So what’s Kobe’s motivation now? The Black Mamba just came off an incredible year, winning the gold medal in the Olympics with the U.S. Team, and then following that performance up with the NBA Championship and Finals MVP. Throw in a lot of “Kobe Doin’ Work” and his endless effort to prove himself paid off. But will he be just as hungry next year? Will we see the grinding teeth, fixated stare, intense physicality, and another six technical fouls in next year’s playoffs?
I recall a time when I made a bet with my friend Anand, whom we call Bobblehead because his head is always bobbling around (probably a little too much for an aspiring doctor). We were at Taco Bell and he bet me he can outeat me in bean burritos. So, knowing my capacity for the value meal item, I calmly scarfed down 5 big ones, while he choked on the third. In the beginning, I remember talking trash with him, saying that I had an Increasing Marginal Utility for Taco Bell, because after one bite, I just wanted more.
As an Economics major, however, I ultimately realized how wrong I was. The first taste is always the best. But then, I tried to make a case for Increasing Marginal Utility somehow, to prove that this phenomenon can somehow exist. Money? Don’t some people get happier as more and more cash flows into their piggies? Well, that is called greed, a diagnosis of the psyche that does not fall under the category of utility as much as a psychological need being temporarily fulfilled. Similarly, cigarettes are such that users who are addicted might need the next one more badly than the one they just smoked. But again, to keep matters simple, the addiction is a psychological need.
So if greed and addiction are insufficient in advocating the case for Increasing Marginal Utility, is there anything else that can save my argument?
Well, this may be a stretch, but how about Championship Rings? To understand this, try to follow this logic carefully.
Kobe had every reason to be hungry this year. He lost last year. He hadn’t won without Shaq. People said Lebron was better than him. And so on. With all the work that he put in this year, he said himself that this was his most satisfying championship of all because he had to climb the mountain from the bottom again.
Well, next year, I assure you that people will still say Lebron is better than him. People will say Kobe is older now and past his prime. Doubters will point out that the last time a team won back to back titles was when the Lakers did it with Kobe and (surprise surprise) Shaq! I’m pretty sure that’s enough motivation to get him pumped up again. And if he wins the championship again next year, wouldn’t that just be more satisfying than the one he just won?
Some may say that Kobe’s desire for more championships is just another form of greed to win as Magic or Michael or Bill Russel. But seriously, Kobe is one of the best competitors this sport has ever seen. Isn’t it simply that Kobe wants to win the championship every year than to prove he’s better than any of the historic greats? I honestly think so, and that’s why I believe in Increasing Marginal Utility when it comes to competition.
Economics will tell me that Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury were paid too much last year, and that Ben Gordon will probably be paid too much this year. But economics don't do justice in explaining the ferocity, hunger, and jubilation that we witness in great players and epic rivalries.
There is a constant need for self-improvement that we as humans greatly desire. I'm no psychologist but I can surely assume it has something to do with the limited time we have here on this precious Earth, and for athletes, even more limited time as professional athletes. That is why I strongly believe that diminishing marginal utility does not exist in sports competition. Every year, athletes like Kobe are faced with more challenges, more criticism, increased competition from the younger, fresher, newer generation of players, and aging.
I like to use these examples when it comes to utility and time. Wine. As time goes on, a wine tastes better and better. Increasing marginal utility. Or when a paleontologist discovers a new fossil. Increasing marginal utility. Or even better, for all of us who blog, another basketball game is arguably better than the last, because not only do we get to write about this one, but we get to compare it to the last. That is to say, a linear increase in games is an exponential increase in ideas, is it not?
Therefore, I would argue that for Kobe, a 5th championship would give him greater utility than the one he just won. Just imagine, what if he goes up against Shaq to win that 5th one?
BTW, I'll take on anyone in a burrito-eating contest...
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Introduction
Hey Everyone! Thanks for surfing to my blog. I’ve been writing sports articles for quite some time and hope you enjoy my work here at …EPIPHANY… I will surely keep you posted if and when I blog about new topics. Cheers!
How I Got My Blog Name
My framework is my constant flow of emotion, analysis, and intrigue. I find it so predictable that when people find out I’m a singer, they ask me to sing on the spot. Well, I prepare myself to write on the spot too because writers oftentimes have a small window of opportunity, with limited time and unlimited thoughts.
