Is Your Max Contract PG Worth It?
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 6:13 pm
Is Your Max Contract Worth It?
Ground Rules & Assumptions:
1. I measured each player against the average player at their position (includes all signed players in the league).
2. All positions are measured in common “important” stat categories: PPG, FG%, TS%, 3P%. FT%. FTA
3. Specific positions also measure statistical categories that pertain to that position.
4. How did I determine if a player is terrible, below average, average, above average, or elite?
a. The MEAN of each position and stat category is used to determine how many standard deviations a player’s stats are from the MEAN. (How much better is X player at Y stat than an average player in the league?)
5. Stats were pulled from SIM 8, and can be slightly off by the time this article posts, but shouldn’t affect the analysis in any meaningful way at this point in the season.
6. There are three possible verdicts:
a. NOT WORTH THE MAX – Player does not show max level “improvement” from the average player at their position
b. MAYBE WORTH THE MAX – Worth a max, but may depend on the team, system, and surrounding players
c. WORTH THE MAX – Clearly in a league of their own.
Point Guards:
Stats being measured: PPG, APG, SPG, TO, FG%, FTA, FT%, 3P%, TS%, AstR, ToR, PER
What determines an elite PG in the league? In my opinion, a PG in this league worth of a max contract should be well above average in some of these categories: APG, STL, TS%, AstR, and ToR.
For Turnovers and Turnover Rate, players want to be below the league position average.
Here is a detailed look at each Max Contract PG.
Jameer Nelson:
• PPG: 15.1 – AVERAGE
• APG: 8.3 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 1.6 - AVERAGE
• TO: 2.2 – AVERAGE
• FG%: 44.9% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 70 – BELOW AVERAGE
• FT%: 74.3% - BELOW AVERAGE
• 3P%: 43% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• TS%: 55.6% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 34.5% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• ToR: 9% - AVERAGE
• PER: 17.5 - AVERAGE
Jameer Nelson only does 4 things at an above average rate: APG, 3P%, AstR, and ToR. For a player on a max contract, I think you would expect a lot more. Granted, for Jameer, he has already reached that dreaded 31+ years old, and I’m not sure you could expect much more from him. If we look back at his career, his numbers are relatively consistent and maybe his drop to G/G hasn’t had a huge impact on his production. Is he worth the max?
VERDICT: NOT WORTH THE MAX
Delonte West:
• PPG: 18.1 - ABOVE AVERAGE
• APG: 5.4 - AVERAGE
• SPG: 2.3 - ABOVE AVERAGE
• TO: 2.6 - AVERAGE
• FG%: 44.6% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 203 - AVERAGE
• FT%: 84.2 - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 38.6% - AVERAGE
• TS%: 55.5% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 22.3 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 10.6 - AVERAGE
• PER: 19.7 - AVERAGE
Delonte West is above average in 3 categories. It’s pretty easy to say that at the PG position, Delonte West does not deliver is some of the very key statistics, and this is probably a career year for him. I think Delonte West is a reaction to the fact that PGs are extremely rare in this league, but even with that rarity, he doesn’t perform above the average standard deviation in key stats. And if you have a scoring PG like west, you would expect him to at least be above average in FG%, 3P%, and TS%. Is he worth the max?
