Ollie is definitely worth more than 2 mill./yr. Its stupid to say that he isn't because 9 teams were interested in him and at least 3 offered contracts that averaged more than that. Therefore, the sentiment around the league is that what he brings to a team is worth that. Ollie is a pass-first player who plays very good D and doesn't make stupid decisions. In other words, he's perfect for a young team like the Cavs, Rox, Sonics, Bucks, etc. He is much better than Hunter, who makes nothing BUT stupid decisions.
mfclark, Raja Bell and Pat Garrity are still under rookie contracts. Garrity will make a crapload more When Hudson's contract expires, he will look to earn somewhere around 5 million per year. You put Nesterovic on that list, despite the fact that he was playing out his first contract and despite the fact that he will be making 8 million per year. The following players are more ineffective than Ollie: McCarty, Blount, Walt Williams, Rod Strickland, and Jacque Vaughn. Robert Pack is horrible and not even near the level that Ollie is at. Buckner and his 6 points per game earns him 2.6 million next year. Im not sure how much you know about basketball, but I dont see how you think Ollie at 3 million per year is a crisis. Thats his going rate. Thats all there is to it. He is a perfect role player who plays his heart out.
Uh, I know plenty about basketball. Enough to know that Garrity was re-signed last year to a new, long term deal, Raja Bell was signed last year from the Sixers by the Mavericks, Troy Hudson was signed last year to a new deal by the TWolves, and that if you think Walter McCarty, one of the best players on the Celtics last year, is worse than Kevin Ollie, that arguing is pointless. If you are going to dispute my findings, please at least not introduce errors. There's a reason why Kevin Ollie has seen so many teams in his career, and it's because he's just not that good. With the numerous other point guards out there, they made a big mistake by giving Ollie this deal. I'm sorry, but I feel I've already proven my point and that any further discussion is pointless. We'll just have to agree to disagree, because I'm not going to let this escalate.
mf, please read: Ollie is definitely worth more than 2 mill./yr. Its wrong to say that he isn't because 9 teams were interested in him and at least 3 offered contracts that averaged more than that. Therefore, the sentiment around the league is that what he brings to a team is worth that. Ollie is a pass-first player who plays very good D and doesn't make stupid decisions. In other words, he's perfect for a young team like the Cavs, Rox, Sonics, Bucks, etc. He is much better than Hunter, who makes nothing BUT stupid decisions.
I know it hurts mduke, but you have to face facts, Holis kinda sucks. Yeah, I know he can shoot and all, but he has some of the worst dribbling skills I've ever seen for someone his height. Many times, he played on the courts next to our dorms and I saw everybody and their mama ripping the ball from him, including my roommate a few times. At the NBA level, he's gonna need to be able to handle the ball better than he does to make an NBA roster.
Kevin Ollie is pass first player because he can't shoot, not because of some desirable personality trait. His defense is perfect forgettable, neither bad nor good. He doesn't make stupid decisions because he's an end of the bench player who isn't trusted enough to make decisions period - good or bad. It's not like he's out there making brilliant decisions with the ball - he's not making decisions at all. But the real issue isn't necesarily that he's a 10th or 11th man on a bench, an being overpaid for it - the real issue is that Kevin Ollie is a completely replaceable talent. What does Kevin Ollie give you over another CBA-type guard that makes it worth it to sign him to this deal, rather than get someone for the minimum? I don't see the appreciable difference. In hindsight, its the same mistake the Rockets made with Moochie - he was a sorta decent player who they plucked from the CBA - but it doesn't mean that he was the only decent player in minor league basketball. The same thing that made him such a steal - us getting him from the CBA for cheap - makes him easily repleaceable by another player from a league like the NBDL.
Not trying to be nitpicky here, but Bell isnt signed by the Mavs...he is a free agent. Troy Hudson has a deal with Minnesota for another 2 years. The contract he signed with them last year, pays him approximately 2.5 million dollars per year for the 3 years. What had he done before his breakout season to warrant such a contract? He had accomplished about as much as Ollie has. Was that such a mistake to sign Hudson to a deal paying him 2.5 mil per season? As far as McCarty is concerned, if you really believe that he was one of the best players on the Celtics last year, then maybe you should go and watch some game tape. Im sure the Celtics truly appreciated Walter and his 6 points/3 rebounds per game. Conclusion: Ollie's market value ranges from 2-3 million dollars per season. Disputing this is like disputing the fact that the US does not have weapons of mass destruction.
