Raef La Frentz is on this list? Dampier and Dalembert? Derek Anderson and Jalen Rose? Oh my. Tracy at 11, Yao at 33. _____________________ 1. Kevin Garnett Minnesota Timberwolves $21,000,000 2. Chris Webber Philadelphia 76ers $20,718,750 3. Shaquille O'Neal Miami Heat $20,000,000 4. *Michael Finley San Antonio Spurs 19,030,999 5. Jason Kidd New Jersey Nets $18,084,000 5. Jermaine O'Neal Indiana Pacers $18,084,000 7. Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers $17,718,750 8. Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs $17,429,672 9. Allen Iverson Philadelphia 76ers $17,184,375 9. Stephon Marbury New York Knicks $17,184,375 11. Tracy McGrady Houston Rockets $16,901,500 11. Grant Hill Orlando Magic $16,901,500 13. **Jalen Rose Phoenix Suns $16,101,500 14. Ben Wallace Chicago Bulls $16,000,000 15. Eddie Jones Memphis Grizzlies $15,697,500 16. Dirk Nowitzki Dallas Mavericks $15,101,625 16. Paul Pierce Boston Celtics $15,101,625 16. Vince Carter New Jersey Nets $15,101,625 16. Antawn Jamison Washington Wizards $15,101,625 20. Shawn Marion Phoenix Suns $15,070,000 20. Baron Davis Golden State Warriors $15,070,000 20. Steve Francis New York Knicks $15,070,000 23. Ray Allen Seattle SuperSonics $14,611,570 24. Elton Brand Los Angeles Clippers $14,248,000 25. Larry Hughes Cleveland Cavaliers $13,363,012 26. Michael Redd Milwaukee Bucks $13,260,000 27. Joe Johnson Atlanta Hawks $12,744,189 28. Mike Bibby Sacramento Kings $12,500,000 29. Amare Stoudemire Phoenix Suns $12,455,000 30. Pau Gasol Memphis Grizzlies $12,364,000 30. Andrei Kirilenko Utah Jazz $12,364,000 32. Lamar Odom Los Angeles Lakers $12,348,596 33. Yao Ming Houston Rockets $12,455,000 34. Kenyon Martin Denver Nuggets $12,068,182 35. Zach Randolph Portland Trail Blazers $12,000,000 36. Wally Szczerbiak Boston Celtics $11,775,000 37. Theo Ratliff Boston Celtics $11,666,666 38. Rasheed Wallace Detroit Pistons $11,650,000 39. Raef LaFrentz Portland Trail Blazers $11,532,037 40. Carlos Boozer Utah Jazz $11,260,483 41. Richard Jefferson New Jersey Nets $11,200,000 42. Gilbert Arenas Washington Wizards $11,096,800 43. Peja Stojakovic New Orleans Hornets $10,800,000 44. Steve Nash Phoenix Suns $10,500,000 45. ***Derek Anderson Charlotte Bobcats $10,142,500 46. Jason Richardson Golden State Warriors $9,999,999 47. Erick Dampier Dallas Mavericks $9,628,000 48. Brad Miller Sacramento Kings $9,625,000 49. Samuel Dalembert Philadelphia 76ers $9,464,307 50. Tony Parker San Antonio Spurs $9,450,000 *Includes current salary and money owed by Dallas **Includes current salary and money owed by New York ***Includes money owed by Portland and Miami; excludes current salary with Charlotte http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/nba/top.50.salary/index.html
I like how the Mavs are paying Finley $19 million for nothing, while he collects another paycheck from division-rival San Antonio.
When I looked at these numbers while I was a student, I used to think "Man, these guys make a lot of money"... Now that i have a decent paying job, I look at these numbers and think "Man, these guys must pay a lot of taxes... they won't even see half of that money."
That's why I never play Powerball... say you "win" $60 million... you'll be lucky to walk away with $20 million. Who needs that kind of headache?
I think they're factoring in the CHINESE GOVERNMENT's take on YAO's moolah. Yeah... 'cuz you'd be much better off WITHOUT those $20 mealeons, right?
You figure that NBA owners would learn to front-load their contracts by now so they don't have these albatrosses when a player is on the back end of a contract and is useless...
Forget what we know now... I can't BELIEVE Orlando gave Hill and T-Mac the same contract. Huge risk they took, and they were right but nlucky on both counts. There was no debate with Hill. he was a 30/6/6 guy. But to pay T-Mac that kind of money based on his seasons in Toronto was insane! Obviously, it turns out they were right to do it, but still... What if he turned out to be your average 18ppg scorer like Ricky Davis or something? Whoever made THAT decision should be given an award now.
whover made that decision was fired It was John Gabriel That's why they're paid to make those kind of decisions
Actually, there are two advantages to having contracts start as low as possible with maximum raises. First, it gives you flexibilty in the short term - when you are assembling your team, you are dealing with the smallest cap hit so you can fit in more talent. When the salaries go up later it doesn't matter so much because you are allowed to go over the cap with raises, but not in the initial signing (not counting exceptions). Secondly, it gives you a big number for the last year of a guy's contract, which means that expiring contract is more valueable to a team looking to cut salary. In the end, you are still paying the same total amount, so you can rationalize the guy getting overpaid at the end by saying he earned that money earlier in the deal.