However, I don’t like to force my writing. My thoughts often come to me randomly, especially for topics that I originate. When I respond to others’ articles, I need something witty to say. That is my prerequisite. Forced writing reminds me of standardized tests.
I get a bit annoyed when quarterbacks try to force a pass in between 5 linemen, hoping it gets through to their receiver. Likewise, I won’t force my thoughts in hopes to get through to you. I’d rather make a good pass and throw an incompletion than force a pass and throw an interception. In other words, I’d rather publish a piece that I feel is of high quality than just submit a rough draft and have someone else steal my random ideas and make something of them.
So, I write when I have an …EPIPHANY… It’s not just one idea that hits me. It’s never just one idea. It’s like a table tennis match back and forth in my brain, ideas bouncing off each other and my endless urge to write before I lose my ideas. We all know how that goes…
How I Got My Pen Name
Well, those of you who know me well might ask why I didn’t go with my AOL screenname and e-mail account, vishaldeschai, which seems to have stuck with me for the past few years. I got vishaldeschai from my name, of course, and my acappella group from college, Chai-Town, which basically originated from a group of guys singing during your daily “Chai” (or coffee) break. Well, I wanted to take a step away from that because although you may be reading this during your break, I wrote this during my epiphany.
I wanted my name to look cool, and I felt Vis Des was a unique, interesting way to shorten my name. And it is easy to say. But it felt like something was missing. I love how words with three or more syllables just tend to sound cool. Really, it didn’t take long to get Maximus. In fact, that was the first thought that came to my head (epiphany, right?), because it just went with the flow of Vis Des. They all end in ‘s’ and it sounds smooth.
Why Maximus? Well, I was watching Kobe on The Late Night Show with Conan O’Brian and he explained how he really worked hard to “maximize” every moment he had from post-Olympics 2008 to NBA Championship and Finals MVP 2009 to reach that level and earn that 4th championship ring. I’ve always been a Kobe fan, and I can definitely learn from the man who wakes up at 5:00 am to hit the weight room instead of snoozing my cell phone 5 times and half-sleeping away another precious hour of my life.
So I researched Maximus, whom I knew was a historic warrior of some sort. Turns out he was a Roman gladiator who, surprise surprise, wrote love letters to his wife while he was away on the battlefield, away from his wife and child. Eventually, he found out his family had been slain and he revamped himself to seek revenge until his ultimate death. I think his glory solidified my decision on going with Maximus. The fact that he “wrote” was just an affirmation that awesome people like you might read my blog.
How I Got You To Read This
Good question. Persistence? Inspiration? You have nothing better to do? Well hey, I’ll take it. But I’d definitely like to give a shout out to my friend, Vikas Chokshi, better known as DOCKSQUAD in the world of blog. Check out his work at www.docksquadsports.com. VC hooked me up with some great inside tips to blogging. Hopefully, I can pass down the wisdom to aspiring writers like me.
Ok, time for me to go meditate. Just kidding, but how cool would that be to have your Zen Master head coach command you to imagine that you’re a frog on a lillypad? Hey, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have done it. Props to PJ on his 10th championship ring.
How I Got My Blog Name
My framework is my constant flow of emotion, analysis, and intrigue. I find it so predictable that when people find out I’m a singer, they ask me to sing on the spot. Well, I prepare myself to write on the spot too because writers oftentimes have a small window of opportunity, with limited time and unlimited thoughts.
However, I don’t like to force my writing. My thoughts often come to me randomly, especially for topics that I originate. When I respond to others’ articles, I need something witty to say. That is my prerequisite. Forced writing reminds me of standardized tests.
I get a bit annoyed when quarterbacks try to force a pass in between 5 linemen, hoping it gets through to their receiver. Likewise, I won’t force my thoughts in hopes to get through to you. I’d rather make a good pass and throw an incompletion than force a pass and throw an interception. In other words, I’d rather publish a piece that I feel is of high quality than just submit a rough draft and have someone else steal my random ideas and make something of them.
So, I write when I have an …EPIPHANY… It’s not just one idea that hits me. It’s never just one idea. It’s like a table tennis match back and forth in my brain, ideas bouncing off each other and my endless urge to write before I lose my ideas. We all know how that goes…
How I Got My Pen Name
Well, those of you who know me well might ask why I didn’t go with my AOL screenname and e-mail account, vishaldeschai, which seems to have stuck with me for the past few years. I got vishaldeschai from my name, of course, and my acappella group from college, Chai-Town, which basically originated from a group of guys singing during your daily “Chai” (or coffee) break. Well, I wanted to take a step away from that because although you may be reading this during your break, I wrote this during my epiphany.
