NBA Insider 9/24-Rashard needs to play like an allstar

Rashard Lewis has incentive to play like an all-star

I've seen Rashard Lewis shoot. I've seen Rashard Lewis defend. I've seen Rashard Lewis late in the game with the ball in his hands.

And Rashard Lewis is no Paul Pierce.

It would have been absolutely derelict of Sonic management to give the kid the same max contract that Pierce deserved and received since becoming the best offensive and defensive player on a Celtics team that went to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

Lewis wanted $90 million over seven years. The Sonics, instead, gave him $60 million with a chance to make another $15 million.

Rumor has it that all Lewis has to do to tap into that extra dough and average more than $10 million per season is to make the all-star team.

Basically, all Lewis has to do to get paid like an all-star is to play like an all-star.

"Incentives are used to bridge that gap in negotiations," said one NBA agent. "It makes it fair for both sides since they will both be sharing the risk."

If Lewis doesn't play like an all-star, well, then, he's just another multi-million dollar basketball player. Just not as multi, so to speak.

Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, a team can add incentives to a player's contract of up to 25 percent of the total deal. The league then determines if these incentives are likely to occur or unlikely. If likely, the incentive then counts against the team's salary cap. If not, then it doesn't. The league also reviews these each year.

In Lewis' case, the Sonics offered a base salary of $60 million plus the maximum incentive amount of $15 million (or 25 percent of 60). Since Lewis has never made an all-star team before, the incentive will not count against the team's cap and will continue to stay off until he does.

"A lot also depends on the type of incentive," said the agent, who has had many of his clients signed to just such contracts. "If it is only based on points or rebounds or individual stats of that nature, it can engender selfish play. I try to always link incentives with team goals and awards. It's more equitable that way."

After all, it wouldn't do the Sonics much good if Lewis does become a high-scoring small forward to the detriment of a team that misses the playoffs.

Switching from contracts based mostly on potential to contracts based more on performance really isn't that complicated.

Let's look at an example from next year's free-agent crop, using a hypothetical $10 million cap in the first year of the deal.

Tim Duncan is a max player. He's won an NBA title and been named both the regular-season MVP and Finals MVP and made the All-NBA team every season he has played in the NBA while averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds.

In our model, he would make $10 million his first year. Period. No questions asked. In fact, in a perfect world, he'd be making a heck of a lot more.

Michael Olowokandi is not a max player. He has never pushed his team into the playoffs much less the Finals and has yet to make even an all-star team. He is the sixth-leading scorer on his team and second-leading rebounder. But at 7-feet, he has the potential to make a major impact on his team. He averaged 11 points and 9 rebounds last season.

In our model, he would make $7.5 million his first year plus incentives.

If Olowokandi boosts his stats to 20 points and 10 boards, give him another $1.25 million. Or split it up. Give him $625 thousand if he scores 20 and another $625 if he grabs 10 boards.

If Olowokandi leads his team into the playoffs, give him another $1.25 million.

Basically, if Olowokandi measures up to Duncan by individual stats and team impact, then pay him like Duncan. But if Olowokandi remains Olowokandi, then don't.

The team that signs Olowokandi would then be on the hook for only $8.125 million ($7.5 million base plus $625 thousand in likely rebounding incentive) if the center simply duplicates his numbers next season. But if he is the second-best center in the league like he and his agent are proclaiming, then by all means, let him earn it.

Same goes for Wally Szczerbiak.

He wants a max deal when he becomes a restricted free agent next offseason. And if he really believes he's just as good as Kobe Bryant or Tracy McGrady, then give the kid the opportunity to back it up.

Give him a base salary to match his all-star status then the incentives to match his All-NBA counterparts.

Make Jason Kidd the model for point guards next offseason. Give Andre Miller the incentives to match him. Give Jermaine O'Neal and Elton Brand the same exact deal. Use Games Played as an extra incentive for Lamar Odom. Use steals for Ron Artest, assists for Jason Terry.

Add it in to coaches' and general managers' contracts. Find a way to incorporate revenue sharing with the owners based on minimum standings. If the Clippers win only so many games, then Donald Sterling only gets so much of the TV deal. Make the entire league responsible for what happens on the court.

