You can be honest. When last night’s Team USA game against Puerto Rico started, you can admit that maybe you were just a little nervous (if you were rooting for Team USA). Puerto Rico has beaten Team USA before (in 2004 Team PR handed Team USA its worse loss ever in international comp), they have a guy who can go off in Carlos Arroyo, and in their last outing, the U.S. showed some small signs of a slight slide in intensity. Puerto Rico came out and immediately banged a three on their first possession and after a few minutes, John Saunders was talking bout the “nervous” looks on the faces of the U.S. coaches. Team USA seemed a little rushed on offense and they were taking some rushed shots. Then, just like that, the U.S. swelled to 30. Game over. That’s what happens when you hold your opponent scoreless for almost seven minutes while you catch fire. The U.S. then cruised to a 117-78 W … The win put the U.S. in in the semifinal round that starts Saturday (they still have two more games in this round). A win in the semifinals automatically gets them into the 2008 Olympics … There was some talk in the comments section of yesterday’s Smack about how LeBron no longer fades back on every jumper he takes. That fact was on full display last night as ‘Bron stuck a handful of treys in the first half as the U.S. built their big lead. He finished 3-5 from downtown, lower his shooting percentage to63.5 percent, tops in the whole tourney. As nice as The King is, how crazy is it that he went away for a few months after the season and comes back with an automatic J? … Yesterday was also Day 2 for Christian out in Vegas for the MAGIC trade show and he was able to score some tickets to last night’s game. He says that in person, all of the U.S. guys are talking on D, yelling stuff like “I got it!” and “No help!” so loud that the entire arena can hear it and that Team Puerto Rico was yelling at the U.S. players when they were shooting foul shots. Also, he reports the following: “The halftime show was those two guys that stand on each other’s heads and stuff. It was great, they got a standing ovation.” Ok … As it always is with MAGIC, Christian had plenty of celeb sightings and stories. Yesterday he ran into Russell Simmons (and his daughter Vanessa - Christian’s a big fan), Lil’ Jon, Bun B, Ben Baller, Antoine Wright and Escalade. And he passed along this: “Jay-Z walked in and every person (including yours truly) followed him around for a good 30 minutes.” … Did you see our post yesterday about the arrival of one of the best t-shirts ever? … Trust us, you weren’t alone double-checking your eyesight when you saw the numbers on Kevin Martin’s extension with the Kings. Five years at $55 million sounds inflated, but then again, maybe it isn’t. The deal kicks in before the ’08-09 season and pays K-Mart II an average of $11 million per. Here’s where Martin fits in salary-wise in ’08-09 with other two-guards:
Joe Johnson ($14.2M)
D-Wade ($14.1M)
Larry Hughes ($12.8M)
J-Rich ($12.2M)
Kevin Martin (~$11M)
Rip Hamilton ($10.5M)
Manu ($9.9M)
Cat Mobley ($9.1M)
Mike Miller ($9M)
He belongs around the middle of that pack, right? While he is getting paid more than at least two guys who are flat-out better than him (Rip and Manu), the contract isn’t so bad when you look at it that way. Really, it depends on how you view him. Some would say Martin is a legit 20-ppg scorer, other would say he just benefited from chucking shots on a bad team … Could there have been a worse offseason for Rafer Alston? First the Rockets bring in three point guards to challenge for his job. Then he gets arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge in Houston. Then this week he gets arrested for allegedly slashing a guy in NYC club Stereo. According to reports, one of Skip’s boys got into a fight that turned into a brawl, someone got slashed, and Skip was fingered as the culprit. His lawyer says it’s just a money thing. But even if Skip comes out of this clean, will he have a job to go back to in Houston? You don’t draft point guards in the first round to have them sit forever, and Aaron Brooks’ showings in summer league and against Team USA in scrimmages showed he’s gonna be getting a lot of PT. Then there’s Mike James, Steve Francis and John Lucas. If Houston feels like Rafer is too much trouble to be worth it, he could be gone … We’re out like doubting Team USA.
August 29th, 2007 at 9:08 am
alex says:
waaaay overpayed yo
August 29th, 2007 at 9:30 am
The Jed says:
Too early to say whether Kevin Martin is THAT overpaid. Austin asked me yesterday what I thought about him and I said that last season was probably will be his best season in the League. That being said, he’s a legit starting 2 guard for probably 70% of the league rosters and he’s a top 6th man for the other 30%. Obviously getting paid more than Rip or Manu is a little crazy.
August 29th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Cass says:
I think it’s a little early to say that he’s a legit starting 2 for 70% of the League. There are a LOT of guys he definitely wouldn’t start over. True, Martin was definitely impressive last year, but like Smack says today, he was gunning on a really, really bad team.
