NBA's Best Deals

[ambchang]

10. Donyell Marshall
2002: 3 years, $15 million


Marshall's stellar play is often overlooked, as was the case in 2000
when he could only finagle a modest deal out of the Chicago Bulls. In
three years split with the Bulls and Toronto Raptors, he averaged 13
points, 7.2 rebounds and 41-percent shooting from behind the arc while
playing only 31.2 minutes a night. He parlayed those totals into a
four-year deal with the


9. Corliss Williamson
1999: 1 year, $500,000


An underrated offensive stalwart who helped the Kings to just their
second playoff appearance in 12 years, Williamson eschewed more
lucrative offers from several other teams in order to stay with the team
that drafted him. His cap-friendly contract, probably one-twelfth of
what he could have made on the open market, also helped the Kings sign
free agent center Vlade Divac.


8. Karl Malone
2003: 1 year, $1.5 million


Don't let Los Angeles' Finals flameout cloud your view of this signing.
Making the veteran’s minimum, the 40-year old Malone averaged 13.2
points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in his season with the Lakers. He
also managed to broker a tenuous peace accord between Kobe, Shaq, coach
Phil Jackson and Gary Payton. While falling short of the ring, the
Lakers went 46-14 in games that Malone played more than 24 minutes
(playoffs included), and went 23-21, otherwise.


7. Manu Ginobili
2002: 2 years, $2.9 million


Some three years after the Spurs drafted the Argentinean native in the
lower reaches of the second-round, they signed Ginobili to a deal his
representatives probably would have laughed at had he been available on
the free-agent market. Though hampered by an ankle injury sustained in
the 2002 World Championships, Ginobili was San Antonio's best reserve
during their '03 le run, and made it possible for them to pass on
re-signing Stephen Jackson the next summer.


6. Steve Nash
2004: 6 years, $66 million


We don't know how the deal will look in 2009, when a 35-year-old Nash
will be making in excess of $12 million per year, but the early returns
on this signing are gold. Nash enjoyed an MVP season in the first year
of his deal, leading an exciting Suns squad out of the lottery and to
the NBA's best record. He saved his best work for the playoffs,
averaging nearly 24 points and 11.3 assists.


5. Michael Redd
2002: 4 years, $12 million


You couldn't have faulted the Milwaukee Bucks for taking their time in
figuring out what to do with Michael Redd's contract back in 2002.
Though his per-minute numbers were exemplary, he was averaging only 10.7
points per game as a backup to Ray Allen, and the team was wary of
offering a monster contract to the restricted free agent. Lucky for
them, Redd signed an offer sheet with a cap space-strapped Dallas
Mavericks squad, and the Bucks happily matched. Redd has averaged nearly
20 points per game since.


4. Carlos Boozer
2002: 2 years, $913,137


Boozer was coming off an embarrassing performance in the NCAA Tournament
when he was selected by the Cavaliers in the second round of the 2002
draft. Signed to the league minimum, he responded with two seasons of
stellar play at power forward. Whether you question his handling of his
free-agent negotiations in '04, or think his current deal (six years,
$70 million) is overblown, is immaterial; his two-year averages of 12.6
points and 9.4 rebounds were an absolute steal at this price.


3. Ben Wallace
2000: 6 years, $30 million


Five years after a sign-and-trade deal sent him to Detroit, the
overachieving Wallace has been hyped to a point to where he is almost
overrated, but you can't argue with this sort of production at bargain
basement prices: three Defensive Player of the Year awards, three
All-Star appearances and 13.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. Oh yeah,
he also managed to hold his own against Shaq while leading the Pistons
to the 2004 championship.


2. Kobe Bryant
1999: 6 years, $70.9 million


By now common sense dictates you try to lock up your straight-from-high
school star as soon as the opportunity presents itself. But back in
1999, Tracy McGrady was struggling, Kevin Garnett had played on just one
.500 team (and signed a massive deal) and Kobe, himself, was coming off
two disappointing playoff performances. In addition, there was a '98
All-Star, Eddie Jones, already playing Kobe's position. But give credit
to then-GM Jerry West for having the confidence that his young protégé
could help jump-start the latest Lakers dynasty.


1. Tim Duncan
2000: 3 years, $32.6 million


First, the obvious: Duncan was probably the best player in the NBA from
2000 to '03, averaging 23.7 points and 12.6 rebounds, while leading his
Spurs to an NBA le and 59 wins per year. And yet it was the length of
this contract -- a surprising three years -- that helped the Spurs build
a lasting winner. Had San Antonio's brass insisted Duncan take a maximum
seven-year deal back in '00, he may have chafed at the hard-nosed
negotiating tactics and headed to any number of suitors, including
Orlando, Detroit and Chicago.

[Manu20]

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[drivanroca]

Coincidence!?