KP says he won't resign, and you say the Knicks should've kept him and offered him the money to see if he really turns it down.
AD says he won't resign and you say the Pelicans should have dealt him rather than tempt him with $80 million more.
Can't have it both ways.
Different situations.
Including this season, AD has already banked $94M.
He's got a guaranteed $27M for next year.
With a player option for a further $29M.
He's looking to win as he has already has the money locked in.
KZ has made just $19M including this year. Sure sounds like a lot, but with nearly half going to taxes, he got about $10M. You buy a house for $1M or more, gift money to family and spend some on yourself (cars, jewelry, etc) and you could easily be down to $5M or so. Not really a lifetime of high living.
KZ needs to cash in. He also has to worry about his health. Another injury before signing a new contract would wipe away a potential $130M guaranteed max deal. Playing on a $7M qo next year would be awfully risky for him. Extremely unlikely that he'd take a guaranteed 1 year $7M deal instead of a guaranteed $130M deal. So I'd call his bluff.
Also, I think the team dynamics are different. AD has been in NO for a long time and wants out. That kills the teams chance at the playoffs this year and next. KZ was on a team very much in flux. I think he could have been sold on a team built around him. The draft and FA market this Summer would have changed things. New coach if need be. So many current Knix won't be back that his wanting out could be easily forgotten, and forgiving giving the losing.
Lastly, NOPe got a big legit offer, with lots of young players coming in order to rebuild. Knix got cap space and one young player. Chose to jettison salary and get a weak return for KZ. If anyone offered Knix 3 good young players for KZ, I would have been interested.
So: 1) KZ needs to cash in. Couldn't risk a one year deal given his injury (and not having had a big contract yet). 2) Team situations different. 3) NO got a reasonable offer, not the nonsense the Knix dealt for.