August 29th, 2007 at 10:03 am
M Intellect says:
They are the only 2 guards with money guranteed through 08-09?
I know for one that right now I would take Jamal Crawford or Ben Gordon over K-Mart II even if it was even dough.
August 29th, 2007 at 10:05 am
frenchy says:
you have to wonder if coaches for team usa consider holding back every now and then…take triano (raptors) or d’antoni (suns) - maybe they see flaws in things like james jumper or help defence and try to help the players for the good of the tourney and team usa but in the end, they know if they are right, it will only come back to bite them during the regular season
August 29th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Jules says:
Kevin Martin’s contract makes me scared of what Ben Gordon will ask for.
August 29th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Rob says:
i 100% agree with the signing of martin…as an avid kings fan and follower, its unfair to say he “chucked up shot” dude avg 20 points a game on like 12 shots. only amare put up a similiar avg of fga compared to points. Hardly gunning.
August 29th, 2007 at 10:25 am
ROCKCO says:
TOO MUCH MONEY!!!!!!
August 29th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Tom Toronto says:
Ben Gordon deserves more money, he’s just mad talented. A bit inconsistent at times, but I would rank him above Martin for sure. Not to discount Martin’s skills, I just hope for the Kings he doesn’t have the Mike James syndrome.
August 29th, 2007 at 11:28 am
João says:
Dude got paid ,,, Jesus ,,,, but since Nene got 60 million for 6 years ,,, Jules is right, Ben Gordon will KILL Bulls organization ,,,
August 29th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Lucky Lester says:
Martin didn’t just chuck up shots, that’s for sure. He played on a bad team STANDINGS-wise, but his team didn’t defer to him or anything. Mike Bibby got his, as did Ron Artest. Martin was the 3rd option. He’s just smooth. Overpaid? No, Vin Baker was overpaid, Jim Macelvaine was overpaid. I think Kevin martin will be more complete version of Allan Houston - and many people around the league think the same thing. Is he better than Manu and Rip, that’s tough, remember the kid has only started one season - but I’d still go with Rip and Manu - however, I think Martin is WAY more consistent than Ben Gordon, and Ben’s about to get PAID by someone. Even before Martin’s deal, Ben was looking for the big bucks. Chicago won’t pay him though, Skiles has never shown love for Ben.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
The Jed says:
Honestly, are people that convinced that Ben Gordon should make more money than Kevin Martin?
August 29th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Cass says:
Jed - That’s just craziness.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Jules says:
“Honestly, are people that convinced that Ben Gordon should make more money than Kevin Martin?”
No, he shouldnt make more than $11M a year. But try telling that to BG…
August 29th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
dagwaller says:
When you look at it that way, Martin’s making more than two guys he shouldn’t be, but less than a guy he should be (Larry Hughes). That’s about right.
Keep in mind, though, the organizations those four guys play for:
The Pistons and the Spurs have just come off (or are still in the middle of) a sustained period of dominance, due in part to the fact that they’ve kept their core players over that period. Manu-TD-TP-Bowen-Horry etc. Wallace-Wallace-Tayshaun-Chauncey-Rip etc. Those guys are all very good players, and the only way that their teams have been able to keep all of them is to slightly underpay them to make the cap work.
Then you look at Cleveland, which is a team that i like, but look at their management. i’d like to defend the management, but aside from drafting Lebron (duh), what other moves have they made? they lose boozer to get gooden (a downgrade), and they overpaid injury prone or aging guys (z and larry - again, guys that i like, but still), and their trades and FA pickups have been suspect. granted, that team DID make the finals this past year, but i know from reading this board that not too many of you guys were impressed by the TEAM that made it. and i doubt very many of you think they’re going to make it back.
finally, the last guy, kevin martin. yea, he’s probably getting slightly overpaid, but look at that team’s situation. as far as the fan base is concerned, what are they to think? they haven’t gotten anyone new, and their two best players (bibby and artest - sorry, kmartII) are always being mentioned in trade talks. throw in the fact that their owners are loaded and you get a contract for a rising star that’s a little inflated, but might get things going again in sacto.
point is, you can’t just look at that list and say, “he’s over/underpaid”. you have to look at the teams’ management and the situations involved.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
derrick says:
first time commenting ever cuz i just had to say that while this is a lot of $$, i think it was smart and good of the kings to offer it up now. and while gordon has a bigger name and all that, there’s no way i’d take him over kevin martin. especially fantasy-wise. martin > gordon hands down any day.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
rob says:
does anybody know what Amare Stoudemire’s new tats say?
