What conclusions can we draw from TRoss’ contract extension?

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The Toronto Raptors have reached a contract extension with swingman Terrence Ross. He has been signed for three years and a reported $33 million.

I suggested a 3-year, $25M offer would bring a signature. I’m happy TRoss is a Raptor for the foreseeable future, but his contract also brings several matters into sharp focus:

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we (fans and the basketball writers community) are still not prepared for the impact the spike in the salary cap (to $90 million next season, and $108M following) is having around the league

  • guessing a 3-year term was easy, but I never considered a number above $30 million, let alone 33

a lot of players are going to switch agents

As Graeme Klayh pointed out, TRoss will make a tiny fraction less than Stephen Curry next year. (At the moment, according to

Hoops Hype

, Curry is #62 in salary. If he’s not having harsh words with his agent, he’s got the disposition of a saint. Golden State management should be offering to re-negotiate his contract, right now.)

Nov 3, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) dribbles the ball past Dallas Mavericks guard Devin Harris (34) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Raptors defeat the Mavericks 102-91. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

not yet established players will get paid for tomorrow’s performance

  • I don’t have any other explanation for TRoss getting that kind of a raise; likewise Jeremy Lamb

DeMar DeRozan will opt out of the final year of his contract (Duh).

  • I’m sure his agent is warming up his arguments already…”If Ross is worth $11M, my guy’s got to be worth twice that. He’s actually done something.”
  • If DeMar does get $20 million next year, the Raptors can absorb it and Ross without busting the cap, at least according to my back-of-the-envelope calculations

GM Masai Ujiri wants his team to be an oasis of sanity, and that means creating a core of long-term players

  • The Raptors are in the fortunate position of having no “dead money” on their roster. Nor do they have any salary-cap destroying contracts, the most extreme of which is Kobe Bryant’s. So if both the front office and coaches like someone, as they do TRoss, the implications of over-payment are not dire. Put another way, the team can afford a mistake.

Next: Terrence Ross is on board

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Brian Boake is Senior Editor 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.