What a difference a year makes.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, free agent forward Al-Farouq Aminu has agreed to a four-year, $30 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Free agent Aminu Al-Farouq has agreed to a four year, $30 million deal with Portland, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2015
Of course, it's Al-Farouq Aminu.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2015
The 24-year-old signed a two-year deal for the league minimum with the Dallas Mavericks last summer after failing to garner significant interest on the free agent market. Though he averaged just 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game for Rick Carlisle in 2014-2015, Aminu nevertheless re-established himself as an impactful defender with a developing offensive game. He finished the season with consecutive games of 14 or more points versus the Houston Rockets in the playoffs, making his choice whether or not to exercise a player option for 2015-2016 a no-brainer.
The Wake Forest product’s new contract is indicative of two major league-wide developments: The worth of a player that can play both forward spots, and rise in value of contracts as the salary cap boom approaches.
Aminu still isn’t the consistent long-range shooter teams would prefer from a stretch 4 let alone a full-fledged small forward, but he showed enough development in that regard last season for Portland to be optimistic about his future growth. His ability to guard multiple positions, rebound more effectively than his size suggests, and take advantage of open space with the ball in his hands makes him a promising power forward for the modern NBA – whether the jumper becomes more consistent or otherwise. While we’d prefer if Terry Stotts played the 6’9, 215-pounder alongside three smalls full-time, it’s inevitable he’ll see some time on the wing, too, making the degree of his improvement from the perimeter extra crucial.
For the league at large, Aminu’s average $7.5 million salary makes minor waves on the surface. A year ago, it would have been laughable to sign a player of his background, production, and potential to such a lucrative deal. But almost every team in the league will be flush with cap space in each of the next two summers, and Portland especially has no reason not to set the market if LaMarcus Aldridge does as expected and leaves the Pacific Northwest. A four-year, $30 million contract could still prove an overpay for Aminu, but it wouldn’t be a back-breaking one for the Blazers under any imaginable scenario.
Welcome to the new NBA. And more importantly, congratulations Al-Farouq!
[Via Adrian Wojnarowski]
