Insights
A column about what NBA players are worth, by a Celtics fan from Boston who is an economist by day, argues with his own model, and sometimes loses. Every figure is read from the boards at build time; if the model changes its mind, so do the columns.
By Ben Stupendous
InsightsThe Best and Worst Contracts, Then and NowEvery negotiated NBA deal since 1999, and every one still running, valued the same way: what a player was worth, minus what he was paid.
InsightsThe Best Careers on the BoardEvery season since 1999-00 on one ruler: who added the most, who did it fastest, and the one active player keeping pace with the leader.
InsightsThe Best and Worst Trades, Graded TwiceEvery NBA trade since 1999-00, graded once on what was knowable the day it was made and once on how it turned out.
InsightsThe Voters and the ModelTwenty-six years of MVP and All-NBA ballots, next to a model that has never watched a game. Where they part ways, and what the voters are paying for when they do.
InsightsIs Anybody Actually Good at This?As my grandfather always said, the biggest room in the house is room for improvement. That goes for front offices, too.
InsightsThe Draft Model’s Report CardFifteen drafts graded on the calls that cost real money: the stars it saw, the ones it missed, and what it makes of the 2026 class.
InsightsOur Numbers and Everyone Else’sWin Shares, VORP, DARKO and the rest all try to answer the same question. Here’s what each one counts, which ones predict, and where ours wins, ties and loses.