Free-Agent Diehards Very Likely To Sign Sub-Par Contracts

Shaquille O’Neal, Juwan Howard and a few others hit it big in free agency.

Those who haven’t are left scrambling for the scraps as training camp approaches.

Admittedly, most residents of the real world would not classify the NBA minimum of $247,500 as scraps. But in a league where the average salary is more than $1.5 million, in a league where the top free agents pulled down more than $100 million for seven years, a huge gap has developed.

Those free agents who seized the moment and signed early this off-season were rewarded. Those who waited have found a shrinking market that will pay them below market value.

Reggie Miller is the biggest name who remains unsigned. While Indiana has been unwilling to pay Miller what he wants - reportedly an average of $10 million - the Pacers are the only team that can come close to his asking price. Brian Williams, Oliver Miller, Spud Webb, Eric Murdock and Rex Chapman are the best of the rest. These may not be the sexiest names around, but these players are talented enough to start for some teams.

“Neither one of these guys is going to give any consideration to playing for the minimum,” said Jeff Blakeley, who represents Miller and Webb. “Flat out, no way is it going to happen. They will wait it out. If they have to wait until the middle of October or the end of October, we’re going to wait.”

Right now, it makes sense to wait. The working number for the 1996-97 salary cap is $24.3 million. That number could creep as high as $24.7 million once the audit figures are completed and verified by the league and the Players Association. It’s doubtful the increase will go into effect before the end of the month.

A few free agents, like Walt Williams and Kenny Smith, decided not to wait. They have gone ahead and signed for the minimum. Others hope they can squeeze an additional $400,000 to $500,000 out of a club by waiting for the salary cap to increase.

It’s certainly not the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow they dreamed about. But it will have to do.

Technical foul

A lockout kept the league’s referees off the court to start last season.

This season, the Internal Revenue Service may take the whistle out of the mouths of some of the top officials.

There are rumblings that the IRS investigation of the NBA’s referees is about to come to a head. All sides are tight-lipped, but it is believed the financial records of roughly 15 officials are still under scrutiny for tax fraud. One source said several officials have already been asked to meet with the Department of Justice in Washington D.C., and there is a possibility indictments will be issued if settlements can’t be reached.

The fine print

Anyone who has followed Dennis Rodman knows things are not always what they seem.

The same is true for his contract.

Rodman agreed to a one-year, $9 million deal with the Chicago Bulls this off-season. But the power forward will receive $6.3 million this season. The final $2.7 million will be paid in five installments, beginning in 2020. The last of these deferred payments is $700,000 and isn’t due until 2040 when Rodman turns 79.

Imagine how much eye liner and high heels will cost by then.

Dribbling around

Orlando should be granted an injury exception of $575,000 to replace Jon Koncak, whose career may be over after undergoing his third knee operation in the past year. The Magic has expressed an interest in Oliver Miller, Dwayne Schintzius, Danny Schayes and Kevin Duckworth. See what life after Shaq has done… . Speaking of O’Neal, the rest of the league could have another crack at him in three years. The Los Angeles Lakers gave O’Neal an out clause after the third year of his seven-year contract. O’Neal will be making $15 million from the Lakers at the time.

The Houston Rockets have inquired about Spud Webb but are only interested in paying the minimum. Cleveland also has an interest… . The San Antonio Spurs wanted guard Vernon Maxwell, they just didn’t want him in Harris County. The Spurs tried to include a clause in Maxwell’s contract that would have prevented him from setting foot in Harris County - the site of the majority of his legal problems in his days with the Rockets. The league office and the Players Association struck the clause from the contract.