Adams renewed his contract with the Rockets for 39 million in three years, why is traditional center still a popular product?

Shams' revelations always come with a clean and neat spirit, just like this time, it directly exposed the news that Adams and the Rockets reached a three-year, $39 million early contract renewal. At first glance, it may seem that the amount is not the most expensive, but if you think about it carefully, you will find that Adams really understands the word "stable". The thank-you article he posted on social media was quite interesting, without the exaggerated sensationality, just a sentence like "Thank you all for being with you all the way, the journey continues", revealing the calmness of a veteran. I remember watching him interview before, saying that he was just playing basketball for the sake of truth. This is really appropriate to renew the contract - not pursuing short-term profits, but using continuous value to exchange for long-term contracts. This idea is like a cup of warm water in the league that often pursues maximum salary. It looks like a cup of warm water, which is not hot but quenches thirst.

Including this contract renewal, Adams made $210 million in his 14-year NBA career. This number is an astronomical figure in the eyes of ordinary people, but what is more interesting is his contract trajectory. Except for rookie contracts, they are renewed early every time and have never entered the free market. It’s like others bargaining in the vegetable market, but he signed a long-term supply contract with his boss in advance, making it more stable. A friend of my sports agent once told me that players entering the free market are like opening a blind box, and luck accounts for too much. Adams' ability to make the team actively lock in advance is more test of "workplace wisdom" than getting a maximum salary. Think about it, in 2014, many players have been ups and downs in injuries and tactical changes, but he is like an accurate clock. Every time he reaches the contract node, the team submits a contract renewal. Behind this is how stable the competitive state and the value of the locker room are supported.

31-year-old Adams, a 2.11-meter big center, is still said to be the strongest player in the league. This season, the Rockets were able to score 3.9 points and 5.6 boards in 13.7 minutes of the regular season. The playoff time has increased, and the data has also risen to 5.7 points and 6.6 boards, especially the frontcourt board, with 2.9 in the regular season and 3.3 in the playoffs. This efficiency is like a retro bulldozer in the era of rampant small balls. I watched the Rockets play the playoffs last week, and there was a scene that was particularly intuitive: the opponent's guard broke through to the basket and was about to make a layup. Adams stood there like a mountain, stretched out his arm and the ball was directly shot down. The referee fouled the whistle, but the scene was like an adult stopping a child. There are really not many pure-shield centers in the league now. Many teams use short insiders for speed, but at critical moments, when someone needs to withstand it in the paint area, Adams's role is revealed, just like the old saying goes, "If there is an old family, there is a treasure." His teammates have a clear mind on the court.

If you want to say that Adams was the most cruel, it would have to be the Thunder years. He scored in double digits for four consecutive seasons, averaging 13.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in the 18-19 season, of which 4.9 frontcourt boards. This data is probably hyped up to the sky. I was very impressed by it. At that time, he and Westbrook partnered, and Westbrook made many of the second attacks after breaking through and passing the ball or grabbing rebounds. There was a game where the Warriors played, and he grabbed 15 rebounds in a single game, including 8 of the frontcourt boards, which directly mixed the Warriors' inside line and made people overwhelmed. Looking back now, he was a "front court monster" at that time. Others were still thinking about how to shoot on the run, and he had already firmly grasped the opportunity for a second offense. This ability seems a bit "out of place" in the current league that emphasizes three-pointers and fast attacks, but it is precisely because of its scarcity that it has become a hot commodity.

It is precisely because of this that the Lakers wanted to steal him so much before. I heard that the Lakers management placed Adams in the top three signing list at that time, and felt that he could solve the big problems of inside defense and rebounding. But as a result, the Rockets renewed their contract in advance, and the Lakers could only stare at them. This is quite interesting, just like you have a handy tool, but someone else bought it first, and the remaining choices can only be settled for the second best. Now the Lakers may have to stare at the Nets' Clarkston and the Mavericks' Gafford, especially Gafford, who has experience in the finals and is familiar with Doncic, but his contract expires next summer. Even if the Lakers grab it, they can only use it for one year. This is like renting a house. If you live in the short term, you will not be at ease in the long term. This reminds me of the company's previous recruitment of people, and the core talents I liked were snatched by other companies, and in the end they could only choose among the alternatives. Although the alternatives were good, there were always some regrets in my heart.

Finally, I have to congratulate Adams on his career. This guy has been a stable guy and has now renewed his appointment with the Rockets. He may also come to China next. To be honest, if you could see him on the spot, you would probably be able to intuitively feel what "the strongest alliance" is - that physique, which would probably take up half of the venue to that stop. But then again, there are fewer and fewer traditional centers like him in the league. Is his contract renewal this time a comeback from the traditional inside line, or is it a proof that such players still have irreplaceable value? This is quite worth pondering. Just like some people think that they should play fast-paced three-pointers now, but with "old-school" players like Adams proved with data and contracts, they can still enjoy their solid inside skills. Do you think this is an alternative "counterattack" to the small ball era?