I wanted my name to look cool, and I felt Vis Des was a unique, interesting way to shorten my name. And it is easy to say. But it felt like something was missing. I love how words with three or more syllables just tend to sound cool. Really, it didn’t take long to get Maximus. In fact, that was the first thought that came to my head (epiphany, right?), because it just went with the flow of Vis Des. They all end in ‘s’ and it sounds smooth.
Why Maximus? Well, I was watching Kobe on The Late Night Show with Conan O’Brian and he explained how he really worked hard to “maximize” every moment he had from post-Olympics 2008 to NBA Championship and Finals MVP 2009 to reach that level and earn that 4th championship ring. I’ve always been a Kobe fan, and I can definitely learn from the man who wakes up at 5:00 am to hit the weight room instead of snoozing my cell phone 5 times and half-sleeping away another precious hour of my life.
So I researched Maximus, whom I knew was a historic warrior of some sort. Turns out he was a Roman gladiator who, surprise surprise, wrote love letters to his wife while he was away on the battlefield, away from his wife and child. Eventually, he found out his family had been slain and he revamped himself to seek revenge until his ultimate death. I think his glory solidified my decision on going with Maximus. The fact that he “wrote” was just an affirmation that awesome people like you might read my blog.
How I Got You To Read This
Good question. Persistence? Inspiration? You have nothing better to do? Well hey, I’ll take it. But I’d definitely like to give a shout out to my friend, Vikas Chokshi, better known as DOCKSQUAD in the world of blog. Check out his work at www.docksquadsports.com. VC hooked me up with some great inside tips to blogging. Hopefully, I can pass down the wisdom to aspiring writers like me.
Ok, time for me to go meditate. Just kidding, but how cool would that be to have your Zen Master head coach command you to imagine that you’re a frog on a lillypad? Hey, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have done it. Props to PJ on his 10th championship ring.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Why Did Shaq Root For Kobe?
It’s not that he is rooting for Kobe as much as he rooting against Stan Van Gundy. Shaquille O’Neal, one of the greatest, one of the most charismatic, one of the most dominant ever, has proven again why he is one of the wisest men in the world, let alone in the world of basketball.
With the Orlando Magic down 3-1, which quite possibly could have been 3-1 in their favor, Stan Van Gundy took the blame for the two narrow, heartbreaking losses, and Shaq’s comment of Stan Van being a “choker” and “letting his team down” resonates in the air.
For Shaq to score points on this, his latest dramatic public episode, it helps him in a variety of ways. Championship contending teams will look to him for veteran leadership to bring on in his last year of basketball next year. His media career has the doors wide open because not only does he have that entertaining stage presence, but his analysis proves reliable, which is absolutely essential in the world of sports broadcasting, especially when it leaves the fans wanting more. But most importantly, Shaq’s legacy will conclude positively, not just because he had an incredible statistical season, and not because he shared Co-MVP All-Star Honors with Kobe Bryant, but because his read on Stan Van Gundy was correct.
Let’s be realistic, Shaq knew he had no chance to win the championship this year with the Suns, and he probably knew they wouldn’t make the playoffs either at the time the Suns played the Magic and Stan Van accused Shaq of “flopping”. To most basketball fans, that “flopping” was sheer entertainment because it was just fun to watch Shaq as the recipient for once, trying to act out a flop. In a way, he was even conceding to Dwight Howard that he is the next great center in this league. Pass down the torch. After all, they both began their careers in Orlando, both have been referenced to Superman, both are very fun-loving entertainers, both are extremely dominant centers, and neither can shoot free throws. Shaq knows his legacy is nearing its end as a player, and is simply trying to enjoy himself as much as possible. Another championship would be delicious, but Shaq understands he has had a magnificent career and will go down in history as one of the greatest to ever play the game.
