Money Shot

In between games, I thought this may be of interest to Sonic fans; a breakdown of this year's salaries (in millions):

Ray Allen, $14.6
Rashard, $7.8
Potato, $6.1
Fort, $5.9
James, $4.5
Radman, $2.3
Daniels, $2.2
Collison, $1.7
Ridnour, $1.5
Swift, $1.6
Kutluay, $1.6
Evans, $0.9
Murray, $0.7
Wilkins, $0.4
Cleaves, $0.4

What those numbers don't tell you is production. So, listed below is how much the Sonics paid each player for a point in the Tendex rating system (a complicated measure that incorporates almost every aspect of performance). For example, the Sonics currently pay Jerome James $16,140 dollars for each tick on the rating system he produces (note that the Tendex system is on a per game basis, hence the money paid in this chart is as well):

Swift, $97560
Potato, $82650
James, $16140
Fortson, $8560
Allen, $8240
Collison, $5450
Lewis, $4780
Cleaves, $4570
Wilkins, $3050
Radman, $2440
Murray, $2030
Daniels, $2010
Ridnour, $1390
Evans, $1020
Kutluay, incomplete

Obviously, Reggie Evans is the best deal on the Sonics, and, I would guess, one of the best deals in the NBA. I found two items surprising:

1. Rashard is a great bargain
2. Da Fort isn't as great a bargain as we would have thought

Of course, Fortson's lack of minutes is the reason here, and not his production. Still, the Sonics are paying him a full salary, not a "we'll just pay you for the 1st and 3rd quarters" salary, so Fortson must take his share of criticism for his quick fouls.

One last item. The Sonics pay Ibo Kutluay $19,512.20 every game. So far, he's played in one game, lasted two minutes, and contributed a turnover. Since the Sonics have played 26 games, Ibo has received $507,317 so far this season.

Or, put another way, $253,658 per minute.

Game Night #26: Utah Jazz

Since Nussbaum is still drunk on Holiday Cheer, it looks like I'll have to throw together another half-assed Supersonicsoul Pregame Show© :

• Opponent: Utah Jazz
• Where: Mormon-ville
• When: 6pm
• TV/Radio: FSN/KJR
• Good News: Andrei Kirilenko is out with an ankle injury!
• Bad News: The Sonics haven't won in Utah in 400 years!
• My prediction: X-man will dunk over Mark Eaton's caveman head!

Why I'm (Not) Pissed Off This Week: Christmas Wishes

Normally, I'd rant on about some perceived injustice, but I've got nothing but love this week. Here's what I'm thankful for at Christmas:

* That Kobe and Shaq have been split up, giving us a Christmas Day game that all of us can look forward to.
* That the Sonics are playing above their heads, but are doing it with a high-scoring style that makes me proud to be a fan of this team.
* That Nate McMillan is going to be considered for Coach of the Year. I don't think I'm the only one out there who would kill for this man. Mac-10 is up there with Edgar in the Seattle sports pantheon as far as I'm concerned.
* That the NBA is leaning to more points and less banging. All 3 of us came of age during the golden days of 120-114 games in the 1980s, days that seem as distant as sockhops and black and white photos now. Thank you, David Stern, for finally figuring out a way to reintroduce us to 18-2 runs and a flurry of made baskets.
* That my friend, Paul, came up with a way to let me vent my frustration about my favorite team (the Sonics) and my favorite sport (basketball). I know I could be doing more productive things with my time, but I couldn't be doing anything better.