D-Mo was amazing last season offensively before the back injury. But he's not even close to regaining that form this year and he remains an awful defensive rebounder. To me, he's a great 6th man if/when he ever gets back to what he was last year. But the timing of his free agency is awful. The Rockets will be forced to match any deal he gets from another team and I think there's too much uncertainty with this roster right now to risk investing potentially 10+ mil/season in him. I'd let him walk unless there's almost no interest in him and he can be had on a real cheap deal.
So how much do we think he gets offered and by whom? I can see Charlotte, Portland, Indiana Boston and Atlanta being interested.
How much are the backup PF's for the bottom half of the league worth now? I'm not saying that's all DMo is, but I would think that is all he is perceived as. And I'm talking a backup who gets like 20 minutes or less. Not the Antonio Davis first-big-off-the-bench-who-gets-close-to-starter-minutes.
Donuts seems slower than last season. At least a step slow. Playing against a team as quick as Golden State exposes it, brutally, in my opinion.
I think he's on alot of teams' list in that B player to sign with still some upside. Kind of like Al Aminu last Summer, but I don't think any team has any idea what he's going to go for yet. I think each team will have a different budget for Donatas (among other targets in their B level range), so it will depend on the team. For instance a team like Portland might have a salary budget up to 10 mil, while a team like lets say the Clippers could be targeting him with the full MLE. Ultimately though I think a team like Portland thows a solid offer under their salary budget and gets him to sign pretty quick in free agency. But no i do NOT see him going as a max player. Front offices are smarter now, and wont be going above their allotted amount to get him YOU'D THINK, but you never know. Hell the Sacramento Kings will have nearly 30 million to offer in free agency so you never know, but I think its smart to operate under assumptions that teams are somewhat smart with their spending. Keep in mind that these GM's have to know that the cap will rise this year, and next but in three years will not be jumping up year over year so anything signed two years + could ultimately be a horribly contract if they don't score on the player they bet big on.
I really don't think we will match or even try to retain his services this off season. They will more and likely let him walk.
It will not rise again but after a slight dip it will stay around the same. Oh about everyone will have capspace. But with teams with holes in pfs at least Toronto is likely out and ofc Detroit. Then Charlotte should prefer to keep Marvin but he will be expensive for sure. I think Mahinmi is also a Fa? Another one who is going to get paid a lot of money. So then theres Portland with tons of money and minimal interest to pay Leonard their rfa, (they should resign Crabbe tho), theres Atlanta if Horford leaves, perhaps NY if they trade RoLo (dmo is perfect fit for the triangle) sacramento has a loaded forntcourt and theres no reason to go after DMO. About the rate of backup pfs who knows. There arent that many good available and dmo has the added value that he is a combo big. They say that Sully will get 13+, Marvin 15+, Horford we all know 25..
Al Aminu was a consistent contributor night in/night out with no injury history. I would think he was in greater demand than DMo will be. If DMo was playing really well right now, I think teams would still think twice (or more) because of his injury. That's gamble number 1 - whether he can remain as good. But you have another gamble now - whether he will regain form as well. Because right now he is not playing like he used to. His services as is right now at this moment would not really be in that big of demand. That's two big gambles. And I don't think GM's are going to be that interested in taking them. Even if they pay off, the upside is not a franchise player.
I think DMo may take the QO and stay one more year to become an UFA. He will probably regain his form completely with the national team at the Olympics this summer. DD
I will be shocked if he chooses the qo. He can easilly get a 1 year contract much higher than his qo. Like what derrick williams and afflalo did.
If he does he might solicit more offers if he has a good Olympics, he is not made of glass, he had an injury that takes time to heal, no different than Dwight, Dekker, or any number of NBA players over the years. What DMo needs is consistent minutes - he is getting banged around pretty good and is not falling apart out there. I would guess that most of the rest is mental now, he just has to believe he is fine.... OF course DMo may also want to get away from this messed up franchise who by trading him sent him a message that he is not wanted...so......... DD
A franchise player will get paid next year 20 per and in two years at least 25 per. There is a gamble but also there is the upside of paying a good young combo big starter only lets say around 12 per for years when every starter will be getting paid over 15. The risk can be somewhat reduced by adding one team option and some words about injury in his contract. Like they did with Brook Lopez.
