It seems as though teams are moving players around, or cutting them altogether to make room for the chance of signing one or more of the top players in the league. In places like Miami, New York, Chicago, Cleveland, and many other cities across the NBA galaxy, they are trying to offer "Maximum Contracts" in order to woo players from their current teams. The maximum contract numbers are pretty easy, and there's a wonderful explanation here. But if you don't want specifics, all you need to know is that the big 3 (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh) have a maximum contract of just over $16.5 million each year. If a team wants to sign two of these players they have to have $33 million and change of open salary cap room.
$33 million and change. For two players.
Do you have any idea what $33 million dollars can buy today? Consider these options...
1. When Michael Jackson died, 40% of his estate went to his three children, leaving each child with $33 million. Each.
2. When Conan O'Brian was being booted off The Tonight Show because Jay Leno's chin was too big for the earlier time slot, NBC paid him to compensate his job loss. They paid him $33 million, just to be fired.
3. When Sir Paul McCartney got divorced from Heather Mills, there was a settlement. Heather Mills was paid, you guessed it, $33 million dollars, not including her own assets, or the $70k per year in child support she'd also be collecting from the former Beatle.
But those are all other high paid, very successful celebrities. Michael Jackson and Sir Paul had billion dollar empires each, and Conan hasn't faded away to spend his money in hiding, he's gone on a comedy tour and is writing a book. I'm sure he'll be able to buy groceries for his great-grandkids with the dough he's rolling in.
But what about us normal people? What about the blue collar, or white collar for that matter, people who get up every day and go to work in an office, at a desk, or in the field? What could $33 million dollars do for the fans?
1. In New York City, you could invest in real estate with a view of the Statue of Liberty. You could buy one for you, and about 31 of your closest friends. But you'd have to deal with those real estate agents in the videos, so maybe not.
2. If you're a video gamer with a political side, you can buy a Sarah Palin autographed Xbox. One for each of your 32 condos in New York City.
3. If you wanted a luxury car, then go straight to the top of the line. For $33 million you can by about 65 brand new Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead.(Ok, honestly, this car is far too nice for any real person to own.)
So let's make it comparable for real life. At about $25k, you could own a small army of 2010 Honda Civic Si Sedans. 1,320 to be exact. Do you even know 1,320 people that you could give these away to? I don't.
Now that we all feel poor and want new cars, we as fans can enjoy the fact that we were picked last in dodgeball, rode the pine in basketball, and were put in right field in baseball. Happy free agency everyone. I hope LeBron reads this, maybe then he'll buy me a car.
