Mistakes, of course, are different. Sometimes the future of a promising player is broken by injuries. Sometimes he does not find a common language with a coach who is not able to use his best qualities. Sometimes psychologists cannot figure out in time that the brilliant season was just an attempt to raise its price. And sometimes managers, promising a lot of money, are simply afraid not to find just as talented for the same money. Or a big one. But there are still a lot of mistakes. Suffice it to say that in the top 20 of the most expensive basketball players, five are no longer in favor of their clubs.
Throwing dollars down the drain can be in many ways.
We divided the overpaid players into three groups.
UNSPECIFIED
1. Edonal Foyle (Golden State, 8.1 million, 2009)“Warriors” so generously, without looking back, handed out large fees that Foyle was at the right time in the right place. Having never shown an outstanding game, he makes excellent money, although now he is more watching the progress of the young and cheap Latvian Andris Bedrins. 2.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 block shots are “golden” indicators for the representative of the Golden State worth $ 8 million.
2. Steve Francis (New York, 15.1 million, 2009)To get 9.7 points and 4.0 assists per match, getting such money should be a shame. But in the “Knicks” this feeling has long been forgotten. The defender, who only recently steadily fell into the starting lineup of All-Stars, was quite satisfied with the role of a reservist, although he was not old at all - the other day “thirty” was fulfilled. True, recently, Stevie added, practicing for an injured rival Jamal Crawford.
3. Antoine Walker (Miami, 7.8 million, 2009)If you choose the main laughing stock of the league, sorry, Antoine, it will be you. 8.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 41% of hits from the game, 27% of three-pointers and 40% (!) Of penalties are indicators of a nonsense beginner, not a striker who once scored almost triple-doubles on average per match. Walker is another mistake of the Riley manager, which will have to pay for another two years with a ponytail.
4. Rough LaFrenz (Portland, 10.9 million, 2007)Congratulations to the agent of the basketball player - in 2002, after the best season of Raf’s career, he got almost the maximum contract from Dallas. This summer, LaFrenz is likely to take advantage of the option and extend the agreement for another two years, securing another 24 million dollars. For what? In the last championship, the statistics of the center “trucker” amounted to 7.8 points and 5.0 rebounds, and in this, after switching from “Boston”, he even played less than 9 minutes per match, gaining 1.6 points, in the end, undertaking to heal injuries.
5. Theo Ratliff (Boston, 11.7 million, 2008)The once-best block shots league specialist was acquired by the Celtics (along with Sebastian Telfair in exchange for LaFrenza) with the hope of strengthening the youth front line. But Theo modestly participated in a couple of matches and was eliminated before the end of the season with a sore back. And in its healthy form, it does not cost a double-digit amount, because the center has not had double-digit performance indicators since 2001, and never at all.
Worthy of mention: M. Rose (New York, 6.6 million, 2009), Jer. James (New York, 5.4 million, 2010), O. Croshir (Dallas, 7.3 million, 2007), J. Magloire (Portland, 8.3 million, 2007), J. Williams (Miami, 8.3 million, 2008), Curt Thomas (Phoenix, 7.4 million, 2008 )
I'd like to believe that it’s too early to classify injured Kenyon Martin (Denver, 11.8 million, 2010) and Predrag Stoyakovich (New Orleans, 10.8 million, 2011), who fell into the crisis of Andrei Kirilenko (" Utah, 12.5 million, 2011) with Mike Bibby (Sacramento, 12.5 million, 2009).
Dismissed
1. Jalen Rose (New York, 16.9 million, 2007)It turned out to be unnecessary in the packed with ball-hungry “extreme” club Isaiah Thomas. After his dismissal at the beginning of this season he moved to the Phoenix, where he warmed up on the bench while waiting for the championship ring.
2. Chris Webber (Philadelphia, 17.6 million, 2008)Hiding behind poor health, he hid in the 76's hospital, not wanting to play for an alien team. After the dismissal, he ended up in his native Detroit, where he now proves that he can be useful. 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per match - statistics are not great, but for the “Pistons” is very good. Especially when you consider that Sea Webb actually works for the money, "Philly."
3. Michael Finley (Dallas, 17.3 million, 2008)Until the summer of next year will remain the highest paid player, “Dallas”, while speaking in the form of “San Antonio”. True, his fees do not count towards the total salary of the Mavs, since Michael was fired in 2005 after signing a new collective agreement. Under the agreement, clubs could thus avoid paying the so-called luxury tax as a one-time share.
4. Eddie Jones (Memphis, 15.1 million, 2007)Eddie also remains the most expensive player in the Grizzlies, although he stands for Miami. He was just let go - Jerry West seriously took up the restructuring of the club. Now, without the injured Wade, Jones proves that he is still able to score 20-25 points per match.
5. Maurice Taylor (New York, 9.8 million, 2007)The career of a heavy striker with great speed rolled down. Having been dismissed from the “Knicks”, he was not able to cling to the composition of the “Sacramento”, although he spoke for a veteran minimum. Now - a free agent.
Worthy of mention: D. Anderson (Portland, 9.7 million, 2007) - stands for Charlotte, A. McKee (Philadelphia 6.5 million - 2008) stands for Lakers, A. Mourning (Toronto, 4.2 million, 2007) - stands for Miami.
KNITTED
1. Allan Houston (“New York”, in the 2006/07 season - $ 20.7 million, contract until 2007)James Dolan, the owner of the Knicks, was so in love with an intelligent sniper that he did not think much about finances, in 2001, giving the attacking defender fantastic $ 100 million for six years of service. Allan spent a couple of good seasons, but was constantly criticized for his weak character. In October 2005, ended his career due to injury.
2. Brian Grant (Lakers, 15.6 million, 2007)In 2000, Pat Riley greatly surprised America by promising $ 86 million over 7 years to a striker who scored 7.5 points in the previous season and made 5.5 rebounds. Grant was considered an excellent defensive player and rebound specialist, and Riley believed that Brian would help create the championship team at Miami. Failed to show anything outstanding and was given to the “Lakers” as a result of a transaction involving Shaquille O'Neill. The Ozerniks eventually fired Grant, who appeared in the Phoenix, ended up in Boston at the beginning of the current season, and decided to hang sneakers on a nail there.
3. Jamal Mashburn (Philadelphia, 10.5 million, 2007)Universal striker, one hundred percent fulfilled contracts, until injuries dawned. In the 2003/2004 season, he scored an average of 20.8 points per game, but underwent a difficult operation and could not return to basketball.
4. Shandon Anderson (New York, 8.5 million, 2007)Having turned out to be unnecessary, “Knicks” in 2005, spent two years in “Miami”, where, as a reservist, he became the champion. This season, which came up with an average of 7.8 points per match, a 34-year-old defender did not need anyone.
5. Jonathan Bender (Indiana, 7.8 million, 2007)Seeing a huge talent in a skinny schoolboy, the Pacers gave for the rights to him in 1999, the sensible "big" Antonio Davis. But Jonathan became a huge disappointment, alternating mediocre matches with permanent injuries. A year ago, tired of fighting with chronically ill knees and left.
Worthy of mention: T. McCullough (Philadelphia, 6.8 million, 2007), Jer. Williams (New York, 6.4 million, 2007), Sean Bradley (Dallas, 4.8 million, 2008 ), Evan Eshmeyer (Dallas, 3.7 million, 2007), Arvydas Matsiauskas (New Orleans, 2.5 million, 2008 - returned to Europe), Tarik Abdul-Wahad (Dallas, 2.0 million, 2007), Pavel Podkolzin (Dallas, 1.2 million, 2007).
Nikolai TSYNKEVICH