VERDICT: NOT WORTH THE MAX
Chris Paul:
• PPG: 21.6 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• APG: 8.7 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 2.8 - ELITE
• TO: 3.2 – BELOW AVERAGE
• FG%: 44.7% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 303 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• FT%: 80.5% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 37.6 - AVERAGE
• TS%: 56.1% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 28 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 10.3 - AVERAGE
• PER: 24.5 – ABOVE AVERAGE
Chris Paul delivers an above average rating in 4 categories and is elite in the steals category. Usually, in this league, if you have a player that is elite at anything, you hold to them forever. Chris Paul is one of those players. If you look back his career stats, this is down year for some reason, but he still delivers a dynamic scoring punch while performing the all-important PG duties of assists and steals. Is CP3 on the decline, or are the cavs no longer a good team? Either way, CP3 was/is well worth his current max contract… next year… maybe not. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: WORTH THE MAX
Deron Williams:
• PPG: 30.7 - ELITE
• APG: 10.2 - ELITE
• SPG: 1.5 - AVERAGE
• TO: 3.1 – BELOW AVERAGE
• FG%: 53% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• FTA: 413 - ELITE
• FT%: 78.9 - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 48.5% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• TS%: 64.1 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• AstR: 27.4 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 8.4 - AVERAGE
• PER: 34.1 – ELITE
Wow… Deron Williams dominates at the highest level in 3 major categories and tops it off with getting to the FT line at an insanely high level for a PG in this league(Only Derrick Rose does it more for max contract PGs). Deron Williams is the perfect PG. He might be underpaid, but we’ll see how this 5 year contract holds up. My guess… Deron Williams can regress and still be worth a max. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: WORTH THE MAX + KEY TO THE CITY
Kyle Lowry:
• PPG: 16 - AVERAGE
• APG: 8.8 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 2.8 - ELITE
• TO: 2.5 - AVERAGE
• FG%: 43% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 213 - AVERAGE
• FT%: 77.5% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 32.4% - AVERAGE
• TS%: 53.9% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 33.7 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• ToR: 9.7 - AVERAGE
• PER: 22.6 – ABOVE AVERAGE
Kyle Lowry is an interesting player. He’s basically average across the board, but he excels in three very important areas: SPG, APG, ASTR. Like I said before, if you find a player elite at anything you want to keep them for as long as possible. This is a down year for Lowry shooting percentage wise, but it wouldn’t jump him up a bracket in those areas, and this season’s stats don’t show a lot of variation from his career norms. In short Lowry is what he is. A great PG, but one that has probably benefited from being with Bosh for 5 years. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: MAYBE WORTH THE MAX
Goran Dragic:
• PPG: 21.4 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• APG: 7.7 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 1.7 - AVERAGE
• TO: 3 – BELOW AVERAGE
• FG%: 53% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• FTA: 235 - AVERAGE
• FT%: 77.9% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 45.6% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• TS%: 64.4% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• AstR: 28.3 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 10.9 - AVERAGE
• PER: 26.1 – ABOVE AVERAGE
Goran Dragic doesn’t show elite ability at anything, but he, across the board, a step above most PGs in the league. Scoring, assists, FG%, 3P%, TS%, and PER. This is a career year for Dragic, who at 27 year of age, still has plenty of time to improve even more. He’s a great player and on the rise. Is he worth a max?
Verdict: WORTH THE MAX
Derrick Rose:
• PPG: 28.1 – ELITE
• APG: 8.4 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 0.9 – BELOW AVERAGE
• TO: 3.9 – TERRIBLE
• FG%: 49.6% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 521 – ELITE (I almost made a new category for this. It’s 3.5 Standard Deviations away from the mean!!)
• FT%: 79.5% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 31.7% - AVERAGE
• TS%: 58.4 - AVERAGE
• AstR: 23.2 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 10.8 - AVERAGE
• PER: 27.3 – ABOVE AVERAGE
Derrick Rose is a lightning bolt of a PG. He’s elite at scoring and is seriously .1% away from being above average in FG%. That’s a great combo to have. At to the fact that he’s light years ahead of the league in drawing fouls and getting to the line. This is a dream from a PG. Like Dragic, Rose is having a career year at a young-ish age with years left on the contract. I expect rose to continue to improve throughout the life of the contract. Is he worth the max?
