Raptors’ paycheques: Who’s worth every penny, who is OK, & who should be charged with extorting money under false pretences
By Brian Boake
Given that today is the day in which NBA contracts are guaranteed for the rest of the season, I thought it would be interesting to review how our players’ compensation matches up with their contribution on the floor. The listing is from highest- to lowest-paid Raptors. My “Good Deal?” opinion is based on expectations & salary of the player compared to his performance. There are a maximum of 3 $ (huge value for money) or 3 ¢ (what a waste) available.
PLAYER | SALARY ($xx.xxM) | GOOD DEAL? | COMMENTS |
Jose Calderon |
10.54
$ $The architect of our recent winning ways, Jose’s deal has been criticized as too dear for a backup PG. Now that he’s starting, & our season has been turned around, the beefing has gone quiet. Running neck & neck with Bargnani as the most likely Rap to be wearing another uniform after the Feb. 21 trade deadline. Unsigned for next season – I’d love to have him back, but for less money.
Andrea Bargnani
10.00
¢ ¢ ¢AB could be the worst value in the league at the moment. He needs to come back from injury & accept relegation to second unit, & even then he may be untradeable. I may be the last believer on the planet, but I think he can be an asset again.
Landry Fields
6.25
¢ ¢Another huge disappointment in a long string of failures at the small forward spot. Maybe we need to defy conventional wisdom at the draft & select for need, rather than best player. He’s been OK recently, so doesn’t get the dreaded third ¢.
Amir Johnson
6.00
$ $A bounce-back season so far; the Amir we’d grown to love has returned & even added a jump shot. He still has the psychic connection with Jose, & is probably Coach’s favourite player.
Kyle Lowry
5.75
$ $Kyle is an essential building block to a playoff contending team. This guy hustles, shoots from outside, passes & even rebounds. Can he cope with coming off the bench?
Linas Kleiza
4.60
¢ ¢His body seems to be breaking down. I’d trade him faster than I would Bargnani, but there will be the same number of takers. A buy-out candidate; irrelevant to the team’s long term plans. He’s saved from 3 ¢ only by a handful of decent games.
Jonas Valanciunas
3.75
$ $A hard-working youngster, who wants to, & will, get better. Playing Centre in the NBA is incredibly tough, but I think he’s going to make it. We’ll need patience (Bryan Colangelo’s favourite word).
DeMar DeRozan
3.34
$ $His jump shot is vastly improved over last season, & he uses it effectively to get defenders off their feet. Lots of useful drives, & trips to the FT line result. Solid performer who’s never hurt.
Aaron Gray
2.57
¢He’s had limited opportunities to establish himself, & hasn’t done well. Aaron has more fouls than points this season.
Terrence Ross
2.56
$ $A typical rookie season; some nights he’s on fire, other nights, not so much. A wonderfully athletic player, & someone who’s considered highly coachable. Next season’s starting shooting guard?
Ed Davis
2.21
$ $Ed doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but what he does for the team (crash the boards & defend opponents’ toughest big men) is desperately needed. He’s been given the chance to start with AB hurt, & has posted a winning record. Ed’s emergence is a huge relief for Colangelo.
John Lucas III
1.50
¢He has not shot well, & that has kept him pasted to the bench recently. The Raps don’t blow people out, so there’s little garbage time for him to re-establish himself. Jose Calderon’s status after the trade deadline will have a lot to do with John’s future.
Alan Anderson
0.85
$ $ $The best bargain of the year, by far, and possibly in the entire league. Alan knows when to shoot & when to pass, & is a much better defender than I suspected. He should be the starting small forward.
Mickael Pietrus
0.69
¢ ¢Mickael must have a great agent. He was sold as a 3-ball shooter, but he’s at 31% right now. He was supposed to be able to defend, but you can’t prove it to me. I wouldn’t invite him to camp next season.
Quincy Acy
0.66
$Who knows? The sample size is too small. What little I’ve seen has been positive. Quincy is an undersized, defence-oriented Power Forward who may be very useful in future.
Brian Boake is a staff writer for Raptors Rapture. “Like” Raptors Rapture on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @RaptorsRapture for all the latest news and updates about the best damn NBA team from Canada.