The New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers have already committed to paying Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard max contracts but that is only the tipping point when it comes to breaking down the players that are potentially in line for massive paydays.
More often than not, teams are paying for potential rather than production and that can make the process a difficult one when it comes to determining who deserves a max deal and who does not. Here is a look at five candidates in line for potential max contract extensions including our verdict on whether or not they will get those deals.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte Hornets
The second-overall pick from the 2012 NBA Draft will have plenty of ammunition when it comes to getting a max deal. He’s an elite physical specimen with the size, length and athleticism to excel at the professional level.
Kidd-Gilchrist averaged 10.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in close to 29 minutes per game last season and the sky is the limit for him in terms of his overall potential. The Hornets are trying to build a championship contender and their best chance is to draft well and develop their young stars. Kidd-Gilchrist has the talent, physical skill set and work ethic to become a star at the small forward position and there is a very good chance he gets a max deal. Verdict: YES
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Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have been banking on Valanciunas to reach his elite potential in each of the last two seasons and while he hasn’t lived up to expectations to this point, there is still reason to believe he will turn the corner. JV is still only 23 years old and he has all of the tools to become a dominant NBA center.
He has changed his diet this offseason in order to get in the best possible game shape. Valanciunas averaged 12.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in just 26.2 minutes per game last season. The Raptors would have probably liked him to be further along in his development by now but they won’t let this guy walk. He’ll get maxed out. Verdict: YES
Harrison Barnes, Golden State Warriors
While Barnes will play an integral role in the Warriors success this season, the bottom line is that the team cannot afford to keep Green, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Barnes long term. That means if Barnes is going to get a max contract, it will have to be somewhere else but it’s unlikely a team will give him that money.
Barnes was still the fourth- or fifth-best option on Golden State last season – depending on where you rank NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodola – and while he thrived as a starter with the Warriors, he is not a franchise player at this point. Barnes will earn a substantial raise but he won’t get a max deal. Verdict: NO
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons
Drummond is perhaps the first player on this list that will get a max deal and for obvious reasons. He’s one of the core franchise players in Detroit moving forward. The 2012 first round pick averaged 13.8 points, 13.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 30.5 minutes per game while playing in all 82 games last season. It’s shocking that he’s still just 21 years old. Drummond has all of the tools to be an elite NBA big man so look for him to get the max contract from the Pistons at some point in the near future. Verdict: YES
Terrence Jones, Houston Rockets
Jones has played in the shadows of James Harden, Dwight Howard and even Chandler Parsons but he carved out a bigger role with Houston last season when he averaged 11.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 26.9 minutes per game. Jones has the physical tools to become a quality NBA big man but there are obvious concerns about his consistency and offensive versatility. His strengths are hustle and athleticism.
The Rockets would love to find a way to keep Jones in the fold but they aren’t about to hand him a max deal. They also have Donatas Motiejunas at the same position and he’s pretty effective. If Jones gets maxed out – and that’s unlikely – it’ll come from some other team.Verdict: NO
