The NBA salary cap is set at $53.135 million for the 06-07 season. So I checked out si.com’s NBA salary report to make the best possible team that fits under that salary cap. Let’s take a look:
Starting five:
C - Yao Ming – $12, 455,000
You’re going to need a presence down low. What better than the 7’6” Ming?
PF - Dwight Howard - $4,806,720
Follow up that 7’6” nightmare with 6’11” Howard. He’s a beast down low and you’re almost guaranteed a double-double.
SF - Lebron James – $5,828,090
At a little under $6 mil, LeBron is a steal. You won’t be able to keep him long, but one year is all you need with this team.
SG - Dwyane Wade – $3,841,443
What else can you say about the SI, Sportsman of the Year? He's what everyone wants in a teammate.
PG - Kirk Hinrich - $3,192,628
He’s young, quick with great vision. He’s Steve Nash with better range and without the reckless abandonment.
Off the bench
C - Emeka Okafor –$4,300,560
Coming off the bench, Okafor can keep the middle clear of any flying objects.
PF - Chris Bosh – $4,235,220
He’s the younger, cheaper version of Kevin Garnett.
SF - Josh Howard – $1,667,603
I took Howard over Carmelo because he’s cheaper. That’s the reason.
SG - Ben Gordon - $3,862,080
Former sixth man award winner could be valuable backing Wade.
PG - Jameer Nelson - $1,272,120
Quite a surprise for the price. Jameer can handle the ball and take that deep shot if needed.
SF - Shane Battier - $5,393,300
Defensive specialist. Every team needs one coming of the bench.
Total - $49,187,161 (Below the cap, now I can get those leather seats for the box seats.)
There are thousands of choices I could have made. What would your team look like?
Hoffman, I got the info from si.com. I'm glad my pay info doesn't get put out on the web. Although, if I was making a couple million to throw a ball around, I guess I wouldn't mind.
Sports ####, I know why you named yourself that. $20 Mil for a one man show. I'll take the team above anyday. If it makes you feel better, I almost put Luke Walton on the bench. Until I heard his dad's voice in my head. Nixed that quickly.
I'm not sure you assembled the best "team" that you could. It looks as if you picked the best players with the least amount of $ on their per year contract. Your team is definately lacking in veteran leadership and shot distribution would be a problem with all of those young stars.
Ricko, you got me. Thankd got keeping me on my toes. What I meant to say is that he's the new young PG to watch out for. I think in two or three years, he will be the best PG. He has plenty of talent around him and I know he can hit from outside, I just didn't think Nash could do it better.
Hoffman - It may not be the "best" team. In my opinion, it looks pretty good on paper. I think there is plenty of leadership there. Wade and James are both in their fourth year and have worked with veterans during Olympic ball.
I'm not trying to be a sports writer. I just want to share some different views with you.
Sid Bream sliding into home may be my favorite sports memories.
