NBA Contract
Mistakes:
In Disguise
as well as the Obvious
By Taylor Agee
It happens. Every once in a while,
a team thinks they have found a diamond in the rough, and he turns out
to be a total flop. The first instance you may recall, is way back in 1984
or so when Jon Koncak signed that 3+ million dollar deal (which then was
a HUGE amount). He couldn’t handle the pressure of being the highest paid
player in the league, and was a disaster since the inked dried. It happened
then, and it’s definetly happening now. There are 2 groups of players who
are overpaid and under-achieving, the ones you know about, and the ones
you don’t. Here’s a breakdown of who I see doesn’t have to worry about
welfare, in no necessary order...
The Obvious
1. Antoine Walker-6 years/76.59 million
Antoine is a player I covet, but
he is NOT worth this much money. True, he is a star in Boston, but I consider
Paul Pierce one of the most under-rated players in the NBA and he is the
true star of that team. Antoine has put a major restraint on the Celtics
and their free agency options. Antoine does have some positives, as he
is always healthy, he grabs 8 boards a game, well over one steal a game,
and star-quality point average, at 20.5 a game. But those numbers are deceiving.
Take into the fact that the only shooters on the Boston squad are Walker
and Pierce, with Kenny Anderson taking way too many shots for his ability.
Antoine only shoots 43 percent from the field, with a horrendous 26 percent
3-point average, and he chucks up close to 4 3’s a game to make it worse.
Overall, he is a great talent who is just not developing with the salary
he draws.
2. Jim McIlvaine-7 years/35 million
When Seattle signed him to this
contract, they thought they had found an upcoming center in the league.
He has been anything but that. Constantly injured, offensive game disappeared,
star potential gone into thin air. Seattle, fortunately, found a taker
for Jim, the Nets, who believed they could turn him around. Another fatal
mistake. Jim only played 66 games last year, and even when he played it
looked as if he was hurting. In 16 minutes a game, he only pulled down
3.5 boards, not acceptable for a 7-1 giant. At less than 2.5 points a game,
he has no offensive game whatsoever. He has put an incredibly bad situation
upon the Nets, and he’s untradeable because all teams have now seen what
type of player he really is. All they can do is hope the summer of 2003
arrives fast, like yesterday.
3. Patrick Ewing-4 years/68 million
It’s only nature’s course, as you
get older, you get slower, immobile, and in basketball terms, ineffective.
Patrick is 38, and when he signed this gigantic contract he was still a
force on the court. Maybe the Knicks though he was immortal to old age.
Perhaps it is unfair to put a legend like Patrick on this list, but at
close to 17 million a year, do I really have to say anything more? Patrick
should be in the Hall of Fame by now, he stopped playing 5 years ago! Seriously
now. Patrick has gotten injury prone, playing in only 62 games last year.
He still pulls down 10 boards a game, so at least he still is on top of
his game in 1 aspect. But his offensive force has seriously been reduced,
averaging only 15 points a game. Part of that is due to the appearance
of Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell, but if you watch Patrick nowadays,
you can see he is decapitating fast. Luckily, this is the last year of
his deal. However, there is a good chance he will be dealt before mid-season,
perhaps even before the season starts if the deal is right.
4. Larry Johnson-12 years/84 million
What were the Knicks thinking? 12
years? 84 million? LJ lost all of his talent since joining the Knicks,
and while he was at it he has put a huge lock on the Knicks and their salary
cap flexibility. He’s not tradeable, who wants this contract? Here’s the
lowdown on how bad things have gotten for LJ. He is missing games with
back problems, missing 12 games last year. His shooting average is a paltry
43 percent, and 33 percent from the 3-point line is no great thing, either.
His rebounding has seriously decreased, only snagging 5 a game. And perhaps
the most obvious lost feature of his game, his scoring. Remember when he
got 23, 24 a game? It’s gotten down to 11. There’s time for him to turn
things around, being only 31. But as of now, things are only going downhill
for LJ.
5. Matt Geiger-6 years/51 million
He hasn’t completely flopped, but
if the 76ers knew what they were going to be getting, they would have never
thought about giving him this contract. Probably would have not signed
him at all, in fact. When he was signed, the Sixers thought they would
be getting a dominating starting center who would provide a force in the
middle for years to come. As it has turned out, he has been the exact opposite.
He is constantly injured, has lost his starting job, and since he got this
deal has stopped working hard. He only played in 65 games last year. 6
rebounds is rather pathetic for a 7 footer. His offensive game has diminished
to a fault also, only getting 10 a game. Not all that bad, but certainly
not reflecting on his salary.
