Free company has solely simply began, and but so many gamers have already signed profitable new contracts.
Superstars Jaren Jackson Jr and James Harden have agreed to extensions, whereas many high quality gamers have joined completely different groups.
Regardless of the introduction of the pricey first and second aprons to the NBA wage cap, organizations are nonetheless spending hundreds of thousands.
Certainly, one function participant simply signed a brand new deal that has taken former All-Star guard Jeff Teague by full shock.
The Cleveland Cavaliers simply signed capturing guard Sam Merrill to a four-year $38 million contract.
Teague performed with Merrill for the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship-winning group in 2021, and didn’t assume he had a “massive future” within the NBA.
He even mentioned that Merrill was most likely shocked the Cavaliers had been keen to supply him a lot.
“Shoutout to Sam,” Teague mentioned about his former teammate. “I performed with him in Milwaukee. We gained a championship collectively. We each didn’t get any [playing time].
“However to see my boy receives a commission, I’m pleased for him. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t see an enormous NBA future for him.
“He can shoot that ball. At that second, I used to be like, ‘Sam can shoot,’ however to get $39 million out of the league… I’m so pleased for him. I didn’t count on that. For those who requested him, he most likely didn’t count on that.
“Kenny Atkinson did it once more. He all the time will get individuals paid, like random individuals. No shade to D’Angelo Russell, I believe he’s an important participant, however he received a max deal after enjoying with Kenny.”
The Cavaliers lately traded Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls in change for Lonzo Ball.
Ball will substitute Ty Jerome as a playmaker on the bench unit and likewise present stable perimeter protection.
Teague is an enormous fan of the transfer, from the Cavaliers’ perspective, evaluating Ball to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s Alex Caruso.
“That’s their Alex Caruso,” he added. “Am I incorrect? He’s not even going to be the backup [point guard]. He’s going to be a do-it-all Caruso.
“I’m telling you the way they’re him. They only signed Sam Merrill for $39m, so Sam Merrill is enjoying.
“They’re going to say, ‘Lonzo, you’re going to be a backup and be our do-it-all guard, hit a pair threes, change onto gamers… That’s what you’re going to be.’ And I believe it’s a very good pick-up.”
