Big GM Point Men

 

Every year we get a handful of guys that you just know are going to cause the world to implode once they hit the bid page during FA. There�s a trend to these guys. They�re the ones who are going to help you contribute NOW and they�re going to move the needle. Big men are typically the ones who get the highest GM point bids and this year I would imagine it�s highly unlikely to see that trend change.

 

Below is my list of who I believe will be the biggest GM point dumps of the FA period to come. They�re the ones most people if not everyone can afford. They�ll slot into starting roles. They have badges. They have a known and often precise skillset and they bring around a winning feel to a team over the last few years. I�ve purposely ignored the guys who �re-signed� in the NBA as while there�s a chance they get poached by others, the likelihood is that those types, like a Bradley Beal, James Harden, Bobby Portis and Jalen Brunson all simply head back home for minimal GM point bids, which is about 50 to make them 100% when you take the 50 point head bonus into account. So, we�re looking at the guys that are a near lock to be leaving their teams unless the cards fall favourably. Bring on the fireworks!

 

 

1.     Andre Drummond

Drummond last year was right up there on that point dump list, and is what I would call a lock to get at least one 99 point bid on him this year. Why? He�s won the title two years running and there�s a reason for that. Big, athletic, defensive anchors win games and they don�t get much better than �Dre in that category, once you start dipping out of the big money men. Last year he was a 1 year minimum guy. This year, Portland is going to need to dip into his MLE to bring him back at still a very manageable $3.2mil with a Player Option second year, but this type of contract is affordable by EVERYONE, might just be too annoying for the incumbent owner to work around (halving your MLE allowance takes you out of the running for other guys) and comes with the possible additional 2^nd year unlike last year. Of course, Portland has the inside track with a strong record, but there�s little or no other bonus here.

 

2.     JaVale McGee

The last time JaVale was mentioned as a massive FA target his manager called it out as propaganda but is it really when you look at the cold hard facts? JaVale was the #32 ranked player in the ENTIRE NSL last year starting for the Hornets. He�s quick for a big. He�s an elite shot blocker and rebounder and averaged 13/14/1/1 and 2.3 blocks last year missing only a single week of play. He's signed on for a new team so the Hornets have no bonus to signing him to speak of, including needing to use their MLE like everyone else, and he fits into�well�everyone�s MLE at only $5.4mil. Oh, and he signed a 3 year deal (3^rd year Player Option) so you don�t need to go through this again next year and might just have Bird Rights (if he is still playing at 37) by the time the deal is done. I don�t care what language you speak, that�s big GM cheddar coming the way of McGee.

 

3.     John Wall

Two years ago you�d have been trying to lure him away from the Chicago Bulls via trade, with 3 years and $130mil on the table, using multiple 1^st round picks and young talent to do so but the years haven�t been kind to John due to injury and then team circumstance. He showed in the Playoffs that he can still play though and now you can sign yourself a legit starter, difference maker, stud point guard for the Taxpayer MLE. There are two caveats to this with John though. Of course, he comes with risk since he hasn�t played much for so long, and he will take a full tax payer MLE meaning most contenders would be left to only minimum guys after bringing Wall in. But he�s also not entirely without bonus to the owning team. As a Buy Out, and sign, he comes with an on paper 25 point head start, but once you take into account team leveller and team record, I would wager there could be some top teams who are the front runner in the bid stakes and not the Bulls. This means he�s unlikely to get more than two 99 point bids thrown, as it�s a calculation thing, but he�s going to get 99 from Chicago as a lock unless it�s decided he�s already gone before the way, and then it�ll be the other 99 he will receive that wins.

 

4.     Montrezl Harrell

Trez has seemingly always ended up signing on somewhere at what seems like way below value for what this guy seems to bring to the table for whoever he plays for. Is it the undersized status? Which doesn�t seem to mean a damn thing in the NBA. Or, is it that NBA teams try to pay him for a 2k stand point, which probably also doesn�t equate as he still makes splashes here too. Washington would have had a heart stop moment when they found Trez signed on as a genuine minimum player this year, with a 2^nd year Player Option to boot, just to sweeten the deal for all those people out there. The minimum means even the guys who spend big on the guys above, can then reload and spend big here. Scary, huh? With currently only one other minimum big man out there that is a genuine difference maker, Trez is going to get cash at this current market.

 

�        Here I think it might be prudent to mention that we have not yet seen Dwight Howard or Hassan Whiteside sign an NBA deal, so two of the biggest bid big men are siting out there with a possible chance to not be in the FA pool�

 

5.     DeAndre Jordan

Jordan is the riskiest of all the 2k big men that go round the minimum/below MLE merry go round currently as he was waived last year and appears to have very little left in the tank in the NBA, but still has a minimum deal. Luckily, for 2k he�s still huge, quick, beastly and a monster rebounder, and so he�s going to get bids. Especially if we don�t see Dwight or Hassan enter the fray in the coming weeks. The Bucks just severed ties with him so he�s a legit �come one come all� type this year, but he was going to be pretty much anyway, so lets see how the cards fall.

 

6.     Otto Porter

Ok so I think Otto comes in below all the others on this list because the other guys are what seems to be everyone is coveting, big men, but the next biggest desire from teams appears to be wings. Porter is probably the cream of the wing crop this year and in Sacramento he owes them nothing. There�s no bonus coming to Sac and he�s an MLE resign for them, just like everyone else. Of course the Kings are notorious for having a roster that allows them to at least sit near the top of the FA destination pile, but they�re probably not at the top this year and 99 points isn�t going to make it a sure thing. With the next best FA wing, at least from the past few years, sitting at an non-NBA signed Carmelo Anthony, or maybe a Gary Payton II, if you�re in need of a wing, Porter is it.

 

7.     Gary Payton II

Payton might just be gone from Denver already, as his contract is too large for Denver and in fact too large for anyone in the taxpayer MLE bracket. This of course limits the field somewhat, but it also means that the �scarier� FA opponents won�t be in the running so the rest of the field can come out and play. He signed a 3 year deal. He had a break out to get here. He�s likely to get some 2k love from the NBA title team and he�s still young and versatile. It may not be the fireworks of above but I think there will be takers.

 

Honourable mentions:

You can�t do an article like this and not mention three players who are yet to find NBA homes but who are perennial 99 point bid getters due to their on court 2k impact. The star has faded on all three of these guys, but they put up big numbers when given a 2k chance and they are paid handsomely to do so.

Dwight Howard, is yet to find a home, but he was the 99 point bid that no one expected and then was hailed as the FA steal of the year after demolishing all comers with the rejuvenated Minnesota Timberwolves. They would sorely want him back, but hopes would be dwindling as the weeks go on and he has no NBA deal and no Lakers NBA news meaning no resign bonus. If he lands a minimum deal though, he�s going for 99 here at least.

Hassan Whiteside, surely won�t be in the Utah Jazz plans in the NBA anymore but that might also mean that he�s no longer in any teams plans. He had a fall from grace that killed my 76ers team 2 years ago which saw him become a minimum guy and he was a monster as always helping Portland win last year, but maybe his NBA star is now done? If he gets a min deal in the 12^th hour, he�ll be a 99 point bid here though.

Carmelo Anthony, at least sounds like he might be signing somewhere in the NBA, but it hasn�t happened yet. He�s unlikely to be back at the Lakers it would seem so SA here will have a tough time keeping him even if he gets a deal, but if he lands a deal his scoring acumen and badges always get him GM points and a rotational role as a walking bucket.

 

Good luck everyone and may the odds be ever in your favour!