CubanMustGo
06-22-2006, 09:46 AM
Too true ...
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/bharvey/stories/MYSA062206.1C.COL.BKNharvey.cuban.11d3f9b.html
Mark Cuban set an NBA Finals record nearly every time he opened his mouth. From his blog to his Stairmaster to a Miami locker room to the basketball floor itself.
Has anyone been as irritating from as many places?
But now he gets to do what he does best, which is close his mouth and open his wallet. Operating with the league's second-highest payroll this past season, Cuban will have to write a few more checks to keep his talent intact.
Knowing him, he will. Knowing him, he will do what the Spurs can't, what the Suns fear, what the Pistons struggle with.
Cuban can't buy class. But he can bid on everything else.
He has a Rodmanesque need for attention, which is why something about Game 6 was so glaring. ABC rarely showed Cuban, when cameras usually can't get enough of his angst during dead-ball moments.
Was this done in good taste? Or was this David Stern getting his ultimate revenge?
The Spurs wouldn't mind seeing less of him, but it's his financial worth that troubles them. Cuban plays the game with Monopoly money while Peter Holt plays with the real stuff, and it's a significant edge.
Cuban has taken on huge contracts. Agreed to give millions to other teams in trades. And spent more money than anyone but the incomparable Knicks. Cuban's payroll is about $32 million more than the Spurs', and that doesn't include the luxury tax.
The Spurs get by, and they've found players willing to take less. The list includes Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
But they have to be perfect while trying to pay a 63-win team, and when they aren't perfect, they have to unload the excess. They did with Malik Rose a year ago, they tried with Brent Barry this past season, and they dumped another salary Wednesday.
That's ultimately why Rasho Nesterovic is gone, though there are few tears in San Antonio over this. Rasho was nice enough and tall enough, but his body language inspired as Ambien does.
Besides, he couldn't get on the floor much the last two seasons, which is why this deal makes sense. Holt's books are stressed enough without having to spend another $23 million over three years to an eight-minute sub.
But Rasho would have come in handy had the Spurs made it to the Finals against Shaquille O'Neal this month, and he would be a counter for Yao Ming four times next season. If Cuban owned the Spurs? He might have paid Rasho as if on retainer.
After all, Cuban pays Erick Dampier far more. That deal ends in 2011 with a final price of just more than $13 million.
Cuban has tried to curb his spending. Whereas he once paid Finley whatever it took, he let Steve Nash walk.
Maybe Cuban does the same if Jason Terry gets an astounding offer as an unrestricted free agent this summer. Tuesday's finale might also make Cuban think twice; then, Terry missed his last 11 shots while going scoreless in the final quarter of the season.
But Cuban will want to get back to this stage. Furthermore, Cuban's anger over these Finals will only make him want to spend more. After all, he paid $450,000 in playoff fines just for yelling on the court. This is a man accustomed to picking up the check.
Cuban will get a break when Keith Van Horn comes off the payroll, but there's a line of others ready to cash in. Terry will be up for about a $60 million deal, and there's a window for Josh Howard now that will create at least that much. The Mavericks will want to max out Dirk Nowitzki now, because that is how superstars are treated.
But Cuban is already paying Dampier, as well as another year at $8 million for Jerry Stackhouse. Cuban still owes Finley and Shawn Bradley, and then there's the same Marquis Daniels who could barely get on the floor in these playoffs. Only three Spurs earn more than Daniels, and only one Spur has a longer contract.
The Suns do the same math and wonder how they can keep their stars. The Pistons try to figure out if they can still afford Ben Wallace, who has merely been the soul of that team.
And the Spurs?
In the same division, trying to match their dimes against Cuban's dollars, they would prefer only his mouth stay open.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/bharvey/stories/MYSA062206.1C.COL.BKNharvey.cuban.11d3f9b.html
Mark Cuban set an NBA Finals record nearly every time he opened his mouth. From his blog to his Stairmaster to a Miami locker room to the basketball floor itself.
Has anyone been as irritating from as many places?
But now he gets to do what he does best, which is close his mouth and open his wallet. Operating with the league's second-highest payroll this past season, Cuban will have to write a few more checks to keep his talent intact.
Knowing him, he will. Knowing him, he will do what the Spurs can't, what the Suns fear, what the Pistons struggle with.
Cuban can't buy class. But he can bid on everything else.
He has a Rodmanesque need for attention, which is why something about Game 6 was so glaring. ABC rarely showed Cuban, when cameras usually can't get enough of his angst during dead-ball moments.
Was this done in good taste? Or was this David Stern getting his ultimate revenge?
The Spurs wouldn't mind seeing less of him, but it's his financial worth that troubles them. Cuban plays the game with Monopoly money while Peter Holt plays with the real stuff, and it's a significant edge.
Cuban has taken on huge contracts. Agreed to give millions to other teams in trades. And spent more money than anyone but the incomparable Knicks. Cuban's payroll is about $32 million more than the Spurs', and that doesn't include the luxury tax.
The Spurs get by, and they've found players willing to take less. The list includes Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
But they have to be perfect while trying to pay a 63-win team, and when they aren't perfect, they have to unload the excess. They did with Malik Rose a year ago, they tried with Brent Barry this past season, and they dumped another salary Wednesday.
That's ultimately why Rasho Nesterovic is gone, though there are few tears in San Antonio over this. Rasho was nice enough and tall enough, but his body language inspired as Ambien does.
Besides, he couldn't get on the floor much the last two seasons, which is why this deal makes sense. Holt's books are stressed enough without having to spend another $23 million over three years to an eight-minute sub.
But Rasho would have come in handy had the Spurs made it to the Finals against Shaquille O'Neal this month, and he would be a counter for Yao Ming four times next season. If Cuban owned the Spurs? He might have paid Rasho as if on retainer.
After all, Cuban pays Erick Dampier far more. That deal ends in 2011 with a final price of just more than $13 million.
Cuban has tried to curb his spending. Whereas he once paid Finley whatever it took, he let Steve Nash walk.
Maybe Cuban does the same if Jason Terry gets an astounding offer as an unrestricted free agent this summer. Tuesday's finale might also make Cuban think twice; then, Terry missed his last 11 shots while going scoreless in the final quarter of the season.
But Cuban will want to get back to this stage. Furthermore, Cuban's anger over these Finals will only make him want to spend more. After all, he paid $450,000 in playoff fines just for yelling on the court. This is a man accustomed to picking up the check.
Cuban will get a break when Keith Van Horn comes off the payroll, but there's a line of others ready to cash in. Terry will be up for about a $60 million deal, and there's a window for Josh Howard now that will create at least that much. The Mavericks will want to max out Dirk Nowitzki now, because that is how superstars are treated.
But Cuban is already paying Dampier, as well as another year at $8 million for Jerry Stackhouse. Cuban still owes Finley and Shawn Bradley, and then there's the same Marquis Daniels who could barely get on the floor in these playoffs. Only three Spurs earn more than Daniels, and only one Spur has a longer contract.
The Suns do the same math and wonder how they can keep their stars. The Pistons try to figure out if they can still afford Ben Wallace, who has merely been the soul of that team.
And the Spurs?
In the same division, trying to match their dimes against Cuban's dollars, they would prefer only his mouth stay open.