VERICT: WORTH THE MAX
Stephen Curry:
• PPG: 25.7 - ELITE
• APG: 7.2 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 1.8 - AVERAGE
• TO: 3.3 – BELOW AVERAGE
• FG%: 50% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• FTA: 296 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• FT%: 89.5% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 42.4% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• TS%: 62.8% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• AstR: 23.3 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 10.5 - AVERAGE
• PER: 28.7 – ELITE
Stephen Curry may not be OP, but statistically he is getting pretty close to that level. He is an elite scoring with above average shooting percentages, all while maintaining the ability to find open teammates. He and Deron Williams are the only Max PGs to post an Elite level PER. Again, another young-ish player that is having a career year with multiple years left on the deal. Dragic, Rose, and Curry all represent a very good generation of PGs. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: WORTH THE MAX
Ty Lawson:
• PPG: 19.4 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• APG: 7.3 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 2.1 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• TO: 2.6 - AVERAGE
• FG%: 45% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 296 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• FT%: 75% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 38% - AVERAGE
• TS%: 56% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 27 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 9.5 - AVERAGE
• PER: 21.1 – AVERAGE
Ty Lawson is an interesting case. He is basically average across the board. He barely reaches the level of “Above Average” in PPG, APG, and SPG. He’s right on the cusp of being a just above average PG. I think his size and his over willingness to take a lot of shots, holds Ty Lawson back. For a scoring PG to basically be average at every scoring category, you have to be wondering if the Rockets will regret this Max down the road. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: NOT WORTH THE MAX
Ricky Rubio:
• PPG: 15 - AVERAGE
• APG: 11.3 - ELITE
• SPG: 2.5 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• TO: 2.4 - AVERAGE
• FG%: 41% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 162 - AVERAGE
• FT%: 83.3% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 35.9% - AVERAGE
• TS%: 52.4% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 40.4 - ELITE
• ToR: 8.5 - AVERAGE
• PER: 21.9 – ABOVE AVERAGE
Ricky Rubio is almost unexplainable at times. He is an average PG who is elite at maybe the most important PG stats: APG and ASTR. Add into the fact that he does post an above average PER and SPG, you must consider that Ricky Rubio may be a top PG in this league. He has shown great improvement in scoring this year. If he adds that to his game… the league better watch out. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: MAYBE WORTH THE MAX
Tyreke Evans:
• PPG: 14.7 - AVERAGE
• APG: 5.8 - AVERAGE
• SPG: 1.9 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• TO: 2.6 - AVERAGE
• FG%: 45% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 123 – BELOW AVERAGE
• FT%: 70.7% - BELOW AVERAGE
• 3P%: 27.3% - BELOW AVERAGE
• TS%: 50.4% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 25.1 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 11.4 - AVERAGE
• PER: 18.9 - AVERAGE
If anyone knows me personal feelings about IRL Tyreke Evans, you will understand how much joy this brings me. Tyreke Evans isn’t even remotely better than average PG. He’s worse than the league average in 3 areas, and 2 other stats (TS% and ToR) are right on the edge. He doesn’t score well, doesn’t distribute the ball, and Tyreke doesn’t get to the FT line (doesn’t convert them either). How Tyreke Evans is B/B is beyond me. Beware of the fake blues people. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: NOT WORTH THE MAX
Ground Rules & Assumptions:
1. I measured each player against the average player at their position (includes all signed players in the league).
2. All positions are measured in common “important” stat categories: PPG, FG%, TS%, 3P%. FT%. FTA
3. Specific positions also measure statistical categories that pertain to that position.
4. How did I determine if a player is terrible, below average, average, above average, or elite?
a. The MEAN of each position and stat category is used to determine how many standard deviations a player’s stats are from the MEAN. (How much better is X player at Y stat than an average player in the league?)
5. Stats were pulled from SIM 8, and can be slightly off by the time this article posts, but shouldn’t affect the analysis in any meaningful way at this point in the season.
6. There are three possible verdicts:
a. NOT WORTH THE MAX – Player does not show max level “improvement” from the average player at their position
b. MAYBE WORTH THE MAX – Worth a max, but may depend on the team, system, and surrounding players
c. WORTH THE MAX – Clearly in a league of their own.
Point Guards:
Stats being measured: PPG, APG, SPG, TO, FG%, FTA, FT%, 3P%, TS%, AstR, ToR, PER
What determines an elite PG in the league? In my opinion, a PG in this league worth of a max contract should be well above average in some of these categories: APG, STL, TS%, AstR, and ToR.
For Turnovers and Turnover Rate, players want to be below the league position average.
Here is a detailed look at each Max Contract PG.
Jameer Nelson:
• PPG: 15.1 – AVERAGE
• APG: 8.3 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 1.6 - AVERAGE
• TO: 2.2 – AVERAGE
• FG%: 44.9% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 70 – BELOW AVERAGE
• FT%: 74.3% - BELOW AVERAGE
• 3P%: 43% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• TS%: 55.6% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 34.5% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• ToR: 9% - AVERAGE
• PER: 17.5 - AVERAGE
Jameer Nelson only does 4 things at an above average rate: APG, 3P%, AstR, and ToR. For a player on a max contract, I think you would expect a lot more. Granted, for Jameer, he has already reached that dreaded 31+ years old, and I’m not sure you could expect much more from him. If we look back at his career, his numbers are relatively consistent and maybe his drop to G/G hasn’t had a huge impact on his production. Is he worth the max?
