I was just reading the ESPN story about Ostertag donating his kidney to his younger sister: http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/0610/1393293.html It's a great story, and props to Ostertag for doing the right thing. But reading the story... I'm just struck by how out of touch the discussions about Yao Ming have been. Greg Ostertag, the 7'2" part-time starting center of the Utah Jazz, the guy who averaged 3.3 pts and 4.2 rebs last year... who in his BEST year averaged 5.7 pts and 7.3 rebs.... ... is in the midst of a 6 year, $38 million contract. Just think about that for a second, and think about how expensive/rare that proves even 'average' centers are. Kelvin Cato is getting $6 mil a year for 6 pts / 5 rbs. On the Sacramento Kings, arguably the second best team in the league this year, Divac ($10 mil+) makes more than twice as much as Christie ($5 mil), Bibby (even with his new contract), Peja ($5 mil)... everyone except Webber. And Divac, in my mind at least, is nothing more than a good play-off calibre center, hardly a super-star. Yao Ming promises to be at least that, with a shot for much, much more. And the Rockets are about to sign Yao Ming for 4 years at about $16 million (including option year)!!!! Is there any other position in the NBA more "expensive" than the center position for a play-off calibre player?
To make this in the right Forum CATO vs Osterboy 42 mil/6 yrs vs 38 mil/ 6 yrs 7 mil/yr vs 6.33 mil/yr Is cato as good or better than Osterboy How do I find out Salaries of Players? I'd like to see what the other STARTING Centers make in this league. Rocket River
Somewhere along the way you start paying for size. I think you can pretty much expect to pay more for someone over 6-10 and 250 pounds. It seems to be a fact of life.
