TO KNOW LIST 3: Money talks, BS walks--straight to the bank.

Navigation: Main page

Author: Deveney, Sean

THEY LOVE THIS GAME

Ever pick up the tab at a restaurant and have your eyes bug out because that "market price" on lobster turned out to be more like the market price on a nice three-bedroom in the 'burbs? Or because those chocotinis were $14 a pop?

Looking at the contracts signed this summer, you've got to wonder if some NBA owners will have the same feeling â€" "We paid how much for …"

… Michael Redd? Redd can shoot, and the Bucks rewarded him. But can he play D? Pass? Rebound? Can he figure out how to spend $90 million from now to 2011? These are important questions.

… Cuttino Mobley? He's a bit one-dimensional, and that dimension is Cuttino Mobley. Five years and $47 million? Sound perfect, Clippers fans.

… Jerome James? Be overweight and lazy and sleep through team meetings. Average 4.9 points. Do this for five NBA seasons. Have five (count 'em) solid playoff games, then call Knicks boss Isiah Thomas. He'll give you about $30 million over five. Just ask Jerome.

… Antonio Daniels? Next to James, Daniels' $30 million for five years from the Wizards is a bargain. Daniels was a good backup last season. But he's 30, with career averages of 7.8 points and 3.3 assists. Hard to say the sky's the limit here.

PHOTO (COLOR): Redd

~~~~~~~~

By Sean Deveney