Williams for $90M isn't crazy, even if I'm lower on Williams than most, because he at least fits on a normal team with some defensive capabilites and shooting upside. Some other teams would have definitely given him a look at a slightly lower number.
Valanicunas is an aging, ground-bound center with …
Williams for $90M isn't crazy, even if I'm lower on Williams than most, because he at least fits on a normal team with some defensive capabilites and shooting upside. Some other teams would have definitely given him a look at a slightly lower number.
Valanicunas is an aging, ground-bound center with good rebounding, some post scoring (a skill that the legaue doesn't value), and mediocre-to-bad defense, depending on the scheme. That all sums up to a reasonable player with no upside. I think $10M a year is perfectly fine for both sides, particularly since Washington doesn't need the money elsewhere.
In fact, Naji Marshall and DJJ both getting $30M or less to me is a far greater error in judgement by teams. So compared to PWill and Toppin, the Valanciunas deal seems low, but compared to those two, it feels high.
Good point about Valanicunas, particularly with his age -- unlike any of these other guys mentioned in this discussion, there's not even a chance that he might get better as time goes on. That said, he does more-or-less fit what the Wizards need right now -- his presence can keep Alex Sarr from getting fed to the Embiids and Jokics of the league right away, and Marvin Bagley Jr. sure as heck isn't up to that job.
Also, Naji and DJJ both getting paid far less than Obi Toppin is a damn crime.
The Toppin contract is a gross overpay.
Williams for $90M isn't crazy, even if I'm lower on Williams than most, because he at least fits on a normal team with some defensive capabilites and shooting upside. Some other teams would have definitely given him a look at a slightly lower number.
Valanicunas is an aging, ground-bound center with good rebounding, some post scoring (a skill that the legaue doesn't value), and mediocre-to-bad defense, depending on the scheme. That all sums up to a reasonable player with no upside. I think $10M a year is perfectly fine for both sides, particularly since Washington doesn't need the money elsewhere.
In fact, Naji Marshall and DJJ both getting $30M or less to me is a far greater error in judgement by teams. So compared to PWill and Toppin, the Valanciunas deal seems low, but compared to those two, it feels high.
It's been a weird market!
Good point about Valanicunas, particularly with his age -- unlike any of these other guys mentioned in this discussion, there's not even a chance that he might get better as time goes on. That said, he does more-or-less fit what the Wizards need right now -- his presence can keep Alex Sarr from getting fed to the Embiids and Jokics of the league right away, and Marvin Bagley Jr. sure as heck isn't up to that job.
Also, Naji and DJJ both getting paid far less than Obi Toppin is a damn crime.