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: Right in theory I agree with you, but are you 100% committed to paying Brunson a contract (if the Knick rumor is believed to be true) of north of 20 mil a year?
That's what this contract looks like:
$21,122,500
$22,812,300
$24,502,100
$26,191,900
Total: $94,628,800
And that's the minimum "north" of 20 mil the rumor was for. Brunson's good. He's crafty. But he has obvious deficiencies. He's gotten destroyed the last 2 years in the playoffs (and that trend didn't go away when he's played good playoff teams this year). It's also concerning that lineups with Luka+Brunson aren't particularly special. In fact Luka led lineups are much better sans Brunson, and the same holds true for Brunson led lineups,
I think Brunson at 20+mil isn't an asset anymore, and we'd be locking ourselves into playoff mediocrity.
Luka-Brunson sans THJ lineups have been amazing. THJ has been decreasing the fit. But most others fit really well with the two. Once the two started, we have been winning really many games. If we look into the other three players to match Luka and Brunson, we have something special in my view.
I am not much into understanding NBA salaries and how much 20 mill is. But I consider Brunson near all-star level and I believe he will be that next season. He has improved a lot compared to last seasons, and it's a very valid point that he had trouble in playoff last season, but same time we should also hesitate using that information too much given how much he has improved and is still improving. Brunsons curve is pointing up, and I dont know when or where that will stop. That makes me the most afraid of trading him. For other players that have reached the ceiling etc., it's much easier to make the trade and feel comfortable.