I don't know if this is a kosher question, but I occasionally read references to contract money guaranteed to players that either aren't playing very well here or aren't here at all. Can anyone knowledgable of the subject ( please stick to the facts ) **L I S T ** those obligations that the Rockets are still paying for poor signings. Is Hakeem still getting paid ? I have heard Matt Maloney is still getting paid ( he hadn't played here in a couple of years). I don't follow the Rockets close enough to know these as facts, but I assume this is the kind of thing that is causing us to be out of the running for quality free agents and somewhat hamstrung in making decent trades. I also assume most of these problems can be chalked up to the CD/RT panic caused by Hakeem loosing his skills unexpectedly and the continuing ( at least 20 year ) search for a competent PG.
Hakeem is under contract with the Raptors. I still think Brent Price and Matt Maloney are under contract with the Rockets.... It seems like for another 7 years or something. Nice job by Rox mgt. on those two.... I saw Maloney at a bar a few months ago. He looked pretty happy with 2 lovely ladies in each arm. Dude never has to hoop again and he is set with $$$.
IMO, guaranteed contracts are one of the worst things to happen to professional sports. In the NBA, give a 19 year old millions of dollars guaranteed regardless of what he does and guess what happens--Eddie Griffin! I would like to see one year deals only with injury protection and incentives for high levels of performance. That's what our teachers get (along with near minimum wage salaries). Who else in the world gets paid for things they may never do? ps: our teachers don't even get incentives, of course, NBA players are much more important to the well being and future of our society!
Solid, good point, but that's how the world works nowadays. entertainers get paid the big $$$, educators work for little. it's wrong, but that's how life is. if you're gonna fault athletes for getting paid the way they do, how bout actors/actresses and musicians. they get paid the same if not more than the athletes, its just how the world is.
Thanks for the response. But even entertainers get paid per their performances. I quess some actors are under contract with studios but still get paid per picture. I don't blame the players, I would take the money too, but the system has destroyed many promising careers. Players lose perspective and, apparently, motivation. The NBA could prevent this from happening. The player's union should see this problem as well.
Actors get multi-picture deals, production deals etc. Singers (see: madonna, Jacko ad nauseum) get long term deals worth scores of millions, then can't sell a copy. Athletes? Brent Price was fine before he did that knee. Mooch was fine before he did the contract. Teachers? There nut wurth nuthin, thay onlee tich are kiddies.
Price got shipped out in the Francis trade. Regardless of when his contract expired (this season), he hasn't been on the Rockets' books for four years.
According to Davo's very outdated and somewhat uncertain salary page (http://rocketdavo.tripod.com/), Maloney's cap-hit just ended. Btw, do we ever see Davo around anymore?
I think Solid brings up a very good point. I've thought for years that it would be great if professional sports paid everyone a base salary w/ incentives that allow them to make extra cash on top of that.. That way, the best players make the most money. I think this is impossible given today's payment standards and every player would balk at such an idea, but I think it would be pretty fair. The only exception I could see would be the guys who make a huge impact on games w/out it showing up in the stat column.. These are the hustle guys - Posey, Ginobli and Rose for San Antonio, Najera for Dallas, etc.. It would kind of suck for them because their impact cannot be judged statistically and therefore it would be hard to quantify any incentives for them..
It's purely simple economics: supply and demand. If a team is willing to pay guaranteed contract to a player in demand then we can't fault the player for taking it. It's the same with you or me; however, in the REAL WORLD, there is just so much supply that employers see us as interchangible. I just watched CBS News last night on Rich Kids. Did you know the Olsen Twins are multi-multi millionaires with an empire that sold almost $1 Billion last year and plans to double that this year. It's amazing, they sell everything from books, to dolls, to furniture. They are estimating that they will be worth around $1 Billion by the time the go to college in two years. Also, Lil' Romeo is worth around $50 Million and his father MAster P around $400 Million. Is it fair? Yeah, it's supply and demand. Now I gotta go since I'm trying to convince my wife to use invitro fertilization hoping for twins or better yet, triplets....
I like the NFL system. You guarantee the signing bonus (which is spread across the length of the contract, but you can cut guys who aren't performing to reduce the cap hit. You can also franchise tag a free agent so you get compensation if they leave.
The analogy to the NFL salary structure is a valid one. The only thing keeping the NBA from using it is the stupid collective bargaining agreement with the Players union. I am sick of these overcompensated melon heads that take the money (ala Eddie Griffin), and then set around on their hands countin their coupons.
The NFL system sucks...your team only has a 2 year window to compete, and then you have to break it up. The NBA system is the best out of all of the sports because players are limited on where they can go...which means any team with an owner willing to spend the cash can build themselves into a contender.
Sorry, I am answering my own question, but the answers gave me some insight I didn't have before. Cato may have asked for a big contract worth millions , but the owner didn't have to pay it. He would have been well worth it maybe if he had been Bill Russel ( sorry I'm old and go back a long way), but he didn't come around. So who creates the DEMAND for these high paid ball boys? Owners, Agents, GM's and Coaches, not really the players ( they only create the supply ). Owners could refuse to guarantee contracts except under extreme circumstances like 20 years ago. I don't think even the Collective Bargaining System makes the owner guarantee the contract. As for someone who gets hurt, shouldn't insurance take him off the payroll and clear the cap. The owners don't seem to learn, Maloney's contract didn't keep them from signing Moochie. No other business could run like this, except one that is allowed to pass all these screw ups along to the city and/or the fans. WE have to build them a new arena so they charge enough more money to cover their ass. Who is the ultimate loser, well GUESS !
Its no perfect solution because if its all incentives on performance, then you have guys looking to get their numbers, like the Clipps this yr, an not playing for the team. If its based on team success, what if management do a poor job of getting good players? Its really a win-win,lose-lose situation. Too many incentives = personal greediness. I think what should be included is scale down clauses and stuff like that. If a guy doesn't play in so many games and has problems off the court, money will not be gained. Also, i think teams should stop giving these long drawn out contracts. I like what the Rocket did with Francis even though he's not really a franchise type player, but i would have liked it more for the benefit of him and the team if the contract would have had a team options for the last 3yrs. That was if he doesn't become the player you think he might be, you're not tied up like with the Juwan Howard situation. If Wash had the same clause in Howards contract, they would have had a easier time just getting rid of him.
I'm pretty sure Hakeem was 2yrs with a 3rd not guaranteed. It's not a team option thing; it's just not guaranteed against termination for "lack of skill" like most contracts are. This would allow them to take him off the books July 1st. Juan, Davo and his wife moved back to Australia. We still see him on the bbs on occassion.
Athletes are not overpaid...relative to their industry. Sports generate HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of dollars, so the workers (the athletes) should definitely get their cut. I'd much rather see the workers getting the money rather than some millionaire executive. I wish teachers, policemen, firefighters, etc. were paid according to the impact they make on the world (virtually priceless). Sadly, the system isn't set up that way. It's set up so that millionaires can blackmail citizens for new $250 million stadiums and arenas, but the state legislature's approval is literally needed to give teachers a raise.
