Since there has been so much talk about contracts and players signing and the salary cap, I thought I would just write about who I thought were players that deserve to have the maximum contract possible.
In my mind, there are only a handful of NBA players that deserve the max. There are, however, a bunch more that deserve close to max, based on just how they have played so far in the NBA.
Here is my list of MAX players.
Kobe Bryant
Shaquille O'Neal
Tracy McGrady
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Jason Kidd
Allen Iverson
These guys are the elite of the elite. They can rock it at any level, and have already done so. Well, except for maybe KG and TMac, but there is no disputing their talent. They just are in bad situations.
As for the next level, who aren't quite max yet, but still demand a lot of money. These guys are.
Paul Pierce
Jermaine O'Neal
Dirk Nowtizki
Chris Webber
Stephon Marbury
Ray Allen
Rasheed Wallace
Shawn Marion
Baron Davis
Jamal Mashburn
Kenyon Martin
Steve Francis
Ben Wallace
Now, here is who I think is getting paid WAY too much.
PLAYER ('03 wages)
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ($12,375,000)
Antoine Walker ($12,375,000)
Vin Baker ($12,375,000)
Jaleen Rose ($12,072,500) -> he should be paid around $6 - $8 mil
Z. Ilgauskas ($12,224,086)
Juwan Howard ($20,152,222) -> but this has been fixed as of today. He'll now make around $5 mil, which is a steal.
Marcus Camby ($6,750,000)
Glen Rice ($9,200,000)
Maurice Taylor ($7,150,000)
Austin Croshere ($6,860,000) -> this just shows how 1 good playoff series doesn't mean you're a good player
Ron Mercer ($6,750,000)
Samaki Walker ($1,540,000) -> sorry, really don't like him. He shouldn't even be getting half of that. Damn Sucky Walker.
Eddie Jones ($11,200,000) -> love the guy, but not worth it
Brian Grant ($11,121,875) -> same for this guy
Tim Thomas ($10,750,000)
Dikembe Mutombo ($16,105,264)
Allan Houston ($14,343,750)
Antonio McDyess ($12,600,000) -> just for the fact that he hasn't played in a while
Grant Hill ($12,072,500) -> same reason as above
Keith Van Horn ($12,072,500)
Penny Hardaway ($12,375,000)
Tom Gugliotta ($10,890,930)
Scottie Pippen ($19,727,524) -> still a great talent, but DAMN, almost $20 million
Damon Stoudamire ($13,500,000) -> that's a whole lotta weed
Vlade Divac ($11,248,076) -> still a solid center, but doesn't play enough minutes to deserve that much
Antonio Davis ($12,000,000)
I know this is a long post, but bear with me, I'm bored.
Here is my list of players that got paid less than what they're worth. As in teams that got steals. This is all in hindsight of course.
Jerry Stackhouse ($6,000,000)
Michael Jordan ($1,030,000)
Andrei Kirilenko ($893,400)
Tony Parker ($800,400)
Manu Ginobili ($1,396,500)
Stephen Jackson ($587,435)
Bobby Jackson ($2,700,000)
Shawn Marion ($2,265,376)
Amare Stoudemire ($1,767,120) -> normally I would leave rookies off, but he was just too good
Allen Iverson ($12,375,000) -> I think that is a great price for an elite guard
Jamal Mashburn ($7,750,000)
Baron Davis ($3,942,922)
Richard Jefferson ($1,482,840)
Basically everyone on the Clippers not named Olowokandi
Jermaine O'Neal ($6,900,000)
Ben Wallace ($5,000,000)
Steve Nash ($5,750,000)
I know some of those guys are still on their rookie contracts, but they were great steals for teams. They play way better than what they were getting paid.
Sorry if this was too long for some to read. Like I said, I'm bored right now, and no one else is posting. Hope this was somewhat interesting to you guys.
In my mind, there are only a handful of NBA players that deserve the max. There are, however, a bunch more that deserve close to max, based on just how they have played so far in the NBA.
Here is my list of MAX players.
Kobe Bryant
Shaquille O'Neal
Tracy McGrady
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Jason Kidd
Allen Iverson
These guys are the elite of the elite. They can rock it at any level, and have already done so. Well, except for maybe KG and TMac, but there is no disputing their talent. They just are in bad situations.
As for the next level, who aren't quite max yet, but still demand a lot of money. These guys are.
Paul Pierce
Jermaine O'Neal
Dirk Nowtizki
Chris Webber
Stephon Marbury
Ray Allen
Rasheed Wallace
Shawn Marion
Baron Davis
Jamal Mashburn
Kenyon Martin
Steve Francis
Ben Wallace
Now, here is who I think is getting paid WAY too much.
PLAYER ('03 wages)
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ($12,375,000)
Antoine Walker ($12,375,000)
Vin Baker ($12,375,000)
Jaleen Rose ($12,072,500) -> he should be paid around $6 - $8 mil
Z. Ilgauskas ($12,224,086)
Juwan Howard ($20,152,222) -> but this has been fixed as of today. He'll now make around $5 mil, which is a steal.
Marcus Camby ($6,750,000)
Glen Rice ($9,200,000)
Maurice Taylor ($7,150,000)
Austin Croshere ($6,860,000) -> this just shows how 1 good playoff series doesn't mean you're a good player
Ron Mercer ($6,750,000)
Samaki Walker ($1,540,000) -> sorry, really don't like him. He shouldn't even be getting half of that. Damn Sucky Walker.
Eddie Jones ($11,200,000) -> love the guy, but not worth it
Brian Grant ($11,121,875) -> same for this guy
Tim Thomas ($10,750,000)
Dikembe Mutombo ($16,105,264)
Allan Houston ($14,343,750)
Antonio McDyess ($12,600,000) -> just for the fact that he hasn't played in a while
Grant Hill ($12,072,500) -> same reason as above
Keith Van Horn ($12,072,500)
Penny Hardaway ($12,375,000)
Tom Gugliotta ($10,890,930)
Scottie Pippen ($19,727,524) -> still a great talent, but DAMN, almost $20 million
Damon Stoudamire ($13,500,000) -> that's a whole lotta weed
Vlade Divac ($11,248,076) -> still a solid center, but doesn't play enough minutes to deserve that much
Antonio Davis ($12,000,000)
I know this is a long post, but bear with me, I'm bored.
Here is my list of players that got paid less than what they're worth. As in teams that got steals. This is all in hindsight of course.
Jerry Stackhouse ($6,000,000)
Michael Jordan ($1,030,000)
Andrei Kirilenko ($893,400)
Tony Parker ($800,400)
Manu Ginobili ($1,396,500)
Stephen Jackson ($587,435)
Bobby Jackson ($2,700,000)
Shawn Marion ($2,265,376)
Amare Stoudemire ($1,767,120) -> normally I would leave rookies off, but he was just too good
Allen Iverson ($12,375,000) -> I think that is a great price for an elite guard
Jamal Mashburn ($7,750,000)
Baron Davis ($3,942,922)
Richard Jefferson ($1,482,840)
Basically everyone on the Clippers not named Olowokandi
Jermaine O'Neal ($6,900,000)
Ben Wallace ($5,000,000)
Steve Nash ($5,750,000)
I know some of those guys are still on their rookie contracts, but they were great steals for teams. They play way better than what they were getting paid.
Sorry if this was too long for some to read. Like I said, I'm bored right now, and no one else is posting. Hope this was somewhat interesting to you guys.
Comment