NBA Salary Average: $1 Million -- Bigger Contracts Mean More Players Will Want To Be `Taken Care Of'
PALO ALTO, Calif. - Because this is the era of the seven-figure salary, the rumblings of a big shakeup in NBA salaries have gone quietly unnoticed.
Yes, the signing of Sam Perkins to a six-year, $19 million contract was widely publicized and expected. But many other events point to a major recarving of the totem pole of NBA salaries.
According to information obtained by the Times Tribune, at least 75 of the 325 players in the NBA will earn more than $1 million in 1990-91. That does not include any of the top players from the June draft.
Considering that the NBA salary cap for each team recently rose by about $2 million to a little more than $11.8 million, that's not the most startling news. Simple division indicates that the average player next year will be making almost $1 million a year.
But with $54 million more in salary money available around the league and estimates that the salary cap could increase by more than $1 million each of the next three years, a lot of players are going to want to be ``taken care of'' very soon.
``Taken care of'' is a phrase players, agents and management like to throw around.
For instance, Chicago Bulls vice president of basketball operations Jerry Krause used it several times after recently signing power forward Horace Grant to a contract extension. After the 1990-91 season, during which he will earn $600,000, Grant will jump to about $2 million a year in 1991-92.
``Taken care of'' is clearly what the Los Angeles Lakers did with Perkins, making him the No. 3 highest paid player in the NBA.
At an average of $3.17 million a year, Perkins trails only Patrick Ewing ($4,257,500 for next season) and Akeem Olajuwon ($4,062,451). Perkins is ahead of such players as teammate Magic Johnson ($3,142,860), Michael Jordan ($2.95 million) and Charles Barkley ($2.9 million).
But the topper in caretaking so far was what the Orlando Magic did for small forward Dennis Scott: Five years for $12 million, all guaranteed for the No. 4 pick in the draft last June.
At an average of $2.4 million a year, Scott is nearly one of the top 10 paid players in the league without ever stepping on an NBA floor. His deal is also the third best ever for a rookie, trailing only David Robinson and Ewing.
With Scott's contract, rumor has it that No. 6 pick Felton Spencer will get $2 million a year from Minnesota. The three picks ahead of Scott (Derrick Coleman, Gary Payton and Chris Jackson) seem certain to get at least what he received.
To put it bluntly, ``I don't think we were quite prepared for the Scott contract,'' said Jerry Reynolds, Sacramento's director of player personnel. The Kings have the task of signing four first-round picks, including No. 7 selection Lionel Simmons.
There has been speculation that as many as the top 10 or 11 picks from the June draft will receive contracts that average $1,000,000 a year, even though the draft was not considered talent-filled.
According to information obtained from the NBA Players Association, only five draft picks signed contracts of that magnitude in 1989. In 1988, only three received that kind of money. In 1987, only two.
What does that mean for the Golden State Warriors? Top draft pick Tyrone Hill was the No. 11 pick in June. According to projections based on what the No. 11 pick has received over the last three years, Hill could have expected a four-year deal worth about $3.5 million.
But Ron Grinker, Hill's agent, said in June that part of reason the Warriors were able to pick Hill was that Grinker painstakingly made his client unattractive to teams with higher picks.
To put it another way:
``Yes, it would make sense to take No. 11-type money, if we thought Tyrone was truly the No. 11 pick,'' Grinker said.
Recently, Grinker was even more blunt when asked if the top 11 picks would average $1 million a year.
``I will guarantee that,'' he said.
Beyond draft picks, there is sure to be a trickle-down effect. How can stars like Joe Dumars ($890,000), Mitch Richmond ($900,000), Clyde Drexler ($1.1 million), James Worthy ($1.6 million) or Karl Malone ($1.6 million) expect to be happy as they are surpassed by lesser or even unproven players?
Perkins, who has never been an all-star and has never averaged more than 15.9 points or 8.8 rebounds during his six-year career, makes almost as much as Worthy and Malone combined. Can you say renegotiation?
``The first reaction will be emotional,'' said Warren LeGarie, an agent for Golden State Warriors forward Terry Teagle and several other players. ``Some players will say, `If he's worth this much, I'm worth this much.'
``After that, there will be a rational approach . . . But, yes, some players will hold out.''
``It's definitely going to have an effect on the Lakers,'' Reynolds said of Perkins' contract. ``Will it have an effect on other teams? Yes, in that players know that if they wait for free agency they can really cash in.''
The rational approach is that when players like Perkins and Scott get big contracts, it helps everyone.
