The 2017 NBA offseason shocked the world when it made it rain this summer, money pouring all over free agency, along with a surplus of stunning trades and record-breaking contracts.
Just when the NBA world thinks it has seen it all with Steph Curry’s eye-opening $200M four-year contract extension, the Houston Rockets completely stupefy the league with offering James Harden the biggest contract extension in NBA history (4-year, $228M). Curry and Harden make history this offseason with becoming the richest men in the NBA, marking themselves as the franchise players.
The rich keep just keep on getting richer.
The Free agency frenzy has been a complete domino effect since day 1, influencing more money incentives with the latest signings. The Tim Hardaway Jr. signing is a great example of this.
When the New York Knicks finally acknowledged that they will be planning for their future without Carmelo Anthony, they surprised the NBA world after shelling out a four-year, $71M deal to the former Atlanta Hawks starting point guard.
Mad money that was being featured the signings of 2017 surprised everyone around the league, including players.
“Even Tim Hardaway Jr. was surprised the Knicks offered him a $71M contract,” according to Colin Ward-Henninger, CBS Sports.
Singings like these set the platform for the open market, setting the bar much higher for NBA
contracts. This helps give role players and upcoming free agents more of a chance to get their money’s worth.
Hardaway Jr. just happened to be a free agent at the right time, at the right place.
With most of the premier players off of the open market, there is still the mutual feeling around
the league that there is still some moves that could be made before the 2017-2018 NBA season begins. In the midst of more NBA trade rumors, via SB Nation, Carmelo Anthony to the Houston Rockets is getting closer to a reality.
Will Melo be the next headline in free agency?
Photo by Keith Allison (Flickr: Carmelo Anthony) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
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