July 30, 2008 – Dr. Dime
Given my deep love for the game of basketball, I think that 90% of the players in the NBA are actually overpaid. Especially the ones that are in it for the money and not for the love of the game or for the thrill of the win. Every single player in the NBA that is just there to collect a paycheck and live large in my books is being overpaid. But since the NBA is a business, and the business for franchises is to put butts in seats and get sponsorships and media coverage, sometimes those players that are coasting to collect the dough are actually worth the money you pay them, regardless of wins and losses.
There is no extensive mathematical formula used here to determine the following list of overpaid players. There is just simply opinion, conjecture, and cynacism. If you take issue with any of the picks. Feel free to voice your opinion in the comments section below. That’s why we are all here isn’t it?
TOP 5 Most Overpaid Players for 2008-09 NBA Season
1. Stephon Marbury – $21 million from the New York Knicks
This is a classic example of being blinded by raw talent. NBA scouts and analysts have come a long way over the years in their craft, and I they even administer fairly sophisticated personality testing prior to drafting and even trading in some cases. However there is no bigger misstep or paying for a name then the case with Stephon Marbury. The Knicks are going to have to shell out $21 million this year (unless he gets bought out) for a guy that will either see very little court time, or will be largely less effective than a player they could have got for a bargain price of $1-2 million per. To put this in the proper perspective…..Marbury gets paid more than Kobe, Lebron, Dwade, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Carmelo Anthony, etc. The list goes on and on. It’s a jaw dropper for sure.
2. Steve Francis – $19.5 million combined from the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets
Here is a guy that had all the talent in the world and in just a few short years now must wake up thinking ‘where the hell did I go wrong’? Francis is hoping to rejuvenate his career in Portland now? Just like he thought he would in Houston right? Hmmm…at least the Blazers get his ridiculously inflated contract off the books after this season. Hello Cap Space! The funniest thing to think about with Francis….is that he is going to make 6.5 times the salary of Brandon Roy this season, the Blazers best player and future of their franchise.
3. Mike Bibby – $15.4 million from the Atlanta Hawks
Tremendous talent, lots of desire and drive, but IMO is just too undersized and overhyped to ever live up to his bloated contract. How do we live in a world where Mike Bibby makes more money than Amare Stoudemire? Actually to be fair and compare apples to apples, how does Bibby make more money than Gilbert Arena’s?? Agent freakin’ Zero man….c’mon. I guess Bibby has a better agent?? David Falk pick up the phone….Falk?
4. Zach Randolph – $15 million from the New York Knicks
While at the time of his signing Zach Randolph was clearly worth the $15 million per that he will be receiving next season, he is another player who’s image was ruined completely by being associated with Isiah era New York Knicks. Here’s a guy that I feel still has time with either his new coach or potentially new team (barring any trade) that could get back on track and really start earning his paycheck. Never been accused of having a great attitude, but no one can deny that Z-Bo is a baller that can flat out take it to you.
5. Ben Wallace – $14.3 million from the Cleveland Cavaliers
At the time the Chicago Bulls signed Wallace to his over-inflated contract to lure him away from the Detroit Pistons he was clearly on the decline. Wallace was definitely considered by most to still be a high value impact player, but not for the type of money the Bulls were throwing at him. Everyone scoffed at that situation. What most didn’t realize was just how far and how fast Wallace would fall in his on court value. Now in Cleveland he is just barely holding on to his starting role while raking in more money than even his star teammate Lebron ‘King’ James himself! (referring obviously to money earned strictly from hoops, as Lebron is a money making endorsement machine). IMO Wallace was outplayed throughout the entire Cavs playoff run this year by Anderson Varejao who is only going to make $5.5 million this upcoming season.
Now I realize there are a lot of factors involved in the business side of things, and why teams would take on an inflated contract, depending on when it expires and what exceptions it creates etc. So that being said this list in no way is an attempt to poke fun at the teams that signed these players for such ridiculous amounts of cash, but more to put into perspective the fact that if you are a free agent in a season with little other free agent talent available, you may be able to command a huge contract in bidding wars between teams trying to claw their way into title contention. Or on the other hand you might benefit from the New York Knicks deep pockets….
EZ
