ESPN: Top storylines for the 2016-17 NBA free-agency

http://espn.go.com/n...e-agency-primer

My understanding is with the increasing cap and revenue... every team has a ton of money to spend, and the biggest issue is finding players to spend it on. 

To the point that guys you may have thought twice about given a max contract to previously (such as Beal with the Wizards), it's an easy decision at this point.

True or False?

My understanding is with the increasing cap and revenue... every team has a ton of money to spend, and the biggest issue is finding players to spend it on. 

 

To the point that guys you may have thought twice about given a max contract to previously (such as Beal with the Wizards), it's an easy decision at this point.

 

True or False?

I'd say true.

Durant and LeBron are obviously worth max money, even more than that if you could give it to them. I'm sure Horford, Drummond and Conley will get max too, and that's fine. But then you start getting down to guys like DeRozan, Dwight, Whiteside, and as you mentioned, Beal who could get those deals too....and they really aren't worth it. But as is typically the case in free agency, it's a seller's market.

A lot of teams will be looking to dump bad deals in the next few years.

SI: LeBron James declines player option, will become a free agent

So is this The Decision where he fights Clubber, or Drago?

Obviously, he'll stay in Cleveland, but you know what, good for him finally gettin his! He's deferred salary a few times to bring in guys. He's never been the highest paid player in the league, and until this year wasn't even top 5 , while guys like Amare Stoudamire and Joe Johnson made more than him. 

#bitchplease

Finally gettin his may be a bit strong for someone on the path towards being a billionaire.

I hear ya, but never being the highest paid player in the league, when he's been the best player for a decade is what I'm talking about. 

I'm not saying he's struggling to pay his electric bill, of course. 

If you factor in endorsements he's obviously the highest paid player in the league right now. Taking less money, whether to allow his current team to sign other guys or to switch teams himself, was his choice.

If you factor in endorsements he's obviously the highest paid player in the league right now. Taking less money, whether to allow his current team to sign other guys or to switch teams himself, was his choice.

Exactly. And now he's gonna get his, by choice. 

The endorsements, those are the choices of the companies that choose to pay him. 

Everybody wins. 

WaPo:  Joakim Noah expected to sign with New York Knicks for $18 million a year
 

Multiple sources have told The Washington Post that Noah will almost certainly be joining the New York Knicks after free agency begins, with a salary expected to be about $18 million per year.

Whew.  Glad someone was able to tie-up Grunfeld long enough to avoid this.

Jordan did the same thing if I remember right.

Jordan signed huge 1-year deals for his final seasons.  I think $30M and $33M, which made him the highest paid NBA player by a very wide margin.  Shaq's huge deal with the Lakers was for under $20M annually, for example.

If Noah and Rose stay healthy (big if) the Knicks should be decent. Especially in the east

If Noah and Rose stay healthy (big if) the Knicks should be decent. Especially in the east

Windhorst / ESPN was just on ESPN Radio saying how crazy things will be in the next 24 hours, with a player like Bazemore likely to get 4 years $60-70M.