Quantifying Tim Duncan's value to the Spurs

by Gino20 on Aug 11, 2009 3:29 AM CDT

Fox Sports had quite the interesting column/slide show recently. They tried to determine which players in the NBA are worth "max money." If you have not read this already, be prepared for a surprise.

Citing economic conditions, as well as players' past, present and future worth to their teams, the author(s) settled on five players who were worth max dollars. Among those not making the cut:

Pierce, Gasol, Bosh, Melo, Dirk, Duncan, Chris Paul, D. Williams, Roy, Durant

Now some of these guys, I can understand being on the "not max-level player" list. Others could easily have a case made in their favor. Duncan is only one example who has given, and still gives, enough to be considered a max player. If they want to argue his age and a slight decline mean that he shouldn't get $100 M over the next 5 years, so be it. If they want to take the angle that what he did in the past should not factor into what he is paid in the future, fine. However the man is still more productive than all but a few players in the league.

Now that that's out of the way, I will spare you the details of what's great about Dirk or CP or D-Will and why they deserve their dough. Instead I will leave you with a link that will show you who these experts thought were max players. Some were obvious, while one in particular, a man whose career is often linked w/Duncan's, was a bit of a headscratcher.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/pgStory?contentId=9839674#sport=NBA&photo=9840882

Who do you think should be on this list? What do you think of the list from this link?

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Comments

duncan out and kg in is preposterous. what a bunch of crap.

by theonlyromeo on Aug 11, 2009 8:15 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

::nods head::

We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Aug 11, 2009 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions

He even says, KG is a 33 year-old PF past his prime like Duncan…, which is it? Past his prime or worth the max? I’d take Duncan over KG at any point during their careers. That includes now.

by Big50 on Aug 11, 2009 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions

people drool over kobe and lebron too much.

kobe i understand.

lebroom, i don’t

13 points in 39 seconds. Enough said.

by Duhoh on Aug 11, 2009 9:57 AM CDT reply actions

I thought Kobe and LeBron were both pretty easy choices to make the list of “max money” guys

by Gino20 on Aug 11, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Are you saying you don’t understand the choice of which player they choose to be above while slobbering excessively, or are you saying that one merits more salivary adulation than the other?

From under the radar to hanging in the rafters - Big50
5 in 10

by J.R. Wilco on Aug 11, 2009 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions

little bit of both, per se

13 points in 39 seconds. Enough said.

by Duhoh on Aug 12, 2009 12:17 AM CDT up reply actions

"Worth" or "Worthy of" max contract

Another head-scratcher from Galinsky:

“Durant, meanwhile, averaged 25.8 points (sixth in the league) and had better shooting percentages on FGs, FTs and 3-pointers than Kobe Bryant. Just 20, he may be all but unstoppable once he puts muscle on his slender frame.”

This is his justification for deeming Durant not worthy of a max deal???

Value/worth is whatever the market will bear and whatever someone is willing to pay. This is weighed against the alternatives and their perceived relative value.

If Tim were a free agent, there is little doubt that many/most organizations would be willing to offer him a max deal for his services and even less doubt that the spurs would match any offer if for no other reason than the lack of viable alternatives.

In fact, I suspect that if everyone became a free agent tomorrow, Tim “some people doubt the longevity of my knees” Duncan would still be a top 3 sought after big man. He would certainly be more highly valued league wide than Kevin “I actually just sat out the entire second half of the season and the entire playoffs because of my bad knees” Garnett.

"It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody."
-- Brendan Behan --

by Zeno of Citium on Aug 11, 2009 10:04 AM CDT reply actions 8 recs

Once again, my friends, Zeno speaks the truth.

Harken to what he says, for there is much wisdom in it.

From under the radar to hanging in the rafters - Big50
5 in 10

by J.R. Wilco on Aug 11, 2009 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions

I believe Zeno just brought it. Rec’d. Nicely done.

by Big50 on Aug 11, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Garnett is one of the most overrated players in league history. To me, he’s essentially equal with Chris Webber – a nice player, but when crunchtime comes he’s running away from the ball.

"Give me chonchon."

by Slowpoke Rodriguez on Aug 11, 2009 9:33 PM CDT reply actions

The only valid points this guy made was that Kobe, Wade and LeBron deserve max deals. Duh. That was hard to figure out. Other than that the guy is clearly just talking from his own, personal, singular opinion. How much a player is worth is determined by the team that signs him. This KG vs Duncan thing is getting a bit old guys. Duncan is better. Stats, Championships, Awards, Leadership, Overall Talent, he’s better than Garnett. Period. Case closed. You can all return to your lives now.

"I've got Tim (Duncan) and you don't. That's the difference." -Gregg Popovich

by bj1der on Aug 11, 2009 10:20 PM CDT reply actions

sorry… it’s just that people can’t stop comparing them. they’re about the same height, and kg even used to wear 21.

that’s why dejuan blair will now forever be compared to 1995 Michael Jordan.

by theonlyromeo on Aug 12, 2009 1:04 AM CDT up reply actions

We all know — or most people know — that TD>KG. That’s why I found this article about KG deserving max money (but not Timmeh) to be kind of ridiculous.

by Gino20 on Aug 12, 2009 3:04 AM CDT reply actions

The NBA is also a business and if paying Duncan or KG or anyone sells tons of tickets and tons of jerseys, maybe it is irrelevant how their stats compare to the dollars they are paid….

Thank FSM our FO cares about winning.

by BlaseE on Aug 12, 2009 7:19 AM CDT reply actions