A flood of deals was agreed to last week as the deadline to sign fourth-year players to rookie extensions hit hours before the season opener. All in all, six different players including Jaylen Brown reached long-term pacts just ahead of the deadline. We covered Brown’s contract in depth here at BSJ but how does his contract compare to the rest of the pack? Let’s analyze each of these deals to see how the teams involved made out.
Pascal Siakam: Four years, $130 million
Analysis: The Raptors paid the full max here for the young forward, even though they stopped short of going a full five years. This is the type of deal created to throw confidence behind a player that you are in all likelihood are going to have to max out in the summer anyway, especially in a largely barren free-agent market. Forcing Siakam to test the free agent waters for a big offer with one more strong season could have built some resentment in the 25-year-old and that matters for a franchise in Toronto that isn’t exactly going to be a hotbed for attracting free agents over the long-term. No harm, no foul here from getting ahead of the curve.
Grade: A
Buddy Hield: Four years, $86 million guaranteed
Analysis: This could eventually be worth up to $106 million due to heavy incentives involving both the team’s and individual success. Still, this is a heavy price tag for a player that has shown very little on the defensive end over the course of his career. Hield is one of the best shooters in the NBA but he’s also already in his prime at 27 years-old. With no real progression to be expected on the defensive end at this age, the Kings look like a team that lack a defensive identity at too many positions with the likes of Hield, De’Aaron Fox and other young players running the show. This deal will probably ultimately be tradable but it seem a little redundant with in terms of building a balanced roster. Vlade Divac has some work to do as more of his lottery talent will demand big paydays soon as well.
Grade: C+
Domantas Sabonis: Four years, $77 million guaranteed
Analysis: This could also jump up to $85 million with incentives but it’s essentially the same deal that Myles Turner got last fall when you factor in the percentage of the salary cap. While the Pacers reportedly shopped the big man ahead of the extension deadline, this is a good value deal that should make him movable for years. Sabonis is limited on the offensive end with his shooting and lacks the strength to bang around with true bigs, but his rebounding and passing will always make him an offensive asset. He eventually needs to add a 3-point shot to turn this into a steal of a deal but for now it remains as some good cost control entering a lackluster free agent market next year.
Grade: B
Taurean Prince: Two years, $29 million
Analysis: This merely feels like a placeholder for a future trade on the wing. The Nets have locked up Prince and Caris Lavert now for the next two seasons, opening the door for them to be used as salary matching pieces with value if the team finds a path towards adding a third star to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Prince’s numbers are solid on paper for his three years in Atlanta but he has been lackluster as a defender and rebounder in his career. He’s going to get plenty of opportunities this season with Durant sidelined though so this deal feels like a protection against him putting up big numbers in that setting. Paying Durant’s backup $15 million next season seems unnecessary though so look for them to sell high with Prince next summer.
Grade: B-
Dejounte Murray: Four years, $64 million
Analysis: A big chunk of change for a player that didn’t play a minute last season coming off a torn ACL. The former No. 29 overall pick showed plenty of potential on both ends in his sophomore campaign however and the Spurs clearly need to add some stability to their core given the ages of some guys (LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMar DeRozan) on the top half of the roster. Murray did well here to get close to his market value in the wake of such a major injury in what feels like a premature payday.
Grade: C-
Other NBA observations from Week 1
- The Pelicans are already missing Zion Williamson after opening the season 0-3 against a tough schedule without the No. 1 overall pick. The power forward underwent meniscus surgery last week and is not expected to return until December at the earliest. He should be back in time for both battles against the C’s but it will be tough for New Orleans to keep pace in a loaded Western Conference without the top-tier talent.
- A shock to see Deandre Ayton nailed with a 25-game suspension for testing positive for a diuretic. The former No. 1 overall pick is appealing the positive test but the Suns look like they are going to be a tough out every night even without him. Aron Baynes stands to game big minutes at the center spot with Ayton on the sidelines and new head coach Monty Williams has this revamped group looking frisky with a 2-1 start and an upset win over the Clippers on Saturday night.
- The Kings could not have started the season worse with an 0-3 stretch paired with Marvin Bagley being sidelined for 4-6 weeks with a broken thumb. New head coach Luke Walton is being handed a team on the verge of a postseason birth but an improved Western Conference plus some regression from the youngsters has this group looking like they will fall back towards the basement of the West.
- Dion Waiters may be the first name on the trade market this season after the Heat suspended him for the opener due to conduct detrimental to the team. The shooting guard still has two years left on a sizable contract so getting some team to bite on the 27-year-old who has been injury-plagued for the last few seasons will be a challenge.
- Solid 2-1 start by the Pistons despite playing without All-Star power forward Blake Griffin who is out for another week or two at least with knee and hamstring pain. Derrick Rose has fit in seamlessly as a scoring weapon off the bench while Luke Kennard is finally showing some of his lottery potential in year three of his career. If they can stay afloat while Griffin recovers, the door may be open for them to return to the postseason again with the Pacers reeling.
- Steve Kerr told NBC Sports Bay Area that Klay Thompson is not expected to return to the floor this year as he recovers from a torn ACL. Based on how the Warriors looked in their opener, there may not much to return to this season anyway when it