August 29th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Mo says:
Many may not care but Vanessa is Russell’s niece. She’s Rev. Runs daughter.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
M Intellect says:
Food for thought! Caron Butler gets $9,000,000 in 08/09. NBA teams ALWAYS go ‘long’ too often on players, IE; Rashad Lewis & Kevin Martin.
Paying now and hoping they turn into stars, sometimes works, IE: Gilbert Arenas, BUT more often then not it doesn’t, IE: Wally Sparks & Mike James.
Management need to grow a backbone.
August 29th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Austin says:
To the person that asked earlier, those aren’t the only 2-guards under contract, it’s just a sampling of the guys getting paid in Martin’s range. I forgot to mention that Wally makes $13 million in 08-09. That’s just gross, and even grosser that my Sonics are the ones paying him.
August 29th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
DOC says:
Martins okay and it looks like he got fair market value. Ben should not get more though because just as fast as he’ll get you 40 he’ll get you 5. If his J’s not on he don’t really do much.
August 29th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
sans says:
Yeah, Danny Ferry, on of those guys that management went ‘long’ on and totally busted, needs to do something soon. I really want them to chase a pg and Houston has five. Donyell Marshall for a bag of balls sounded like a good trade to me all summer, but Rafer is way better than a bag o’ balls. Houston needs front court help, and Skip running with Gift would be fantastic. Boobie would be on back up (and still be looking for a nickname worthy of a starting point), and we’d have Damon Jones on deep-bench cracking people up with his ‘best shooter in the world’ skits. If Hughes can snap out of the way he’s played since he busted up his hand, things could be good in Cleveland.
But, most likely, Ferry will stay pat, and hopefully re-sign Varejao and Pavlovic; Big Z will break in half and be revealed to be a giant pinata of chicken wire and plaster filled with sawdust; and Lebron will go off only to get the Cavs in as a 5th seed.
Pessimism and Cleveland sports are the peanut butter and jelly of my reality.
August 29th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
G Liddy says:
Skip, tell your homies to stop picking fights in night clubs. Go work on our J. You can get arrested all you want after your out of the League.
August 29th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
JC says:
caron was no better than kmart II before this past season. Had he held the same stats as the year before last, he’d be overpaid.
August 29th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
MobileOne says:
how much Ron-Ron is getting paid now? this only mean that by next year, Martin will be harder to trade…
August 29th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
kowtz says:
I think K-Mart II value is fair… I mean I would pay a 11M K-Mart II than a 9M Cat Mobley right? or would you rather have a 20M H20? haha… in anycase
Here’s a fact DIME PEOPLE failed to take notice on… Props to Quinito Henson for this info (A Filipino commentator that is a constant contributor in NBA.com)
Carmelo Anthony, yep Melo… is Half Puerto Rican… his Father was Puerto Rican… and to show his love for his roots, he has a Puerto Rican Flag tatooed on his right shooting hand…
In 2004, yep in Athens when Puerto Rico defeated USA, Melo originally wanted to play for Puerto Rico, unfortunately, Puerto Rico Rules says a player must have been a local resident for the past three years… ;D Tim Duncan - Virgin Isalnds version 2?
So Bron42, still think International Teams now and back in 1992 were at the same level? Think again…
August 30th, 2007 at 9:01 am
alex says:
can’t use stats as the main basis for salary. Martin produced big last year because he was on the Kings; its the same way Mike James got his being on a mediocre Toronto squad. If Manu, Rip, or even BG were on bad teams like that, they’d drop 25 a night easy.
August 30th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Willis says:
I guess my boy Kevin Martin (known as K$ around sacto) nickname fits now. I’m not being a homer or anything, but in these times 11 mil a year is what it takes to keep a 20 ppg. And c’mon. You don’t seriously think at 24 years old last season is gonna be his best season ever? Sure 11 is a bit much, but he isn’t gonna sign for anything less than 9. And saying he was chucking up shots on a bad team is simply not true. Sure the team was bad, but when you score 20 points on less than 13 shot attempts, then you’ve earned your due. I expect a 15-20 ppg this season simply because teams will pay more attention to him. Believe me, Petrie isn’t using stats for the basis of salary. I saw K$ in about 75 games last season, and the man can score. He isn’t just a set shooter, but he has an evolved offensive game. He scores on the line (I remember one game against Orlando when he had 20 points but he only made one shot, second player to do that in NBA history), he scores off of beautiful quick cuts, he scores off the dribble, driving the lane, and being the open shooter. Not only that, he soaks up tape like a sponge. He played a Rip-style game this year because he watched Rip all last offseason. He also watched a lot of Reggie tape and Dwade tape, and you could see it in his game.