VERDICT: NOT WORTH THE MAX
Delonte West:
• PPG: 18.1 - ABOVE AVERAGE
• APG: 5.4 - AVERAGE
• SPG: 2.3 - ABOVE AVERAGE
• TO: 2.6 - AVERAGE
• FG%: 44.6% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 203 - AVERAGE
• FT%: 84.2 - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 38.6% - AVERAGE
• TS%: 55.5% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 22.3 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 10.6 - AVERAGE
• PER: 19.7 - AVERAGE
Delonte West is above average in 3 categories. It’s pretty easy to say that at the PG position, Delonte West does not deliver is some of the very key statistics, and this is probably a career year for him. I think Delonte West is a reaction to the fact that PGs are extremely rare in this league, but even with that rarity, he doesn’t perform above the average standard deviation in key stats. And if you have a scoring PG like west, you would expect him to at least be above average in FG%, 3P%, and TS%. Is he worth the max?
VERDICT: NOT WORTH THE MAX
Chris Paul:
• PPG: 21.6 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• APG: 8.7 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 2.8 - ELITE
• TO: 3.2 – BELOW AVERAGE
• FG%: 44.7% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 303 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• FT%: 80.5% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 37.6 - AVERAGE
• TS%: 56.1% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 28 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 10.3 - AVERAGE
• PER: 24.5 – ABOVE AVERAGE
Chris Paul delivers an above average rating in 4 categories and is elite in the steals category. Usually, in this league, if you have a player that is elite at anything, you hold to them forever. Chris Paul is one of those players. If you look back his career stats, this is down year for some reason, but he still delivers a dynamic scoring punch while performing the all-important PG duties of assists and steals. Is CP3 on the decline, or are the cavs no longer a good team? Either way, CP3 was/is well worth his current max contract… next year… maybe not. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: WORTH THE MAX
Deron Williams:
• PPG: 30.7 - ELITE
• APG: 10.2 - ELITE
• SPG: 1.5 - AVERAGE
• TO: 3.1 – BELOW AVERAGE
• FG%: 53% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• FTA: 413 - ELITE
• FT%: 78.9 - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 48.5% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• TS%: 64.1 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• AstR: 27.4 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 8.4 - AVERAGE
• PER: 34.1 – ELITE
Wow… Deron Williams dominates at the highest level in 3 major categories and tops it off with getting to the FT line at an insanely high level for a PG in this league(Only Derrick Rose does it more for max contract PGs). Deron Williams is the perfect PG. He might be underpaid, but we’ll see how this 5 year contract holds up. My guess… Deron Williams can regress and still be worth a max. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: WORTH THE MAX + KEY TO THE CITY
Kyle Lowry:
• PPG: 16 - AVERAGE
• APG: 8.8 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 2.8 - ELITE
• TO: 2.5 - AVERAGE
• FG%: 43% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 213 - AVERAGE
• FT%: 77.5% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 32.4% - AVERAGE
• TS%: 53.9% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 33.7 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• ToR: 9.7 - AVERAGE
• PER: 22.6 – ABOVE AVERAGE
Kyle Lowry is an interesting player. He’s basically average across the board, but he excels in three very important areas: SPG, APG, ASTR. Like I said before, if you find a player elite at anything you want to keep them for as long as possible. This is a down year for Lowry shooting percentage wise, but it wouldn’t jump him up a bracket in those areas, and this season’s stats don’t show a lot of variation from his career norms. In short Lowry is what he is. A great PG, but one that has probably benefited from being with Bosh for 5 years. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: MAYBE WORTH THE MAX
Goran Dragic:
• PPG: 21.4 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• APG: 7.7 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 1.7 - AVERAGE
• TO: 3 – BELOW AVERAGE
• FG%: 53% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• FTA: 235 - AVERAGE
• FT%: 77.9% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 45.6% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• TS%: 64.4% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• AstR: 28.3 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 10.9 - AVERAGE
• PER: 26.1 – ABOVE AVERAGE
Goran Dragic doesn’t show elite ability at anything, but he, across the board, a step above most PGs in the league. Scoring, assists, FG%, 3P%, TS%, and PER. This is a career year for Dragic, who at 27 year of age, still has plenty of time to improve even more. He’s a great player and on the rise. Is he worth a max?
