Players Never Lived Up to Their Lofty Contracts

It’s a difficult task, coming up with a proper slogan for my favorite collection of NBA players. That would be members of the Bryant “Big Country” Reeves Memorial Team, a group that best represents the NBA’s overpaid masses, one chosen annually based on the vast difference between its performance and its paychecks.

Mind you, the BBCRMT committee understands that blame for absurd overpayment falls on management, not players. Still, some BBCRMT members are notoriously lazy. Others are genetic lottery winners who happen to be really, really tall (six of the 10 members are full-time or part-time centers). Others just had exceptional timing.

There are ground rules for making the team. Waived players are not eligible -- out of sight, out of mind. Players injured more than half the season (Allan Houston, Penny Hardaway) get a pass. Players with new contracts are not eligible. It’s unlikely Jerome James and Joe Johnson will live up to their new contracts, but we’ll give them a chance to prove they can’t.

Once they don’t, perhaps they can crack this lineup, the 2005 BBCRMT:

1. Tim Thomas, SF, Knicks: $14.5 million.

Thomas was awarded a monstrous $67 million contract from the Bucks in 2000 when it appeared the Bulls and Magic might make big offers. He averaged 12.0 points last season and often was outplayed by rookie Trevor Ariza, who will make less than 5 percent of Thomas’ salary this season.

2. Adonal Foyle, C, Warriors: $7.7 million.

Foyle has been a tireless activist for getting college students politically involved. A lot of good that does the Warriors when they need a basket in the post. Foyle will make $41 million over five years despite averaging 4.5 points in 21.8 minutes last season.

3. Jason Collins, C, Nets: $5 million.

Collins is a decent defender, but he shoots 41.8 percent from the field, which is bad -- if you’re a guard. For a center, it’s impossibly bad. Collins’ twin brother, Jarron, is a center for the Jazz who has put up similar numbers (better shooting, fewer blocks). But Jarron makes $1.8 million.

4. Austin Croshere, SF, Pacers: $8.9 million.

Croshere chose a good time to peak -- in the 2000 Finals, averaging 15.2 points and 6.0 rebounds. The Pacers coughed up $51 million for Croshere that summer. Alas, he’s a defensive liability and a streaky shooter. Croshere is lauded in Indy for being prepared and professional. For $8.9 million, a little professionalism doesn’t seem much to ask.

5. Keith Van Horn, Mavericks. $15.7 million.

The Nets thought they had a star when they gave Van Horn $73 million in 1999. Turns out they had a nice role player. He is Dallas’ seventh man, but he makes more than anyone who took the floor in last season’s Finals except Tim Duncan (who gets $100,000 more).

6. Maurice Taylor, PF, Knicks: $9.2 million.

Taylor can be a useful post scorer, but he plays defense as though he has somewhere else to be, and he seems more likely to work on a bacon burger than a Bowflex. Taylor’s averages (7.3 points, 4.0 rebounds) are lower than teammate Mike Sweetney’s (8.4 points, 5.4 rebounds), but Taylor will make $7 million more this season.

7. Michael Olowokandi, C, Timberwolves: $5.9 million.

Seems safe to file Olowokandi in the bust bin. When it comes to desire, he’s Mr. Roper and basketball is Helen. Last season, his seventh, featured career lows in scoring and rebounding.

8. Scot Pollard, C, Pacers: $6.2 million.

The Pacers survived the loss of Brad Miller two years ago, but Pollard had as much to do with that as, say, Zan Tabak. Pollard battled injuries last season, but even when healthy the previous year, he averaged 1.7 points and 2.7 rebounds.

9. Antonio Davis, F/C, Bulls: $14 million.

Bulls Coach Scott Skiles calls Davis’ leadership “invaluable” to the young team. But the bet here is if Skiles were forced to put a value on that leadership, it’d be far south of $14 million. Davis averaged career lows of 7.0 points and 5.9 rebounds last season.

10. Kelvin Cato, C, Magic: $8.6 million.

Laugh all you want about teams that overpay based on good postseasons, but the Rockets gave Cato six years and $42 million based on a good preseason. Cato is a solid defensive big man, but for $8.6 million, is developing a hook shot too much to ask?