So then why did he deliver this big blow to Stan Van Gundy, saying he’s a “choker”? It’s because Shaq read Stan Van Gundy like the two were in a heads-up Hold ‘Em match. Shaq really had nothing to lose. His playing career has just a year remaining, and another title, another early playoff exit, or another good season despite missing the playoffs – no matter which happens, Shaq’s legacy as one of the great ones won’t be too affected. (Although if he has 5, he’ll probably have more lifetime conversations with Magic Johnson.)
But Shaq knew that Stan Van Gundy’s 3-Of-A-Kind in Orlando could not possibly defeat the Full House in Lakerland. The majority of the country definitely predicted that Orlando would not win the championship this season. The simple fact that they made the Finals alone only helps Shaq’s case, because Orlando has had every opportunity to be up 3-1. If this isn’t “choking” at its max, then I don’t know what else is.
It’s like Stan Van Gundy raised the issue of Shaq bluffing, I mean, “flopping”, and Shaq just re-raised All-In, knowing he had nothing to lose. We did not witness much more verbal maliciousness after that as Shaq geared for the off-season and Stan Van Gundy prepared for the playoffs. Van Gundy simply brushed the drama aside and said he’d like to focus on his team and the playoffs. That was another way of buying time to decide if he wanted to call Shaq or not. But Van Gundy took too much time and Shaq called clock on him. Well, the time has almost run out for Jeff Van Gundy’s brother. (You know I had to reference Jeff Van Gundy somewhere in here!)
Like most professional poker players will say, poker is a game of skill, and not luck. Well, Shaq certainly didn’t take a gamble when he called out Stan Van. Shaq’s wisdom is his skill. By successfully calling out Stan Van Gundy, and being the first to do so, Shaq caused a massacre. Marcin Gortat in the Polish papers. Dwight Howard in the Boston series. Stan Van Gundy to himself! “This one’s gonna haunt me forever…”
Kazaam! Move over Mr. Miagi. Shaq is wiser! Heck, I didn’t think about it earlier, but he can write his own book and it will spread like wildfire. Really, time and time again, Shaq illustrates the most brilliant of stories for our pleasure. I recall in 2006 when Shaq claimed Kobe was Sonny, and Dwyane Wade was Michael. Shaq was, of course, Don Corleone. It seemed so plausible and thought-provoking an analogy that we started comparing Kobe and Wade, without even second-guessing that Shaq was indeed the Godfather.
Shaq in his heart knows he couldn’t have won three championships in L.A. without Kobe or one in Miami without Dwyane Wade. But the critics will always state the opposite, that Kobe wouldn’t have won without Shaq, and neither would have Dwyane Wade. Shaq’s legacy has never been questioned. We know how great he has been to the NBA.
But Shaquille O’Neal as a man, like all men, needs to reinforce his credibility ever so often. And he does it so flawlessly that it begs the question, “Does Shaq really calculate his comments so wisely and intentionally?” I believe he does.
In fact, I urge you to look for the knockout punch from Shaq after the Lakers win the series. Something along the lines of, “I told you so.”
With the Orlando Magic down 3-1, which quite possibly could have been 3-1 in their favor, Stan Van Gundy took the blame for the two narrow, heartbreaking losses, and Shaq’s comment of Stan Van being a “choker” and “letting his team down” resonates in the air.
For Shaq to score points on this, his latest dramatic public episode, it helps him in a variety of ways. Championship contending teams will look to him for veteran leadership to bring on in his last year of basketball next year. His media career has the doors wide open because not only does he have that entertaining stage presence, but his analysis proves reliable, which is absolutely essential in the world of sports broadcasting, especially when it leaves the fans wanting more. But most importantly, Shaq’s legacy will conclude positively, not just because he had an incredible statistical season, and not because he shared Co-MVP All-Star Honors with Kobe Bryant, but because his read on Stan Van Gundy was correct.
Let’s be realistic, Shaq knew he had no chance to win the championship this year with the Suns, and he probably knew they wouldn’t make the playoffs either at the time the Suns played the Magic and Stan Van accused Shaq of “flopping”. To most basketball fans, that “flopping” was sheer entertainment because it was just fun to watch Shaq as the recipient for once, trying to act out a flop. In a way, he was even conceding to Dwight Howard that he is the next great center in this league. Pass down the torch. After all, they both began their careers in Orlando, both have been referenced to Superman, both are very fun-loving entertainers, both are extremely dominant centers, and neither can shoot free throws. Shaq knows his legacy is nearing its end as a player, and is simply trying to enjoy himself as much as possible. Another championship would be delicious, but Shaq understands he has had a magnificent career and will go down in history as one of the greatest to ever play the game.
