MONEY CAN'T BUY WINS

Last season proved once and for all that winning in the NBA isn’t directly related to the amount of money a team commits to its roster. Here is evidence that drafting, trading, and developing the roster wisely, is more important than attempting to pay for a winner (FYI - there are 30 teams in the NBA):

The 2005-06 champions - SAN ANTONIO SPURS - had just the 17th highest payroll. They defeated the DETROIT PISTONS, a team with the 11th highest payroll. To reach the finals, the Spurs defeated the PHOENIX SUNS (18th highest payroll). The Pistons defeated the MIAMI HEAT (10th highest payroll.)

On the other end, the NEW YORK KNICKS had the highest payroll, but did not make the playoffs. The ORLANDO MAGIC (5th highest payroll) and the LOS ANGELES LAKERS (6th highest payroll) also missed the playoffs.

Of all the playoff teams, the SEATTLE SUPERSONICS had the lowest payroll (27th.) Seattle’s payroll ($20.2 million) was $79.7 million less than the #1 payroll of New York ($99.9 million.)

In regard to the player salaries, three-time Finals MVP - TIM DUNCAN - has the 11th highest salary in the league, almost $15 million less than the highest paid player, SHAQUILLE O’NEAL.

The NBA Champions SAN ANTONIO SPURS had only one player - TIM DUNCAN - rank in the top-20 highest salaries. The 2003-04 champion, and 2004-05 Eastern Conference champ, DETROIT PISTONS, did not have a player in the top-20 highest salaries.

The New York Knicks had four players rank in the top-20 highest salaries: ALLAN HOUSTON (#2), STEPHON MARBURY (#5), ANFERNEE HARDAWAY (#12), and TIM THOMAS (#19). The Knicks, however, did not make the playoffs.

Nine players - ALLAN HOUSTON (#2), KEVIN GARNETT (#4), STEPHON MARBURY (#5), KOBE BYANT (#9), ANFERNEE HARDAWAY (#12), GRANT HILL (#13), JALEN ROSE (tied for 13th), BRIAN GRANT (#18) and TIM THOMAS (#19) – with top-20 salaries, did not play in the post season.

Only 3 of the top-30 highest paid players - SHAQUILLE O’NEAL, KOBE BRYANT, and TIM DUNCAN - have ever played on an NBA championship team.

Eleven of the top-20 highest paid players were not selected to the 2004-05 NBA All-Star Game. The players are: ALLEN HOUSTON, CHRIS WEBBER, STEPHON MARBURY, JASON KIDD, MICHAEL FINLEY, ANFERNEE HARDAWAY, KEITH VAN HORN, JALEN ROSE, EDDIE JONES, BRIAN GRANT, TIM THOMAS, and ANTONIO DAVIS.