The last two NBA offseasons weren’t exactly an exercise in moderation.
Over $1 billion was shelled out — after the gigantic television deal hit — in 2016. Last season a more modest $400 million was spent. The lasting impression from all this thriftiness was that the good time would keep rolling and free agents will keep reeling in the dough.
And then Lou Williams signed a contract extension.
You know Lou, Lou of the Clippers. Lou, the coulda-woulda-shoulda 2018 All-Star that wasn’t. Lou, the front-runner for the Sixth Man of the Year award who’s averaging 23.