As the Knicks huddle around Don Chaney when training camp opens this week, they can raise their index fingers and yell in unison, "We're No. 1."
Well they are when it comes to salaries, anyway.
Despite only 67 wins over the last two seasons, no playoff berths, and after shipping Latrell Sprewell off to Minnesota in one of the most unpopular moves in team history, the Knicks have the dubious honor of owning the NBA's top payroll spot.
The Knicks will boast a payroll of $84.977 million, according to the latest figures obtained from several team and union sources. That should put the heat squarely on team president Scott Layden, whose only significant move of the offseason was the trade that sent Sprewell packing and brought Keith Van Horn to New York.
Thanks largely to Layden, the Knicks' salary total is almost double the NBA's 2003-04 salary cap of $43.84 million, with Allan Houston ($15.938 million); Antonio McDyess ($13.5 million) and Van Horn ($13.28 million) nearly taking up the entire cap by themselves.
When you consider that the defending champion Spurs have a payroll of $44.8 million, the Knicks have been nothing short of fiscally irresponsible during the Layden Era. True, they were not the model of restraint when Dave Checketts was in charge, but at least they always put a contender on the floor. The sad fact is, they might not even make the playoffs in an Eastern Conference that is about as tough, top to bottom, as the Patriot League.
Rounding out the top five-spenders for 2003-04: Portland, $80.7 million; Dallas, $78.8 million; Minnesota, $69.4 million; and the Nets, $67.5 million. One thing you can say about those teams: At least their fans can look forward to buying playoff tickets.
And a banner hasn't been raised at the Garden in 30 years.
One isn't going up after this season, either. But if the Knicks can't even make playoffs, it will be time for Garden CEO James Dolan to start looking for someone else to head his basketball operations.
Someone who knows how to spend money wisely and get positive results.
Some questions heading into preseason:
Will Kobe Bryant trade in his purple and gold uniform for an orange jumpsuit?
Nobody knows at this point, but the Lakers still have a pretty good contingency plan for this season if Bryant doesn't beat his rape rap. His name is Gary Payton. Incidentally, the key to the Lakers' season isn't what happens in Eagle, Colo., but what's taken place over the last few months in Orlando. If Shaquille O'Neal has rededicated himself to playing at his 2000 MVP level - meaning he's used the offseason to get into shape - that will more than offset whatever happens to Bryant.
Are the Blazers going to deal Rasheed Wallace?
It's true that Portland owner Paul Allen sees the need to purge Wallace and other bad actors from his roster. The Blazers have practically announced that league-wide, trying to drum up interest in Wallace, who makes $17 million this season and turns free this summer. But Portland executives also privately admit that their boss is consumed with the Blazers keeping their playoff streak alive. This season, Portland can tie Syracuse's NBA record by making the playoffs for the 22nd consecutive season.
"That means a lot to Paul and is certainly a factor in how they handle Wallace," said one league executive. "But if they get Kenyon Martin, they could still make the playoffs and keep that streak going."
So Allen could send Wallace on his way, maybe even to the Nets. One thing is certain: The Nets aren't going to give Martin "max money." That's written in stone. They think that his contract situation could be a major distraction. Which is just what Wallace is, except a more talented one.
Why hasn't Michael Jordan inquired about buying the Nets?
Let's put it this way: Why would Jordan want to get involved with a team that can't get a new arena anywhere, has sold less than 5,500 season tickets after a second straight trip to the Finals, boasts a franchise-record payroll of $67.5 million, and gets little revenue from its YES TV deal?
"He knows the team is for sale," said a source directly involved with the sale.
"Everybody knows it's for sale."
What you also have to factor into the equation is Jordan the Businessman. He doesn't exactly have the best reputation as a prospective majority owner. He refused to ante up when he entered into talks to buy the Hawks, Bucks and new Charlotte franchise.
"He's kicked the tires of a few teams," said the source. "People want him to pay serious money, but he's reluctant to do that. He wants people to sell their teams to him because he's Michael Jordan."
Is Utah fielding a team this season?
Technically, yes, but it's hard to believe that Jerry Sloan is going to enjoy himself in his 16th season coaching the Jazz. For the first time since 1983, the team won't have John Stockton or Karl Malone. By letting their two icons walk, they've reduced their payroll to rock bottom - $29 million.
Since all teams have to be at a minimum of $32.88 million in salaries, the Jazz will need to make a deal to add a player. They're looking for a player with only one year left on his contract, plus draft picks. Since they're under the cap, their trading partner wouldn't have to take back any players. As a result, just about every team will be calling Utah in the next few weeks.
What team made the riskiest free-agent signing?
This one is easy. Pat Riley might have gone overboard in getting Lamar Odom, a player with a drug history who played only 78 games out of a possible 164 over the past two seasons. And now Odom gets to hang out in South Beach.
Besides not being terribly reliable, Odom has never averaged more than 17 ppg during any of his four NBA seasons. In 49 games last season for the Clippers, he averaged 14.6 ppg on 44% shooting, and 6.7 rebounds in 34 minutes per game.
Even so, Riley signed Odom to a six-year deal worth just under $65 million. Odom will make $9.96 million this season; $9.1 million next season; $9.97 million in '05-06; $10.86 million in '06-07; $11.76 million in '07-08; and $12.66 million in '08-09.
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