This is the last year of his deal at 15.5mm. You'd like to have him sign a lower for longer extension, the problem is how low Parker's value is right now.
He may plan on coming back midseason and playing until he's 40, but everyone else is looking at an injury that is frequently career ending AND he's been battling nagging injuries for years. He's a steady floor general when healthy, but with maybe a 1/3 chance of never playing again, 1/3 of playing but really poorly, and 1/3 of contributing another season or two at a solid level, it's hard to envision the market being more than a vet min deal. A three year vet min would be about 7mm total, obviously a bad move for Parker, so it would have to be 5mm+ to make sense for Parker. Obviously the spurs could choose to give him that or more, but they have to run a business. This deal was at least partly payback for the years of being underpaid (crazy how much salaries have gone up in three years).
It might best for everyone to let the contract run out and make a decision based on health next year. The Spurs seem to be more or less staying pat, so >5mm flexibility in future years may be more valuable than 10mm this year.
He may plan on coming back midseason and playing until he's 40, but everyone else is looking at an injury that is frequently career ending AND he's been battling nagging injuries for years. He's a steady floor general when healthy, but with maybe a 1/3 chance of never playing again, 1/3 of playing but really poorly, and 1/3 of contributing another season or two at a solid level, it's hard to envision the market being more than a vet min deal. A three year vet min would be about 7mm total, obviously a bad move for Parker, so it would have to be 5mm+ to make sense for Parker. Obviously the spurs could choose to give him that or more, but they have to run a business. This deal was at least partly payback for the years of being underpaid (crazy how much salaries have gone up in three years).
It might best for everyone to let the contract run out and make a decision based on health next year. The Spurs seem to be more or less staying pat, so >5mm flexibility in future years may be more valuable than 10mm this year.
