Connor McDavid signed a new 2-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers for $12.5 million per year. He could have waited for free agency and signed for upward of $20 million. While he is the undisputed best hockey player in the world, his salary is currently 6th, behind Kaprizov ($17 million), Draisaitl ($14 million), Eichel ($13.5 million), Matthews ($13.25 million), and Nate McKinnon ($12.6 million). I am interested in who other Fanatics think took a lower salary to allow their team to build a better roster - in any sport.
McDavid re-signs with Oilers well below his "worth" What other superstars have done this to help their team
- Thread starter peatyscotch
- Start date
Tim Duncan did this with the Spurs. For the 2014 season when the Spurs beat LeBron and the Heat I think Duncan was making about half what he could have so that the Spurs had room for Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, etc.
Scottie Pippen didn't do it intentionally, but that's what happened when he signed a long term deal early on in the Bulls dynasty that ended up being below his value.
The players unions usually block (or try to) taking less than max possible.
I don’t understand this practice. If a team is pocketing that money then I get it. But, this is usually done to allow the team to sign other players and still be near the cap. So why would the union fight spreading the money around to its other members? They should be fighting teams that spend less overall, not individual players trying to win rather than maximize their income.
The union I assume wants to maximize the pay for it's members, the top player(s) taking less money than they could theoretically get might lower the overall ceiling and mean lower pay.
Probably Rocco Becht and many cyclone football players.
This one is a little different. He did take a short term discount. However, the salary cap is projected to increase significantly about the time this contract expires so he'll make more at that time than if he signed a longer-term deal now.
I think both Karl Malone and Gary Payton played on really low value contracts with the Lakers when they had Kobe and Shaq.
They were but were still worth more than they were paid. I think Malone signed for something like a million dollars.
And they didn't win the championship anyway.
is this in reference to Mahomes? His contract is like 10 years haha. The last year of base salary is in 2031.
Or were you talking about McDavid?
I saw a lot of chatter a while back that Brock should take less money for the good of the team.
I disagree for a few reasons:
- This is his first major contract. One bad hit and he’s out of football. He can take a discount on the next one when he’s +$180M richer.
- His AAV is in market for a starting QB, but not so egregious that it hamstrings the team. Brandon Aiuyk’s cap hit as an injured guy is more devastating at this point.
- There’s plenty of high drafted guys above him in salary who have never sniffed the playoff success he has had… with comparable weapons around them too
- He saved Lynch and Shanahan’s job with the Lance debacle. They paid him pennies and he took them to an NFC title and a Super Bowl. He’s earned this.
- The Cap always goes up. Mahomes deal was massive at the time, and he’s middle of the pack now
IMO the “team friendly” deals are for guys who have already cashed in on a previous deal, have multiple streams of endorsements, and understand that conceding some money now can yield legacy securing victories later on. It’s not for guys getting their first major contract.
Mahomes is part owner of the Royals and owns a women’s soccer team. Adidas created a whole branding line for him. He’s also the face of State Farm. He can afford to get creative with his salary to move $10M around here or there.
I disagree for a few reasons:
- This is his first major contract. One bad hit and he’s out of football. He can take a discount on the next one when he’s +$180M richer.
- His AAV is in market for a starting QB, but not so egregious that it hamstrings the team. Brandon Aiuyk’s cap hit as an injured guy is more devastating at this point.
- There’s plenty of high drafted guys above him in salary who have never sniffed the playoff success he has had… with comparable weapons around them too
- He saved Lynch and Shanahan’s job with the Lance debacle. They paid him pennies and he took them to an NFC title and a Super Bowl. He’s earned this.
- The Cap always goes up. Mahomes deal was massive at the time, and he’s middle of the pack now
IMO the “team friendly” deals are for guys who have already cashed in on a previous deal, have multiple streams of endorsements, and understand that conceding some money now can yield legacy securing victories later on. It’s not for guys getting their first major contract.
Mahomes is part owner of the Royals and owns a women’s soccer team. Adidas created a whole branding line for him. He’s also the face of State Farm. He can afford to get creative with his salary to move $10M around here or there.
Yup. Malone had 18 years in the league and Payton had 13 by then. I’d take a pay cut to chase a ring at that point too.
