Shannon Brown has passed the test. He decided to stick around for at least one more year with the Los Angeles Lakers. Brown signed a two-year, 4.6 million dollar deal on August 4, wrapping up the Lakers last real signee for the upcoming season.
Brown had about 6 other teams looking at him, and was down to Los Angeles, Cleveland and New York, but chose to make less to stay with the back-to-back champs. Good decision. The test he passed: whether or not he was in it for the money.
Two years with a team, and two championships would sure as hell lock me in, but Brown got caught up in the allure of making even more money playing for another team, as well as some more playing time. With Derek Fisher resigning to a three-year deal, and Steve Blake signing to a four-year deal, Brown looks to be the third-string point guard who will not get a whole lot of playing time. But hey, he could win his third championship by age 25.
He is truly the high-wire act, and always puts on a show, but he will never be that franchise player, or a player to carry the whole team on his shoulders. If he was that guy in Cleveland, he would be sitting home after an 82-game season and no playoff berth.
For the athletes of today, they have to ask themselves the ultimate question: Would I rather play for a non-contender and make more money, or take a pay cut and be a contender?
Brown made the right decision choosing the latter, because in the end, these guys should be in it to win. Sure you might get more playing time and a chance to be in a new environment but at what cost? The goal for every team is to make it to the Finals and get the ring. That’s the goal of the team, the fans, and the owners of the franchise. That’s why it amazes me to see the greed in athletes when they sign with another team for the money.
But that isn’t Shannon Brown. He is in it to win it. Granted he will most likely opt out of his two-year contract during the second-year player option, at least when he tested the market, he knew that being in Los Angeles was going to give him the best opportunity to win. So you ONLY make 2.3 million dollars. You have two rings at age 24. That’s a remarkable feat.
Cleveland and New York would not get you anywhere. Sure the nightlife might be great in New York, but with Raymond Felton signing with the Knicks this offseason, he would not get much playing time in the NYC anyway.
I am sorry Shannon, but scoring 8 points a game in limited action is not worthy of a dramatic raise. You will only be a role player, as popular as you are. The Lakers are glad to have you back. Let’s start another three-peat now!