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While CJ McCollum and Giannis Antetokounmpo have already scored multi-year extensions, the rest of the 2013 draft class can still lock in a deal and avoid free agency next year. Nate Duncan of the Dunc’d On podcast, joined by Danny Leroux and Dan Feldman, recently role-played potential negotiations between players and their respective GMs to gauge the right price.
In 2013, the Brooklyn Nets selected an athletic big man out of Duke named Mason Plumlee with the 22nd overall pick.
After Plumlee’s standout first season with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2015-16, the crew suggests that he will seek and is worthy of a decent sized contract – listen an hour into the podcast.
Duncan (role-playing Plumlee) and Leroux (role-playing GM Neil Olshey) barter a proposed deal at four years and $65 million.
But Duncan warned that while Plumlee may be the best option at centre - in the unlikely event that this deal is done, there would be serious monetary issues for the Blazers going forward.
He also admits that he doesn’t think “Plumlee is that good”. But when making his case he suggests the former Net is Portland’s most reliable choice to man the middle.
“I’m the only guy on the roster who is center-sized who actually played at center last year and can catch the ball and make a play,’’ Duncan, pretending to be Plumlee, said.
“That would mean Portland’s tax payment will be about a cool 44.6 million or so next year, assuming they decline Shabazz Napier’s option and they let Festus Ezeli go.
“I’m ecstatic if I was Mason Plumlee and his agent (with the 4 and $65 million) … I’m laughing all the way to the bank.”
However, Feldman does go on to argue that Plumlee could ask for more given his solid fit in Portland.
There is also an attempt at humor when they joke about how the Zellers and the Plumlees should be one family and something about Meyers Leonard’s tan.
Plumlee started all 82 regular-season games in 2015-16 recording averages of 9.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists. His rebounding numbers increased to 11.8 per game during the playoffs.