What does a longer contract typically indicate for a player with Bird Rights?

A longer contract for a player with Bird Rights generally indicates a guaranteed investment from the team. Bird Rights allow teams to exceed the salary cap to re-sign their own players, and when a player is signed to a longer contract, it reflects the team's commitment to that player. This commitment means the team values the player's contributions and views them as an integral part of their future plans, thereby ensuring the player has a stable and secure financial arrangement over the duration of the contract.

Other aspects like stability, injury risks, and trading value can certainly be influenced by a long-term contract; however, those elements are not as directly indicative of the guaranteed investment made by the team. The emphasis here is that a longer contract represents the team's willingness to invest in the player's potential success and continuity with the franchise, which aligns closely with the idea of securing a long-term contribution from the player on the court.