The golden age for NBA players wasn’t supposed to arrive before 2016 when the new TV deal would kick in, but it has clearly arrived early enough for the free agents of 2015.
It started just as the free agency period kicked in with the calendar turning July when Anthony Davis agreed to the largest single contract ever for an NBA player.
While other big-name players like LaMarcus Aldridge, Monta Ellis and Marc Gasol are still trying to figure out what they want to do, many significant others like Kevin Love, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, DeMarre Carroll, Khris Middleton and Tyson Chandler (and plenty more) have already made up their minds about where they want to spend their next few years. That’s only natural, given their status as free agents.
What’s been intriguing from the jump has been the amount of money involved for just about all the players: Love was given a five-year, $110 million contract; Green was given a five-year, $82 million contract; Dragic was given a five-year, $90 million contract; Middleton was given a five-year, $70 million contract. Carroll was given a four-year, $60 million deal. The list goes on and on. A couple of years ago, giving players like Carroll and Middleton that kind of money was practically unthinkable. With everything set to change thanks to the upcoming TV deal, expect plenty more of where those deals came from.
Naturally, players around the association were generally thrilled for themselves and each other. Check out all the reactions and discussions from Wednesday on twitter below:
This @NBA free agency/trade period is nuts!!! Im struggling to keep up…..
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) July 2, 2015
I’m going going back back to the bay!!! http://t.co/irQV16elVx
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) July 2, 2015
Persevere to the Top!! So proud of my bro @Paulmillsap4 . @DeMarreCarroll1 https://t.co/lgVrYAnijJ
— Elijah Millsap (@Elijah_Millsap) July 2, 2015
Couldn’t be more proud to represent the @okcthunder. I’m excited & dedicated to helping bring a ship to the best fans in the NBA. #Thunderup
— Kyle Singler (@KyleSingler) July 2, 2015
Blessed and Excited to be back with the @ATLHawks!!! Great things ahead. Thank you all for your support. — Paul Millsap (@Paulmillsap4) July 2, 2015
Congrats to my brother @AntDavis23 and @Dame_Lillard ! Huge accomplishment keep killing and doing you’re thing ! #NBAFreeAgency
— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummondd) July 1, 2015
@Goran_Dragic Welcome back my brother. One more to go. #HEATNation #CantWaitToGetBackOutThere #TeamBosh — Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) July 1, 2015
Thanx Indy for giving me a chance…Thanx for the support over the last 4 years…Luv is Luv….
— David West (@D_West30) July 1, 2015
CLE throwin that bag around crazyy. lls — Kendall Marshall (@KButter5) July 1, 2015
@bwright34 congrats boy!
— Danny Green (@DGreen_14) July 1, 2015
@DGreen_14 thanks bro! You too #fam — Brandan Wright (@bwright34) July 1, 2015
Respect Kevin Love. #GoGetAChip #NBAFreeAgency
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) July 1, 2015
I want to THANK ALL the #AtlHawks fans for Believing in me! I want to THANK the HAWKS Organization for giving me the Opportunity!! THANKFUL. — DeMarre Carroll (@DeMarreCarroll1) July 1, 2015
I just want to congratulate my brother @AntDavis23 I’m extremely proud of you. Keep showing the world how great you are!
— Mike Kidd-Gilchrist (@MKG14) July 1, 2015
Social Media reporting shouldn’t diminish the quality of content #justsayin pic.twitter.com/bpAcJGJW9r — Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) July 1, 2015
Can we please start the season now….
— Marreese Speights (@Mospeights16) July 1, 2015
We’ve built something great in #RipCity… Would love to continue that playing along side @aldridge_12 … Sure our team feels the same! — Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 1, 2015
I’m happy for my young fella @JimmyButler on signing his extension. It’s been amazing watching him mature as a player and as a man. #proud
— Nazr Mohammed (@NazrMohammed) July 1, 2015
“Hard Work is a Talent” #WeTheNorth #Blessed https://t.co/3XhipthYk0 — DeMarre Carroll (@DeMarreCarroll1) July 1, 2015
Good day for the players in the association
— The Needle (@spencerhawes00) July 1, 2015
Congrats Brook and Tad on new deals with Nets!!! #WeAreBrooklyn #NetsNation #NBA #NBAFreeAgency — Sergey Karasev (@SKgetbuckets) July 1, 2015
Feels great to be back in green and white! #CelticNation @Celtics
— Jonas Jerebko (@JonasJerebko) July 1, 2015
My goodness, NBA or Wall Street? #FreeAgencyFrenzy — Landry Fields (@landryfields) July 1, 2015
Really stinks when one of your brothers has to go…best of luck @tiagosplitter we will miss you and I’m sure you’ll be back at some pt
— Danny Green (@DGreen_14) July 1, 2015
Not bad for a first day ! #FreeAgency #Over500Mil — Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) July 1, 2015
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) July 1, 2015
@kylesingler congrats bro!! #ThunderUp — Anthony Morrow (@MrAnthonyMorrow) July 1, 2015
think its time for me to have a son…. #nbafreeagency
— speedy claxton (@speeddeamon) July 1, 2015
…windy city skyline… aka home… https://t.co/fY8Phqzu7X — Jimmy Butler (@JimmyButler) July 1, 2015
Watching the Free agency. #interesting
— Al Thornton (@AThornton14) July 1, 2015
If you never worked at the job or place you speaking on, then your opinion doesn’t even matter to nobody….you just wasting air — Marquis Daniels (@Marquis_Daniels) July 1, 2015
@DeMarreCarroll1 welcome to the family #WeTheNorth
— Patrick Patterson (@pdpatt) July 1, 2015
Just want to let yall know, I’m not a free agent lol I’m still here with OKC, hopefully for a long time. #ThunderUp — Anthony Morrow (@MrAnthonyMorrow) July 1, 2015
yeaa BK!
— Kendall Marshall (@KButter5) July 1, 2015
Who would’ve thought this guy would ever make it? Not only do I get my old job back, but they gave me… https://t.co/je15X1eo0o — Danny Green (@DGreen_14) July 1, 2015
Don’t hate the NBA is huge now all these cats are going to get paid God bless ya’ll
— Kenny Anderson (@chibbs_1) July 1, 2015
Congrats to the bro @farouq1 ! He’s always been a good humble dude. Congrats on everything man. — Austin Rivers (@AustinRivers25) July 1, 2015
Man there is a lot of $$$ being thrown around in free agency! Happy for these guys…that TV deal is trickling down! #Payday #NBAfreeagency
— Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) July 1, 2015
Jim Park is a blogger and editor of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.