Don't the Knicks wish they would have done this whole incentive thing with Allan Houston last offseason. They gave him a six-year, $100 million deal with no strings attached. The very following season, Houston failed to even make the all-star team as his team won only 30 games (18 less than the previous season) and missed the playoffs.

"I'm not a gambling man by nature," said the agent. "But if the parties are creative it can really strike a balance."


Rodney White heading to the Nuggets?

The Pistons' youth movement continues. About a week after trading Jerry Stackhouse to the Wizards for third-year player Richard Hamilton, the Pistons are about to send last year's first-round pick, Rodney White (ninth overall), to the Nuggets for a future first-round pick.

White, who many thought would challenge for Rookie of the Year honors and compare to former Nugget Antonio McDyess, never developed the way Piston management hoped he would averaging only 3.5 points and 1.1 rebounds his first season. The Nuggets, however, began inquiring about him as early as last season's all-star break.

"I love it here in Detroit, but I realize this is a business and I'd like an opportunity to play," said White.

White now joins a Nugget forward core that includes veteran Juwan Howard, highly touted rookies Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Nene Hilario, and Rocky Mountain Revue MVP Chris Anderson.

The trade would give the Pistons three first-round picks next season while also freeing up the small forward position where veteran Del Curry and rookie Tayshaun Prince are slotted. The deal may also include James Posey and Mengke Bateer.


Peep Show

Nuggets: Let wining and dining for Michael Olowokandi begin. Denver GM Kiki Vandeweghe claims it was just a meal amongst old friends but the fact remains that the Clippers center will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason at just the same time that Denver comes into some valuable cap space to offer just such a player. Vandeweghe has tutored Kandi in the past while Nugget assistant GM Jeff Weltman, who was also at the dinner, used to work for the Clippers.

Pacers: Weight just a minute. Oliver Miller is back and trying to earn an Indiana uniform after battling through weight issues with five teams in eight seasons. He did have his best NBA year in Toronto, where he averaged 12.9 points and 7.4 rebounds while Isiah Thomas, now the coach of the Pacers, just happened to be general managing. In his last full season in the NBA, Miller averaged 6.3 points with the Suns. Since then, he's bounced around CBA, ABA, USBL and even had a stint with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Magic: Orlando has signed NBDL star Omar Cook, Corey Benjamin and Obinna Ekezie. Cook averaged 12.2 points, 7.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.51 steals per game. He led the D-League in assists, was seventh in steals and ninth in three-point field goal percentage at 38 percent. Benjamin played in Europe and the ABA last season and averaged 5.5 points per game while with the Bulls. Ekezie averaged 1.9 points per game with the Clippers last season in 29 games. This boosts the Magic training camp roster to 19.

Heat: Eddie is in the House. Fan Favorite Eddie House will remain with the Heat, accepting a one-year deal worth $770 thousand. He averaged 8 points per game last season on 39.9 percent shooting and will again be a restricted free agent next offseason. Travis Best, expected to step in as the starting point guard, is still experiencing calf problems. "I just hope that he's ready for training camp," said coach Pat Riley. Khalid El-Amin is also expected to sign with Miami very shortly as the team also talks to free-agent forward Lee Nailon.

Suns: Penny Hardaway isn't giving up. He's just accepted the fact that he'll be warming up the bench when the game starts. The former All-NBA performer who has been battling injuries for several years took much of the heat after the Suns failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in 13 years last season. It might have had something to do with that seven-year, $86.5 million contract. "I've done a lot in this league, no matter what anybody says," Penny said. "Nobody believes in me anymore. A lot of them would love to see me quit, but that's the easy road out." . . . As expected, the Suns have brought on assistant coach Tim Grgurich. "He's gong to bring some fantastic instruction to our young players, and I also think he's a guy who will help our coaching staff," Phoenix president Bryan Colangelo said. "He's all basketball."

Cavs: Lamond Murray may be getting his wish. Rumor has it that the Raptors are willing to trade big man Michael Stewart, who averaged 2.7 points and 3.9 rebounds last year, for the small forward in an even swap. Murray averaged 16.6 points per game last season to lead the Cavs but lost his position as soon as Cleveland picked up Darius Miles in trade. "We're talking about some things in regard to Lamond," Cavs general manager Jim Paxson said. "Right now, nothing is imminent. We'll see if anything makes sense."