Teams Might Remain Stingy in Handing Out Guaranteed Contracts

DENVER -- In this faltering economy, there are have been lots of good deals. Low-interest car loans. Double frequent-flyer miles. A cheaper menu at Quiznos.

Many good deals won't last. But some in the NBA might.

Everybody knows about NBA salaries having spiraled out of control the past few decades. Owners are determined to reel them in, which is why there's a decent chance there will be a lockout after the 2010-11 season.

For now, there's already been a very noticeable league trend. And perhaps it's something that will having staying power.

In the old days, average five points and you'd be almost assured of being handed a guaranteed contract. Maybe a multi-year one.

But no longer. Consider all the decent NBA free agents who couldn't get even a guaranteed minimum contract this summer.

Rashad McCants settled for a make-good deal in Houston. So did Desmond Mason in Sacramento and Joey Graham in Denver. Ime Udoka couldn't get a fully guaranteed deal with Portland.

Perhaps this is a trend that will remain in the NBA. While obviously top players are going to continue to get guaranteed contracts, perhaps the NBA will become more in line with the NFL when it comes to rank-and-file players, with management not just routinely doling out guaranteed deals.

"I think the subconscious celebration of the NBA is when everybody plays hard, and I think guaranteed contracts stop players from playing hard all the time,'' said Nuggets coach George Karl. "As a coach, we care (most about) playing hard.

"I've actually yelled at players, 'Why are you so worried about guaranteed money. You're good enough to play without guaranteed money.' Guaranteed money is kind of a security blanket that our players have been given over the last 20 to 30 years. But I'm not necessarily thinking it's been good for the game. It might have gotten to the pont where every team has 13 guaranteed contracts. I don't think that's good for the game.''

One thing Karl likes about his training camp, which got underway Saturday, is Denver having just 12 players with guaranteed deals. While the Nuggets still could swing a deal or comb the waiver wire, their 13th spot likely will come down to a battle between swingmen Graham and James White, who also has a non-guaranteed deal.

Wonder if those guys will be playing hard?

"That's because of the recession and because a lot of teams are bankrupt,'' Graham said about not being able to get any guaranteed money after averaging a career-best 7.7 points last season for Toronto. "There's a lot of guys (available) and teams that don't have a lot of money. But I'm going to take advantage of the opportunity. I'm going to turn that non-guaranteed into a guaranteed.''

Graham figured the Raptors would at least give him a qualifying offer earlier this summer to keep him a restricted free agent. But they let him go with little hesitation.

"I was a little shocked, coming off the type of season I had,'' said Graham, whose twin brother, Stephen, had to settle for a non-guaranteed deal from Charlotte after averaging a career-best 5.4 points with Indiana. "I thought I did enough to continue with them in the organization. The fans there and everybody loved me.''

At least Graham has maintained a positive attitude. After he didn't get any guaranteed offers, he heard from the Nuggets on Friday morning that he had a camp invitation. He jumped on a plane in his hometown of Tampa, Fla., changed planes in Washington (hey, this is a non-guaranteed guy we're talking about), got to Denver at midnight, went to bed at 2 a.m., and was up at 6 a.m. Saturday to take his physical.

Meanwhile, there are free agents who are continuing to hold out for guaranteed money. Guard Bobby Jackson, 36, turned down invitations by Detroit and Miami to go to camp on a make-good deal.

Forward Wally Szczerbiak, 32, claims he has gotten a guaranteed contract offer, although he wouldn't reveal the team or the amount. But if Szczerbiak, who is likely for looking something more than a minimum deal, continues to not budge, he might end up going the way of Latrell Sprewell.

The average roster size this season figures to be closer to the minimum of 13 than to the maximum of 15. Jobs could be hard to find for players who have an overinflated opinion of their value in this economy.

"Whatever the number of jobs we had last year, there are going to be 20 or 30 less,'' Karl said. "From the people I've talked to in personnel, there's probably going to be less 14-to-15-man rosters and more 13-to-13 ½-man rosters. And so, if 20 teams do that, you'll see a reduction of 20 to 30 jobs.''

If you're wondering what Karl means by a 13 1/2-man roster, he's not talking about 5-foot-5 Earl Boykins. He's talking about teams having 13 players for half the season and 14 for the other half.

Whenever the economy improves, things could loosen up again in the NBA. But perhaps executives will learn during this time there's no reason to continue to hand out guaranteed contracts like S&H Green Stamps to players who aren't vital.

Actually, Green Stamps are no longer very popular.

Precisely.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com