THE TRIO OF WIZARDRY
Rod Strickland-4 years/40 million
Juwan Howard-7 years/105 million
Mitch Richmond-4 years/40 million
Easily, the most dangerous trio in
the league.....to the cap. We will start with Strickland. 10 million a
year for this guy defines overpaid and overrated. He missed 13 games last
year with hand problems. His shooting has gotten from bad to worse, hitting
only 43 percent of his shots. Not bad for a point guard, but not good.
Part of my reasoning is he has no 3-point shot at all, hitting one in only
21 attempts. 7.5 assists a game was 11th in the NBA, I’ll give him credit
for a being a finesse passer. He did get over a steal a game, which is
decent. And finally, he got 13 points a game, which is not all that bad.
Overall, he is a quality player. But he’s not worth 10 million, and overrated
for the most part.
Juwan Howard. Good lord. Ohhhh Juwan,
I bet you don’t even realize you pay taxes with all the money you make.
He has to be a top 5 candidate for most over-paid ever. He stays healthy,
he hits a good percentage of his shots, does pull down 6 boards a game
which is respectable for someone 6-9. But that’s as good as it gets. Hit
zero 3 point shots last year. 74 percent from the line is fine but not
great. 3 assists a game is just average, you’d expect more out a player
getting 14+ million a year. Averaged around .80 steals a game, and only
around .25 blocks a game. That just won’t cut it. He averaged close to
4 fouls a game, that’s in the danger zone. And worst of all, only gets
15 points a game. Does that mean he gets paid a thousand per shot?
Must be. Bottom line, biggest flop ever for this large a contract. No doubt
about it.
Remember the good ole days for Mitch
Richmond? The days in Sacramento where he was racking up 20+ a game and
was an all-star? Ohh, they seem so long ago. Because he certainly isn’t
the same player in Washington. Or maybe he just has a twin brother? Since
I doubt that’s the case, let’s take a look at how bad things have gotten
for him. Isn’t playing a full season, missing 8 games last year. He is
shooting a poor man’s average of 43 percent from the field, but makes up
for it with 39 percent 3’s, and 9th in the league free throw shooting at
88 percent. Does not contribute on the glass, only pulling down 3 a game.
He gets around 1.5 steals a game, above-average. No shot blocking skills,
whatsoever. His PPG is down to 17 a game, which at this stage in his career
should be around 23-25. He is a natural shooter, and he has either lost
all confidence or has just gotten disinterested. 10 million a year for
this guy is just a little much.
6. Lorenzen Wright-7 years/42 million
There’s just no excuse for this.
There is slight reasoning for giving an unproven player such as Wright
this large a contract, perhaps because the Hawks feel they may not have
the best of chances at re-signing dominating center Dikembe Mutombo next
summer. However, this is bogus. And here’s why. Lorenzen is a slight exception
to my point, because playing behind Deke really means you get hardly any
minutes at all. However, there are vital things about ‘Zen that cannot
be unseen. Such as 4 rebounds a game, for someone 6-11? Even at only 16
minutes a game, he should have pulled down more than 4 because that’s why
he was signed, to be a presence on the glass. He doesn’t pass, he doesn’t
steal, and what’s more, he doesn’t block shots. He averaged close to 3
fouls a game, which says he doesn’t want to work on his game of stopping
his opponent, he would just rather throw his body around. 6 points a game
is nothing to brag about. Being of Memphis roots, I got to see his whole
collegiate career, and I can tell you this about him. Remember Michael
Ray? And how good he could have been? Lorenzen looks to be the second coming.
He has very little drive to be better, but has all the talent in the world.
In other words, he knows how to make ends meet, but he just doesn’t care.
I suppose getting 6 million a year will do that to a player such as Lorenzen.