``A lot of players are going to say, `That's great, more power to (Perkins),' '' said agent Michael Burstein, who represents Phoenix's Kevin Johnson. ``The players will realize that this is a case of timing. Perkins was the top free agent in a mediocre pool. Other players know that their time will come.''
As Burstein also pointed out, there is also a great equalizing factor built into the salary cap. While the cap doesn't allow teams to spend more than $11.8 million, it also forces teams to spend a minimum amount. This season, that amount is $9.6 million.
``Teams have to spend money, even if their players aren't necessarily as good as players on another team,'' Burstein said. ``Because of that, a player on a bad team may make more than a comparable player on a good team.''
Chicago's deal with Grant, who all but demanded an extension at the end of last season, is a case in point of a player whose time came. There are also rumors that Drexler and Phoenix's Jeff Hornacek, among others, will have their contracts renegotiated.
But for every case of a player who will be ``taken care of,'' there seem to be three more players looking for similar care.
Specifically, one of those players is Teagle. LeGarie said he hasn't talked to the Warriors in some time, but he strongly indicated that Teagle wants to re-up his contract, which runs through 1992.
When asked if the Warriors are shopping Teagle around to avoid a contract hassle, LeGarie said, ``They certainly should be.''
Another angry player is Reggie Lewis, one of Boston's few young talents. Earlier this month, Lewis' agent, Jerome Stanley, said he would not negotiate with the Celtics after the coming season. Part of the problem is that Lewis, who will make $400,000 this year, has been overlooked while the Celtics renegotiated with Brian Shaw and then made a huge offer to Yugoslavian star Dino Radja.
Richmond, who followed up his rookie of the year season with a quietly outstanding performance last year for the Warriors, is sure to be looking at some form of compensation.
Richmond, who has two guaranteed years and two option years remaining on his original $5.1 million contract, is represented by William Strickland of ProServe, Inc. One of Strickland's associate agents at ProServ is David Falk, who negotiated Scott's contract.
Warriors point guard Tim Hardaway, a unanimous all-rookie selection last season, will average $600,000 over his four-year contract. Hardaway probably will have to wait at least another year before bringing up the idea of renegotiating.
The Warriors, who reportedly were in the bidding for Perkins, are not an isolated case. The salary cap will save NBA teams from even wilder spending flurries.
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TOP 10 SALARIES
PLAYER TEAM '90-91 PAY ;
1. Patrick Ewing New York $ 4,257,500 ;
2. Akeem Olajuwon Houston 4,062,451 ;
3. Sam Perkins L.A. Lakers 3,166,666 ;
4. Magic Johnson L.A. Lakers 3,142,860 ;
5. Michael Jordan Chicago 2,950,000 ;
6. Charles Barkley Philadelphia 2,900,000 ;
7. Isiah Thomas Detroit 2,700,000 ;
8. Moses Malone Atlanta 2,506,000 ;
9. Robert Parish Boston 2,500,000 ;
10. Chris Mullin Golden State 2,500,000 ;
;
TOP 20 CENTERS
PLAYER TEAM '90-91 PAY ;
1. Patrick Ewing New York $ 4,257,500 ;
2. Akeem Olajuwon Houston 4,062,451 ;
3. Moses Malone Atlanta 2,506,000 ;
4. Robert Parish Boston 2,500,000 ;
5. Blair Rasmussen Denver 2,450,000 ;
6. Ralph Sampson Sacramento 2,247,000 ;
7. David Robinson San Antonio 2,015,480 ;
8. Sam Bowie New Jersey 2,000,000 ;
9. Jon Koncak Atlanta 2,000,000 ;
10. Benoit Benjamin L.A. Clippers 1,750,000 ;
11. Kevin Duckworth Portland 1,712,500 ;
12. Mike Gminski Philadelphia 1,650,000 ;