So then why did he deliver this big blow to Stan Van Gundy, saying he’s a “choker”? It’s because Shaq read Stan Van Gundy like the two were in a heads-up Hold ‘Em match. Shaq really had nothing to lose. His playing career has just a year remaining, and another title, another early playoff exit, or another good season despite missing the playoffs – no matter which happens, Shaq’s legacy as one of the great ones won’t be too affected. (Although if he has 5, he’ll probably have more lifetime conversations with Magic Johnson.)
But Shaq knew that Stan Van Gundy’s 3-Of-A-Kind in Orlando could not possibly defeat the Full House in Lakerland. The majority of the country definitely predicted that Orlando would not win the championship this season. The simple fact that they made the Finals alone only helps Shaq’s case, because Orlando has had every opportunity to be up 3-1. If this isn’t “choking” at its max, then I don’t know what else is.
It’s like Stan Van Gundy raised the issue of Shaq bluffing, I mean, “flopping”, and Shaq just re-raised All-In, knowing he had nothing to lose. We did not witness much more verbal maliciousness after that as Shaq geared for the off-season and Stan Van Gundy prepared for the playoffs. Van Gundy simply brushed the drama aside and said he’d like to focus on his team and the playoffs. That was another way of buying time to decide if he wanted to call Shaq or not. But Van Gundy took too much time and Shaq called clock on him. Well, the time has almost run out for Jeff Van Gundy’s brother. (You know I had to reference Jeff Van Gundy somewhere in here!)
Like most professional poker players will say, poker is a game of skill, and not luck. Well, Shaq certainly didn’t take a gamble when he called out Stan Van. Shaq’s wisdom is his skill. By successfully calling out Stan Van Gundy, and being the first to do so, Shaq caused a massacre. Marcin Gortat in the Polish papers. Dwight Howard in the Boston series. Stan Van Gundy to himself! “This one’s gonna haunt me forever…”
Kazaam! Move over Mr. Miagi. Shaq is wiser! Heck, I didn’t think about it earlier, but he can write his own book and it will spread like wildfire. Really, time and time again, Shaq illustrates the most brilliant of stories for our pleasure. I recall in 2006 when Shaq claimed Kobe was Sonny, and Dwyane Wade was Michael. Shaq was, of course, Don Corleone. It seemed so plausible and thought-provoking an analogy that we started comparing Kobe and Wade, without even second-guessing that Shaq was indeed the Godfather.
Shaq in his heart knows he couldn’t have won three championships in L.A. without Kobe or one in Miami without Dwyane Wade. But the critics will always state the opposite, that Kobe wouldn’t have won without Shaq, and neither would have Dwyane Wade. Shaq’s legacy has never been questioned. We know how great he has been to the NBA.
But Shaquille O’Neal as a man, like all men, needs to reinforce his credibility ever so often. And he does it so flawlessly that it begs the question, “Does Shaq really calculate his comments so wisely and intentionally?” I believe he does.
In fact, I urge you to look for the knockout punch from Shaq after the Lakers win the series. Something along the lines of, “I told you so.”
How Much Is Ben Gordon Worth?
So after digesting the most exciting first round series ever and the Bulls loss that came with it, I’ve finally decided on what the Chicago Bulls should do with Ben Gordon. First, the ‘n million dollar question’ (where n = Ben Gordon’s yearly salary), is how much is Ben Gordon worth?
I’ve taken the liberty to create a chart of all the notable 2-Guards and Combo Guards in the NBA to determine where I’d place Ben Gordon on this list. I have highlighted the salary for each player based on his contributions to his team, his NBA experience, his size, and his age. Please note that this is just a quick assessment with the sole purpose of weeding out any poor salary decisions that fallible GM’s have made in their day.
Green if he is underpaid.
Red if he is overpaid.