7. Shawn Kemp-7 years-107 million
He is the other contender for biggest
flop (contract wise), with Juwan Howard. Where should I start? His weight
problem has nagged him ever since he signed this deal. I believe contracts
like this should only be given to players in their prime and who truly
deserve it, like Shaq, Kevin Garnett, or Grant Hill. But to a player such
as Kemp who is way past his best years, this deal is ludicrus. True, he
stays healthy. But that’s about the only credibility I can give him, and
even that is not much to praise, with him being seriously overweight. He
is down to playing 30 minutes a game. His finished the year shooting 41
percent from the field, a career low. He still pulls down 9 boards a game,
but playing for Cleveland, isn’t that a gimme? His defense is present,
with him averaging over a steal and a block per game. But also take into
considerating he averaged nearly 5 fouls a game. That’s not acceptable,
not for a player like Kemp who’s value to Cleveland (and extremely soon,
Portland) is unmatched. His high-flying days are over, with him going into
his 14th year in the league and is now on the wrong side of 30. Bob Whitsitt
and the Blazers are willing to take on this contract, something they are
going to be bragging about for years, or will regret till the summer of
2004, because they basically are the only team in the league that has no
hesitation in taking in these large contracts (Scottie Pippen, Steve Smith,
Damon Stoudamire, Arvydas Sabonis, Rasheed Wallace, etc.) A starting lineup
of Stoudamire, Smith, Pippen, Kemp, and Wallace is virtually un-heard of,
and to sugar coat it, all of those players are legit. But you can bet Kemp
is a disaster for Portland, why? Because he is a 3rd or 4th option when
he has always been 1st or 2nd, and as soon as Portland loses 2 in a row
he will be complaining. I wish him and the Blazers luck though, because
if this goes wrong, the Blazers are going to be in for the long ride.
8. Tim Thomas-6 years/67 million
If you see a pattern in this list
about all the players who work their tails off, get paid, and stop working
(see Matt Geiger, Shawn Kemp, etc.) then Thomas is a prime candidate to
be the next. And why not? Logic presents itself. Why give a (bench) player
like Thomas this kind of serious money (he will eventually work his way
up to close to 12 million a year) who is not going to get a chance to show
what he can do? Glenn Robinson, yes the virtual all-star, deserves his
minutes, does he not? Tim is not a case (at least, not yet) of players
gone bad, it’s a cap situation gone bad. He’s only 23, he makes a good
percent of his shots (46 percent), rebounds less than average for someone
6-10 (only 4 a game in 26 minutes), and gets a decent 12 points a game.
That’s fine for someone this young. But for 26 minutes a game, is a bench
player worth around 11 million a year? No, you’d have to be crazy to think
so.
9. Shawn Bradley-8 years/44.2 million
Maybe it was just an act of desperateness.
Because we all know Bradley isn’t worth even a relatively low salary of
around 5.5 million a year. The only 2 things I can think of he does above-average
are hit his shots and block them (though 2.5 a game is a little low for
someone 7-6, a sky scraper) He plays only 25 minutes a game. He doesn’t
like to practice. 6.5 rebounds a game is so pathetic for someone of his
height it’s just not funny. 8 points a game is nothing to brag about. In
other words, he’s one of those Manute Bol types, mis-leading yet over-paid.
Another tree gone limp...
10. Arvydas Sabonis-3 years/30.4
million
Remember the good ole days for this
guy? I sure don’t. Too long ago. His knees are bad, his back is bad, everything
has just suddenly gone bad. He only played in 66 games. Has gotten down
to 25 minutes a game, simply because he is injured every other week and
his knees don’t let him run the floor anymore. He is a league leader in
field goal percentage and free throws (11th and 20th, respectively) but
that is one of his qualities. He rebounds decently, at 8 a game. But he
gets a paltry 12 points a game, with just over a block a game. Playing
for Portland, I can’t say much about him having a negative impact on their
cap situation, because I don’t think Bob Whitsitt has even heard of “salary
cap”. Sabonis looks to be heading to the bench anyway, with Kemp boarding
the ship. You can bet he won’t be re-signed next summer, and if he is,
for very cheap. Then again, we are talking about Portland....
11. Vin Baker-7 years/86.7 million
Shawn Kemp proto-type. As soon as
he signed this deal, his all-star days just seemed like a good memory.
His overall numbers are decent, but are very misleading. 17 points a game
is nowhere near his potential. 8 boards a game is not enough for someone
6-11 and has good rebounding skills. He has also developed some mental
problems, breaking down during last season and allegedly suffering from
depression. Really, he is putting a lock onto the Sonics free agent plans,
making 12+ million a year. It’s just too bad.
The Disguised
1. Chris Gatling-5 years/21.329 million
Why do you think he gets traded
every 6 months? It’s really, sincerely, too bad this is happening to him.
He is a solid player! It’s just next summer he is a free agent, and 4+
million in cap room sure can be used by several teams. He is about to head
to the Cavs, who will do a major revamping in the next few years. Chris
provides good insurance, always being healthy (played in 85 games last
year), hits his shots (46 percent), rebounds (6 boards in 21 minutes a
game), gets close to a steal per game, and gets an above-average 12 points
a game for someone who only players a little over 20 minutes a game. He’s
the definition of journeyman, and by showing you he’s not a bad player,
his cap situation obviously is his problem.