Verdict: WORTH THE MAX
Derrick Rose:
• PPG: 28.1 – ELITE
• APG: 8.4 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 0.9 – BELOW AVERAGE
• TO: 3.9 – TERRIBLE
• FG%: 49.6% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 521 – ELITE (I almost made a new category for this. It’s 3.5 Standard Deviations away from the mean!!)
• FT%: 79.5% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 31.7% - AVERAGE
• TS%: 58.4 - AVERAGE
• AstR: 23.2 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 10.8 - AVERAGE
• PER: 27.3 – ABOVE AVERAGE
Derrick Rose is a lightning bolt of a PG. He’s elite at scoring and is seriously .1% away from being above average in FG%. That’s a great combo to have. At to the fact that he’s light years ahead of the league in drawing fouls and getting to the line. This is a dream from a PG. Like Dragic, Rose is having a career year at a young-ish age with years left on the contract. I expect rose to continue to improve throughout the life of the contract. Is he worth the max?
VERICT: WORTH THE MAX
Stephen Curry:
• PPG: 25.7 - ELITE
• APG: 7.2 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 1.8 - AVERAGE
• TO: 3.3 – BELOW AVERAGE
• FG%: 50% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• FTA: 296 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• FT%: 89.5% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 42.4% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• TS%: 62.8% - ABOVE AVERAGE
• AstR: 23.3 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 10.5 - AVERAGE
• PER: 28.7 – ELITE
Stephen Curry may not be OP, but statistically he is getting pretty close to that level. He is an elite scoring with above average shooting percentages, all while maintaining the ability to find open teammates. He and Deron Williams are the only Max PGs to post an Elite level PER. Again, another young-ish player that is having a career year with multiple years left on the deal. Dragic, Rose, and Curry all represent a very good generation of PGs. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: WORTH THE MAX
Ty Lawson:
• PPG: 19.4 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• APG: 7.3 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• SPG: 2.1 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• TO: 2.6 - AVERAGE
• FG%: 45% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 296 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• FT%: 75% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 38% - AVERAGE
• TS%: 56% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 27 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 9.5 - AVERAGE
• PER: 21.1 – AVERAGE
Ty Lawson is an interesting case. He is basically average across the board. He barely reaches the level of “Above Average” in PPG, APG, and SPG. He’s right on the cusp of being a just above average PG. I think his size and his over willingness to take a lot of shots, holds Ty Lawson back. For a scoring PG to basically be average at every scoring category, you have to be wondering if the Rockets will regret this Max down the road. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: NOT WORTH THE MAX
Ricky Rubio:
• PPG: 15 - AVERAGE
• APG: 11.3 - ELITE
• SPG: 2.5 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• TO: 2.4 - AVERAGE
• FG%: 41% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 162 - AVERAGE
• FT%: 83.3% - AVERAGE
• 3P%: 35.9% - AVERAGE
• TS%: 52.4% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 40.4 - ELITE
• ToR: 8.5 - AVERAGE
• PER: 21.9 – ABOVE AVERAGE
Ricky Rubio is almost unexplainable at times. He is an average PG who is elite at maybe the most important PG stats: APG and ASTR. Add into the fact that he does post an above average PER and SPG, you must consider that Ricky Rubio may be a top PG in this league. He has shown great improvement in scoring this year. If he adds that to his game… the league better watch out. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: MAYBE WORTH THE MAX
Tyreke Evans:
• PPG: 14.7 - AVERAGE
• APG: 5.8 - AVERAGE
• SPG: 1.9 – ABOVE AVERAGE
• TO: 2.6 - AVERAGE
• FG%: 45% - AVERAGE
• FTA: 123 – BELOW AVERAGE
• FT%: 70.7% - BELOW AVERAGE
• 3P%: 27.3% - BELOW AVERAGE
• TS%: 50.4% - AVERAGE
• AstR: 25.1 - AVERAGE
• ToR: 11.4 - AVERAGE
• PER: 18.9 - AVERAGE
If anyone knows me personal feelings about IRL Tyreke Evans, you will understand how much joy this brings me. Tyreke Evans isn’t even remotely better than average PG. He’s worse than the league average in 3 areas, and 2 other stats (TS% and ToR) are right on the edge. He doesn’t score well, doesn’t distribute the ball, and Tyreke doesn’t get to the FT line (doesn’t convert them either). How Tyreke Evans is B/B is beyond me. Beware of the fake blues people. Is he worth a max?
VERDICT: NOT WORTH THE MAX
