4 years 120 some of that as allstar and allNBA bonuses, so say 28-29 a year.
On both counts a really good day for our franchise.
Apparently R.J, qualified for a 5-year rookie max extension, which would have given him an extra year, and come out like $190 million instead of $120.
Or as Berman so elegantly parsed it, considering the money left on the table,
THIS IS HOW MUCH R.J. did not want TO GO TO UTAH.
Considering what top tier players are getting paid, the Knicks took care of their first stringers, but got them to accept money just south of over the top...a hometown price, indicative of their desire to BE KNICKS.
Julius: 23-25-27-
29Jalen: 27-26-24-
24Mitchell: 17-15-14-13
Evan: 18-18-
19Rose: 14-
15Blue=Player Option
Shadow=Team Option
Darius Garland is a more esteemed talent than Brunson.
33-35-38-41
Likewise Ja Morant
33-35-38-41
Trae Young
37-40-43-45-48
Zion
33-35-38-41
Obviously Jalen and R.J. are a tier below these cats.
Still, it is interesting, don't you think, that despite what some douche nozzle fans have blurted about the Knicks overpaying, they have tied up their top players at prices amenable to the talent, and leaving the team some future flex.
Jericho got what amounted to Mitchell's initial make good deal.
We have Isaiah, Obi, IQ, Cam and Quentin on rookie scale deals under 10 million motivated to make the case for their ascension.
Miles, Trevor and Felton on second round scaled deals.
We have Rokas Jokubaitis getting another year of experience as a PG for Barcelona.
We have all of those draft picks we didn't give to Danny Ainge.
And we have R.J., Jalen, Julius, Mitchell, Evan and Derrick motivated to Earn Their Ale moving forward and represent NYC as KNICKS.
Giant steps?
No.
A top tier playoff team?
No.
But no desperate missteps. No overpaying for shiny objects.
A Mitchell Transaction ain't dead. But it is mos def on ice...
Leon has drawn a line in the sand, and has SEEMINGLY learned from the faux pas and desperation of predecesors who pursued shiny objects at any cost.
BABY STEPS in lieu of Missteps.
We cashiered the elderly, have committed to our youth, in word and deed, got Thibs his Point Guard, a Center with an offensive game, and kept our draft assets and salary flex, for pursuit of those elusive and seemingly rarer and rarer prize free agents, or more likely, to package picks in such a way that in upcoming drafts instead of moving out, we could be moving UP.
Leon Rose Lives By The Hippocratic Oath [Kemba Walker Nothwithstanding]
Do No HARM