2. Chris Dudley-4 years/35 million
Having a reliable backup center
is one thing, but paying him a starter’s money is another. 9 million a
year?!? That’s just stupidity. He is never healthy, missing half the season
with common injuries last year. He is basically the invisible man, only
playing 10 minutes a game. His shooting is god awful, hitting only 34 percent
of his shots and just a point a game. I won’t even touch base with his
free throw shooting, it’s so bad it would make your eyes water with laughter.
The only thing you can count on him to do is pull down rebounds and throw
his body around like a wrecking ball. Now, you tell me, is THAT worth 9
million a year? Didn’t think so.
3. Loy Vaught-5 years/22.5 million
You didn’t think I would forget
him, did you? No way, not my buddy Loy. My rich friend would be more like
it. He missed half the season last year. Played only 7 minutes a game.
Hit only 36 percent of his shots. No defense whatsoever. Little contribution
on the offensive end, a sad 2 points a game. I just feel bitter for this
guy, for the way things have turned out. He used to be a good player. But
at 5+ million a year, he is just overpaid and overrated. That’s the only
way to classify him now. And going to Dallas, you just know he won’t get
a chance to improve, not behind rising star Dirk Nowitski and another overpaid
prospect, Christian Laettner.
4. Michael Stewart-6 years/24 million
He had one good year in Sacramento,
Raptors bought into him, and he’s faltered ever since. Missed half the
year last year. Hit only 38 percent of shots, while getting only 1 point
a game anyway. Played in only 9 minutes a game, and got 2 fouls a game
in that time. He is 3rd on the depth chart at center, with Antonio Davis
and Kevin Willis in front of him. Alex Radjecovic, the rookie, may beat
him out for the 3rd position. At 25, he has some time to turn things around.
But not on the Raptors squad.
5. Howard Eisley-7 years/41 million
What exactly has he done to deserve
6+ million a year? Prove he can be a viable backup? Yes, but I’ve always
thought ANY backup should not be paid more than 4 million a year, unless
he’s part of a committee attack at a position. Steve Nash will be pushing
him for minutes all season. He is a quality point guard in this league,
and playing for the Mavericks and huge-pockets owner Mark Cuban can’t hurt
your financial position. However, it can hurt your basketball career. I’m
anxious to see how this pans out.
6. Greg Ostertag-6 years/30 million
Can you say.....bust? Even Karl
Malone can’t stand him. He lost his starting job to Olden Polynice, who
isn’t much better. Greg went from a good prospect to a lazy 7 footer, common
in this league. The only thing he is good for is blocking and changing
shots, as well as some good fouling. He provides little offensive contribution,
at only 5 points a game. 6 rebounds a game is below-average for someone
7-2. Another lost cause. If you think this guy is bad, look below...
7. Isaac Austin-3 years/15 million
Yeah, this is him. Former Most Improved
Player. Ha, sure is hard to believe someone so improved can get so bad.
He missed 23 games last year. His offensive pacing is down to a minimum,
at only 7 points a game. 5 rebounds a game is rather...typical? He has
turned into one of the most hardest workers in the league to a slug. It’s
hard to believe players with this much talent can be so deceiving.
8. Chris Mills-6 years/26.1 million
Another under-achiever on an under-achieving
team. He only played in 20 games last year. He pulled down 6 boards a game,
and 16 points. I’ve never been fond of Mills, because he is a negative
situation wherever he goes. Things, for him, are going downhill in Golden
State, with Antawn Jamison, Larry Hughes, and Danny Fortson all getting
most of the minutes.
9. Erick Dampier-7 years/48 million
Another bust. Played in only 21
games last year. 6 rebounds a game are not good for a center. His offense
is low-key, at 8 points a game. A healthy year could turn things around
for him, but we’ve yet to see a healthy season from him yet.
10. Jermaine O’Neal-4 years/25 million
He has done absolutely nothing in
his pro career but warm up the 10th seat on the bench. What, exactly, prompted
the Blazers to give him 6 million a year? They must have had high hopes
for him. He played a paltry 12 minutes a game, and only pulled down 3 boards
4 points during that time. It’s time for him to move on while he’s still
got his youth (only 22)
You now have a taste of one of the
risks of being a general managing, overpaying players. It’s a bad situation
for anyone. But hey, at least it makes the player happy....
Thanks for reading my article. If
you would like to send me anything, please do so at crazy7345@hotmail.com
