Someone opined in the Kobe Bryant thread that Kobe “doesn't deserve a max contract”, and it reminded me that, in The Sporting News, they just had a list of the 30 players in the NBA currently under maximum contracts. The magazine listed them in order of most-deserving. I'm not gonna list their reasons... that's the whole reason for this discussion-- I'm just gonna recognize who they are.
1. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami Heat (still feels weird typing that) 2. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs 3. *Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves 4. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 5. Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets 6. Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers 7. Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets 8. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks 9. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers 10. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics 11. Baron Davis, New Orleans Hornets 12. Shawn Marion, Phoenix Suns 13. Michael Finley, Dallas Mavericks 14. Latrell Sprewell, Minnesota Timberwolves 15. Chris Webber, Sacramento Kings 16. Stephon Marbury, New York Knicks
(Here's where the comments get less complimentary, but still relatively good...)
17. Ray Allen, Seattle SuperSonics 18. Steve Francis, Orlando Magic 19. Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets 20. Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Portland Trail Blazers 21. Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards 22. Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors 23. Allan Houston, New York Knicks
(And here's where the comments get downright unflattering...)
24. Jalen Rose, Toronto Raptors 25. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland Cavaliers 26. Antoine Walker, Dallas Mavericks 27. Keith Van Horn, Milwaukee Bucks 28. Penny Hardaway, New York Knicks 29. Dikembe Mutombo, New York Knicks 30. Grant Hill, Orlando Magic
*-- Garnett's current contract was signed before the current collective bargaining agreement. Because of that, he could have gotten more than the five-year, $100-million extension he signed last summer, but he's still paid well over the league maximum.
----
Comments? By the way, jeez, the Knicks have four players under maximum contract-- and two of them fall into the third-tier of TSN's comments? No wonder they're way the hell over the luxury tax threshold.
(edited by ekedolphin on 18.7.04 0421) “Do you believe in UFOs, astral projections, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full trance mediums, the Loch Ness monster and the theory of Atlantis?” “Ah, if there's a steady paycheck in it, I'll believe anything you say.”
--Janine and Winston, Ghostbusters
Two-Time Wiener of the Day (5/27/02; 7/3/02)
Certified RFMC Member-- Ask To See My Credentials!
To be somewhat kind to the Knicks, Mutombo's max contract is on the Nets books, which is a key reason why they ended up with no cash for Martin. And of course, 3 max contracts for Dallas (4 at the end of last season), and they still couldn't get out of round 1.
Originally posted by redsoxnationTo be somewhat kind to the Knicks, Mutombo's max contract is on the Nets books, which is a key reason why they ended up with no cash for Martin. And of course, 3 max contracts for Dallas (4 at the end of last season), and they still couldn't get out of round 1.
I think the Nets also have Mournings salary on the books too through next season too. I think his salary just counts as a cap hit, not as actual salary paid to him.
"Once you've seen a woman's cum face, you've seen her soul."
Originally posted by redsoxnationTo be somewhat kind to the Knicks, Mutombo's max contract is on the Nets books, which is a key reason why they ended up with no cash for Martin. And of course, 3 max contracts for Dallas (4 at the end of last season), and they still couldn't get out of round 1.
I think the Nets also have Mournings salary on the books too through next season too. I think his salary just counts as a cap hit, not as actual salary paid to him.
Mourning is on the cap through this upcoming season, but he is only at $5.5 million per, so they do catch the break he's a mid-level exception rather than a max contract.
If I had a choice on who I would build my team around I'd have to go with the all round Tim Duncan.
Numbers 14, 15 and 16 belong in that mid-level group. I'd also be tempted to throw Kenyan Martin up a few notches being that he is one of the top Power Fowards on both ends of the floor.
Thread ahead: Kings, Greg Ostertag agree on contract Next thread: Floppy... I mean, Vlade Divac possibly returning to the Lakers Previous thread: Clips clear cap space
Thread rated: 5.76
#