13. Jack Sikma Milwaukee 1,600,000 ;
14. Rik Smits Indiana 1,500,000 ;
15. Danny Schayes Milwaukee 1,500,000 ;
16. Brad Daugherty Cleveland 1,491,666 ;
17. Mark Eaton Utah 1,400,000 ;
18. Manute Bol Philadelphia 1,300,000 ;
19. Brad Lohaus Boston 1,283,050 ;
20. J.R. Reid Charlotte 1,200,000 ;
;
TOP 20 POWER FORWARDS
PLAYER TEAM '90-91 PAY ;
1. Sam Perkins L.A. Lakers $ 3,166,666 ;
2. LaSalle Thompson Indiana 2,000,000 ;
3. Tom Chambers Phoenix 1,975,000 ;
4. Terry Cummings San Antonio 1,835,624 ;
5. Pervis Ellison Washington 1,820,000 ;
6. Otis Thorpe Houston 1,758,429 ;
7. Wayman Tisdale Sacramento 1,724,500 ;
8. Karl Malone Utah 1,600,000 ;
9. Buck Williams Portland 1,500,000 ;
10. A.C. Green L.A. Lakers 1,500,000 ;
11. Kevin McHale Boston 1,400,000 ;
12. Larry Nance Cleveland 1,377,500 ;
13. Roy Hinson New Jersey 1,247,000 ;
14. Armon Gilliam Charlotte 1,200,000 ;
15. John S. Williams Washington 1,200,000 ;
16. Terry Catledge Orlando 1,100,000 ;
17. Charles Oakley New York 1,050,000 ;
18. Charles Smith L.A. Clippers 1,000,000 ;
19. Thurl Bailey Utah 1,000,000 ;
20. Stacey King Chicago 1,000,000 ;
;
TOP 20 SMALL FORWARDS
PLAYER TEAM '90-91 PAY ;
1. Charles Barkley Philadelphia $ 2,900,000 ;
2. Chris Mullin Golden State 2,500,000 ;
3. Dennis Scott Orlando 2,400,000 ;
4. Danny Manning L.A. Clippers 2,200,000 ;
5. Chuck Person Indiana 2,100,000 ;
6. Dominique Wilkins Atlanta 2,065,000 ;
7. Larry Bird Boston 1,800,000 ;
8. James Worthy L.A. Lakers 1,600,000 ;
9. Bernard King Washington 1,600,000 ;
10. Sean Elliott San Antonio 1,552,000 ;
11. Xavier McDaniel Seattle 1,400,000 ;
12. Glen Rice Miami 1,201,610 ;
13. Detlef Schrempf Indiana 1,162,253 ;
14. Ken Norman L.A. Clippers 1,050,000 ;
15. Kiki Vandeweghe New York 1,027,666 ;
16. Eddie Johnson Phoenix 1,000,000 ;
17. Kelly Tripucka Charlotte 1,000,000 ;
18. Rodney McCray Dallas 975,000 ;
19. Dennis Rodman Detroit 900,000 ;
20. Kenny Walker New York 875,000 ;
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TOP 20 SHOOTING GUARDS
PLAYER TEAM '90-91 PAY ;
1. Michael Jorday Chicago $ 2,950,000 ;
2. Lafayette Lever Dallas 1,502,460 ;
3. Drazen Petrovic Portland 1,370,653 ;
4. S. Marciulionis Golden State 1,316,666 ;
5. Dale Ellis Seattle 1,300,000 ;
6. Johnny Newman Charlotte 1,250,000 ;
7. Brian Shaw Boston 1,200,000 ;
8. Clyde Drexler Portland 1,128,333 ;
9. Byron Scott L.A. Lakers 1,100,000 ;
10. Rolando Blackman Dallas 1,000,000 ;
11. Ricky Pierce Milwaukee 1,075,000 ;
12. Hersey Hawkins Philadelphia 1,000,000 ;
13. George McCloud Indiana 937,500 ;
14. Jeff Malone Utah 916,666 ;
15. Dell Curry Charlotte 900,000 ;
16. Mitch Richmond Golden State 900,000 ;
17. Alvin Robertson Milwaukee 895,000 ;
18. Joe Dumars Detroit 890,000 ;
19. Dennis Hopson Chicago 867,516 ;
20. Walter Davis Denver 850,000 ;
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TOP 20 POINT GUARDS
PLAYER TEAM '90-91 PAY ;
1. Magic Johnson L.A. Lakers $ 3,142,860 ;
2. Isiah Thomas Detroit 2,700,000 ;
3. Sleepy Floyd Houston 2,000,000 ;
4. Terry Porter Portland 2,000,000 ;
5. Mark Jackson New York 1,785,000 ;
6. Kevin Johnson Phoenix 1,750,000 ;
7. John Stockton Utah 1,100,000 ;
8. Maurice Cheeks New York 1,100,000 ;
9. Doc Rivers Atlanta 1,000,000 ;
10. Mark Price Cleveland 1,000,000 ;
11. Sam Vincent Orlando 970,000 ;
12. Lester Conner New Jersey 900,000 ;
13. Jim Paxson Boston 875,000 ;
14. Derek Harper Dallas 850,000 ;
15. Nate McMillan Seattle 708,333 ;
16. Keith Smith Atlanta 707,000 ;
17. Jay Humphries Milwaukee 650,000 ;
18. Darrell Walker Washington 610,500 ;
19. Vern Fleming Indiana 607,500 ;
20. Pooh Richardson Minnesota 600,000 ;
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- Peninsula Times Tribune