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NBA Free Agency: 4 Reasons Teams Should Stop Spending

By Jared Mueller

Jul 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kevin Durant poses for a photo with his jersey during a press conference after signing with the Golden State Warriors at the Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kevin Durant poses for a photo with his jersey during a press conference after signing with the Golden State Warriors at the Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after beating the Golden State Warriors in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after beating the Golden State Warriors in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Team Unity Could Be Impacted By Continued Spending

While players tend to stay out of other players’ business, spending money on lesser players could impact team unity.

Normally, like last year with Tristan Thompson and the Cavs, we see teammates supportive of players getting all the money they can. This year has been a little different.

As big money deals have gotten signed pro athletes from the NBA and other sports have made a number of social media posts that suggest this year is different.

We all know that LeBron James and Kevin Durant are going to set the market for the highest total salaries in the NBA next year but currently Mike Conley holds that distinction. Conley is a very good point guard but many wouldn’t consider him a Top 20 player in the league.

Currently, Chandler Parsons, Ryan Anderson and Allen Crabbe sit in the Top 10 of total guaranteed money. Good players, but none should be on that list if we take into account talent level. They were free agents at the right time.

Looking at how some pro athletes have responded to deals signed so far and remembering that players on the roster will benefit from teams falling below the Salary Floor, we can assume a negative reaction to continued spending.

Imagine being Greg Monroe, with Matthew Dellavedova getting paid almost as much money as you are. Brook Lopez could be joined by Dion Waiters, who hasn’t proven anything, with a total contract greater than the three-year, $60 million deal you signed last year?

Or Wesley Matthews seeing Harrison Barnes signing for more than $25 million more than you got last year.

While winning cures all ills, players are likely to hold the huge salaries in their minds when struggles come. Barnes, for example, struggled mightily when asked to be more than just a role player for the Warriors. In fact, he struggled in his role as a 3 and D guy.

Now he is being paid to be “the star” of the team, which few believe he is capable of.

Spending big money on limited talent just to meet the salary floor, or just to spend and bring in marginal talent, is a great way to divide a locker room.

Next: Planning For the Future

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