And while Duren is a very good player, he\u2019s far from elite. And in the modern NBA, paying top dollar for any big man that\u2019s not in the top tier is a massive mistake. Bill Simmons laid it out perfectly on<\/a> a recent podcast with Kirk Goldsberry, as he said that the only centers worth a max in the current league economy are Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama, guys who have completely redefined the position.<\/p>\n Duren is far from that, and paying him $40 million or more a season would be extremely crippling for the team as they try to build out a championship-caliber roster around him, Cade Cunningham, and Ausar Thompson going forward.<\/p>\n Celtics getting similar production for a fraction of the cost<\/p>\n Then on the other side of the coin, you\u2019ve got a team like the Celtics. Boston has invested in guys who will likely never be All-Stars, but are great in their roles, fit the team\u2019s scheme perfectly <\/a>on both ends, and complement each other: Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson, and Luka Garza.<\/p>\n This season, Robinson will make just over $15 million, Garza just over $2.8 million, and Queta about $2.67 million. That\u2019s under $21 million for 48 minutes a night of very good center play – an absolute bargain. Even next season, when Queta\u2019s contract extension kicks in <\/a>and Garza hits free agency, Boston will be on the hook for roughly $28 million between Neemy and Mitch, with youngsters Amari Williams and Chris Cenac Jr. waiting in the wings on rookie deals (a two-way in Williams\u2019 case).<\/p>\n And unless you have a generational talent like Joker or Wemby, that\u2019s exactly how you should handle the position. The way the game is played these days, if a guy can\u2019t do everything at a high level on both ends, he just isn\u2019t worth it. We see it all over the league, and lots of teams are now weighed down with anchor contracts to big men who just aren\u2019t on that level.<\/p>\n It looks like the Pistons may be the next team to fall into that trap, and while they likely won\u2019t regret having Duren on the team, they will probably regret his contract when they\u2019re paying double what the Celtics are for similar production.<\/p>\n
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