Blue if he is correctly paid.
| Name | Salary | Exp. | Height | Weight | Age | Team |
| Kobe Bryant | $21,262,500 | 13 | 6-6 | 205 | 30 | LAL |
| Tracy McGrady | $20,370,437 | 12 | 6-8 | 223 | 30 | Houston |
| Ray Allen | $18,388,430 | 13 | 6-5 | 205 | 34 | Boston |
| Michael Redd | $15,780,000 | 9 | 6-6 | 215 | 29 | Milwaukee |
| Vince Carter | $14,724,125 | 11 | 6-6 | 220 | 32 | New Jersey |
| Dwyane Wade | $14,410,581 | 6 | 6-4 | 216 | 27 | Miami |
| Joe Johnson | $14,232,567 | 8 | 6-7 | 240 | 27 | Atlanta |
| Jason Richardson | $12,222,221 | 8 | 6-6 | 225 | 28 | Phoenix |
| Andre Iguodola | $11,300,000 | 5 | 6-6 | 207 | 25 | Philadelphia |
| Monta Ellis | $11,000,000 | 4 | 6-3 | 180 | 23 | Golden State |
| Richard Hamilton | $10,812,500 | 10 | 6-7 | 193 | 31 | Detroit |
| Kirk Hinrich | $10,000,000 | 6 | 6-3 | 190 | 28 | Chicago |
| Manu Ginobli | $9,905,248 | 7 | 6-6 | 205 | 31 | San Antonio |
| Jason Terry | $9,196,000 | 10 | 6-2 | 180 | 31 | Dallas |
| Mike Miller | $9,028,575 | 9 | 6-8 | 218 | 29 | Minnesota |
| Quentin Richardson | $8,685,500 | 9 | 6-6 | 235 | 29 | New York |
| Marquis Daniels | $6,864,200 | 6 | 6-6 | 200 | 28 | Indiana |
| Leandro Barbosa | $6,100,000 | 6 | 6-3 | 202 | 26 | Phoenix |
| Jason Kapono | $5,784,480 | 6 | 6-8 | 215 | 28 | Toronto |
| Morris Peterson | $5,592,240 | 9 | 6-7 | 220 | 31 | New Orleans |
| Mickael Pietrus | $5,300,000 | 6 | 6-6 | 215 | 27 | Orlando |
| Raja Bell | $5,000,000 | 9 | 6-5 | 215 | 32 | Charlotte |
| J.R. Smith | $4,985,001 | 5 | 6-6 | 220 | 23 | Denver |
| Kyle Korver | $4,956,818 | 6 | 6-7 | 212 | 28 | Utah |
| Sasha Pavlovic | $4,500,000 | 6 | 6-7 | 235 | 25 | Cleveland |
| Kevin Durant | $4,484,040 | 2 | 6-9 | 215 | 20 | OKC |
| O.J. Mayo | $3,875,040 | 1 | 6-4 | 210 | 21 | Memphis |
| Delonte West | $3,850,000 | 5 | 6-3 | 180 | 25 | Cleveland |
| Rasual Butler | $3,630,000 | 7 | 6-7 | 205 | 30 | New Orleans |
| DeShawn Stevenson | $3,616,072 | 9 | 6-5 | 218 | 28 | Washington |
| Roger Mason Jr. | $3,500,000 | 5 | 6-5 | 212 | 28 | San Antonio |
| Brandon Roy | $3,084,240 | 3 | 6-6 | 211 | 24 | Portland |
| Eric Gordon | $2,623,200 | 1 | 6-3 | 222 | 20 | LAC |
| Francisco Garcia | $1,983,454 | 4 | 6-7 | 195 | 27 | Sacramento |
| Ronnie Brewer | $1,834,680 | 3 | 6-7 | 227 | 24 | Utah |
| Courtney Lee | $1,176,240 | 1 | 6-5 | 200 | 23 | Orlando |
Key Free Agent 2-Guards or Combo-Guards or Point Guards | ||||||
| Ben Gordon | Free Agent | 5 | 6-3 | 200 | 26 | Free Agent |
| Dahntay Jones | Free Agent | 6 | 6-6 | 210 | 28 | Free Agent |
| Anthony Parker | Free Agent | 6 | 6-6 | 215 | 33 | Free Agent |
| Bobby Jackson | Free Agent | 12 | 6-1 | 185 | 36 | Free Agent |
| Stephon Marbury | Free Agent | 13 | 6-2 | 205 | 32 | Free Agent |
| Mike Bibby | Free Agent | 11 | 6-2 | 195 | 31 | Free Agent |
| Allen Iverson | Free Agent | 13 | 6-0 | 180 | 33 | Free Agent |
Before I get into the Free Agents, allow me to briefly explain my assessments on player salaries.
