Knicks Rumors: The Only Players Worth A Max Contract
Honorable Mention: The Big Men
Al Horford, UFA
- Al Horford is one of the most consistent and reliable players in the NBA. He does a bit of everything on both ends of the floor, and doesn’t have an exploitable weakness. Whether he’s pulling up from midrange, spotting up from beyond the arc, crashing the boards, going to the post, or attacking off the bounce, he can do it all. He’s even a plus defender. At 29 years of age, however, is he worth paying upwards fo $26 million per season?
Dwight Howard
- Dwight Howard is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner with an NBA Finals appearance and three trips to the Conference Finals. On that alone, hes’ easily worth a max contract. Back and shoulder injuries have simply become too much of an issue to justify a max contract from a team that’s already solid at center. Howard can still play—No. 2 in the NBA in field goal percentage and No. 4 in rebounding—but he’ll turn 31 years old in December, and still lacks a consistent post game.
- Hassan Whiteside is your quintessential Phil Jackson center. He’s a physically overwhelming player who can play from the post, spot-up from midrange, and dominate the glass on both ends. He’s also the most dominant shot-blocker in the NBA. With questions about his maturity and overall consistency, however, it’s fair to question whether or not he should receive a max contract.
Next: The Calculated Risk