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The NBA free agency period can be one of the most exciting times of the year for the avid NBA follower. Fans wonder what kinds of story lines will surface throughout the period where NBA front offices court the top players to join their squad.
However, the processes and the behind-the-scenes that go on during the free agency period is apparently a rigid one. Players are often represented by agents, and they are usually the people that go through this rigorous process.
“People think it’s really easy to represent a max-level player – and it is easier than other kinds of contracts because you have a ton of leverage – but there’s still a lot of analysis that goes into it,” one agent said in a piece by Alex Kennedy of the Hoops Hype.
“You need to figure out how long you want to lock into the deal, you need to be aware of how to structure the deal since the percentage of the salary cap he can get changes depending on the player’s age, and you need to make sure the payment schedule is favorable. Just because the money is set since it’s the maximum amount, there are other things to be negotiated. And the better the player, the more leverage you have.”
There is certainly a lot that agents look into when they try to find the best possible deal for their players.
Factors such as the length of the deal, the clauses that are involved, the player options, and the actual face amount of the deal are just some of the many elements of the contract that these player representatives delve into.
Moreover, the players' preferences, priorities, and circumstances also play a huge role in the negotiations. Some players would prefer to have a secured and long-term contract, while others would want a deal that gives them the most flexibility to keep their options open.
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LeBron James' previous run with the Cleveland Cavaliers showed that he wanted to be careful of his situation there, and thus, just opted for one-year deals every year. In hindsight, this lack of a long-term commitment to the franchise shows that he never really fully trusted the Cavs front office and ownership.
In his current deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron committed to a long-term four-year deal, which is something different from what we saw in James' second run in Cleveland.
In Cleveland, LeBron's main priority was to keep on winning, and to keep fielding the best team possible. Now in Los Angeles, while winning is still a top priority, providing a better life and better opportunities for his family was apparently a huge factor in his decision to move.
People's minds change – and NBA players are no different. What they want now may not actually be what they want next year.
Rhetorically, Kevin Durant's goal this season is to capture his third NBA championship in a row. Next year, the (possibly) three-time finals MVP may want to find and do his own thing.