Overpaid: T-Mac, Vince Carter, JRich, Mike Miller, QRich, Marquis Daniels, Jason Kapono, Morris Peterson
These guys either have chronic back problems and injuries, can’t lead their teams to the playoffs, can’t play defense, or a combination of the three. Only MoPete might be questionable, but he’s 31 and hardly played all season due to injury. I wouldn’t pay him $5.6 Mil.
Underpaid: Kevin Durant, Delonte West, Brandon Roy, Courtney Lee
Except for Delonte, these guys can’t currently get paid more due to the restrictions on Rookie Contracts, but let’s just say they will get huge contract extensions when eligible because they deserve them. Remember all that talk about Delonte West and his depression problems at the beginning of the year? Well, he looks A-Okay to me and winning has probably helped. This guy is a true combo-guard who can D up and nail big jumpers. He is not getting paid enough for what he brings to the table.
Correctly Paid: Everyone else.
Argue if you want, but I think the rest of the batch gets the right salary. Hey, there are some GM’s who know what they’re doing…
So this brings me to the Free Agent Guard Class of 2009…
Personally, I’d pay Dahntay Jones and Ben Gordon the most out of any of these guys, and I’d pay DJ more because he’s the only one on that list under 30 years old who’s not an “I Gotta Get Mine” player. He can play lock-down defense, as illustrated this year with the Denver Nuggets, he has great size at 6-6, and he can score as well. Ben Gordon is a much better offensive player, and his defense has improved a bit, but the fact remains he’s an undersized streak player who doesn’t make his teammates better. Many say 6th man, and that just depends on which team he lands, but if he is a 6th man, I’ll say I’d rather have JR Smith on my team, who is also at 6-6, and has a higher ceiling that Ben Gordon. Smith’s improvement this year alone has been very notable, especially in shot selection, help defense, and ball control. As you can see, Smith gets paid just under $5 Mil, and both JR and Ben have been in the league for 5 years.
Just below JR in the salary table are Kyle Korver ($4.95 Mil) and Sasha Pavlovic ($4.5 Mil), who both have great size and can bring the defensive presence to the table that Ben Gordon can’t. Right below Sasha are Kevin Durant, O.J. Mayo, and Delonte West, who all deserve big raises when eligible, so let’s look even further down, where we have Rasual Butler ($3.63 Mil) and DeShawn Stevenson ($3.61 Mil). I’d definitely take Ben Gordon over Butler or Stevenson, so the price floor for Ben Gordon is Sasha Pavlovic at ($4.5 Mil).
Now, let’s move up the ladder to determine Ben Gordon’s price ceiling. Above J.R. Smith we have Raja Bell ($5 Mil) and Mickael Pietrus ($5.3 Mil). BG can argue his case against these guys, so let’s look further up to the next properly paid player, who is Leandro Barbosa ($6.1 Mil). Now, the Spanish Sensation is very similar to BG in that both are 6-3, both are great at offense, and both are not so great at defense. But Barbosa is faster and more consistent, even as a sixth man. Let’s keep that in mind while we look even further up, to Jason Terry ($9.2 Mil) and Manu Ginobli ($9.9 Mil). Ben Gordon is not better than Manu, and Jet makes a few million more because he has been in the league longer, not to mention he can still be a deadly sixth man as he showed this year. Ben Gordon is not better than anyone above Manu and Kirk Hinrich deserves his $10 Mil per year because he is the best back-up point guard in the NBA and was impressive in the Boston-Chicago 1st Round series, with remarkable contributions, both offensively and defensively.
So, I’d have to say Ben Gordon’s price ceiling is at the $9.2 Million that Jason Terry makes. In all honesty though, my first hunch of placing BG at J.R. Smith’s $4,985,001 level is where I’d like to keep him. (But J.R. Smith is better, so take away that last dollar!)
I think there are some GM’s who don’t know what they’re doing and may flaunt him more money, but in this economy, and with so few teams under the cap, it may be difficult for Gordon to find the contract he seeks. Turning down the 2 Bulls contracts was a huge mistake and if I’m John Paxson, I’ll offer BG even less this time around, or another 1-Year contract to see if he can redeem himself in next year’s playoffs (for all the shots that he missed in Game 7 and all the clutch shots he attempted in the series that didn’t fall through the net).
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