Out of those guys - and I'm hardly cherrypicking here, I didn't even include the Elton Brand deal - how many of those guys are worth the price their teams paid for them? Most likely Josh Smith and Ron Artest, and Trevor Ariza probably gets an honorable mention. And that framework usually means 'overpaying' players for their production.Ĭheck a few of the more recent contracts that have been dished out: Baron Davis got five years for $65 million LaMarcus Aldridge was locked in for five years, $65 million Hedo Turkoglu's payday was $53 million Josh Smith and Andrea Bargnani each got extended five years for $50 million.Įven in the price range below that almost everyone is overpaid: Charlie Villanueva, five years, $40 million Marvin Williams, five years, $37.5 million Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza, five years, $34 million. The red ink in just about every team's balance sheet makes that fact clear.īut until the new CBA gets negotiated, owners have to work within the framework their given. The National Basketball Association has lots of issues to work out with salaries.
