Teams

TJ Warren has not played in a game since late 2020. How will NBA teams figure out what he is worth?

15% of the yearly value in any contract can be comprised of unlikely bonuses, so there could be a sizeable bonuses in Warren’s next deal that pay out if he plays a certain number of minutes or games — likely a number that would be negotiated with his team. A player option in Warren’s contract could allow him to return to free agency sooner after showcasing healthy play, while a team option would make a team feel better about the length of Warren’s contract in case he doesn’t return to his prior form. Any front office in a position to take a risk may be willing to ink the forward to a contract, but negotiating with so many factors at play could be challenging. Over-the-cap teams that can only offer Warren the non-taxpayer mid-level exception in 2021-22, a deal that would start at a maximum value just over $10 million, may be forced to get creative with how the contract structure looks with guaranteed money in future seasons. It’s rare that such a talented player misses so much action right before they become a free agent, and the situation makes it nearly impossible to predict how much, or in what structure, T.J. Warren gets paid this summer. Warren’s next contract could contain similar language that requires him to play in a certain number of games to have his contract become more, or fully, guaranteed. There are other ways to make Warren’s contract balanced in a way that is both fair to him and his new team. Kelly Olynyk inked a contract with the Miami Heat in 2017 that featured an unlikely bonus for minutes played. Warren will be in a similar situation, though he is a much more proven player and plays a more in-demand position. “T.J. Warren has worked incredibly hard over the past 14 months to get to this point — a full participant in on-court activity with his teammates — all while navigating the many challenges that accompany this type of injury,” Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard said at the time. Dinwiddie’s recent campaign will be what decision makers hope can happen to Warren. After tearing his ACL in late 2020, Dinwiddie returned this past season and was still a solid player with a similar skillset. So while Warren was once a force in the league, he has not shown it in 18 months.