The high price of victory
Which teams are getting the most for their money?

The average cost per victory, as of Wednesday, was $2.4 million (based on player salaries totaling $1.88 billion this season divided by the 777 games played thus far).

The leader is no surprise: The Pistons are spending $1.4 million per victory, followed closely by the third-place Spurs at $1.6 million per win.

But this table gives new perspective to the miraculous season the Hornets are having in Oklahoma City: They emerge as the second most efficient team in the league, based on their 28-23 record in spite of the NBA's second-lowest payroll (thank you, Chris Paul).

San Antonio and other franchises pay attention to this ratio with the ultimate goal of spending less than $1 million per win by the end of the season. Based on current winning percentages, only the Pistons, Hornets and Spurs are on track to limbo under the $1 million level.

This ratio also suggests that it's OK to spend big as long as you win big. Dallas' $94 million payroll is second only to New York's, yet the Mavericks are more efficient than half of the league because their expensive talent produces results.

Then consider the Knicks[/b], who are lumped with Charlotte at the bottom of the East standings while hemmorhaging $93 million more than the Bobcats in payroll.
Understand why the Pacers will be looking to trim payroll this summer? They and the Lakers are the only winning teams who rank near the bottom in terms of payroll efficiency. Only three teams are netting a smaller return on their investment than the Pacers.

Cost per win 2005-06
Team No. of wins 2005-06 payroll Cost/win
Detroit 42 $59 million $1.4 million
New Orleans/OKC 29 $41 million $1.4 million
San Antonio 40 $62 million $1.6 million
Cleveland 31 $51 million $1.6 million
Phoenix 34 $56 million $1.6 million
L.A. Clippers 30 $51 million $1.7 million
Miami 33 $60 million $1.8 million
Denver 28 $57 million $2.0 million
Washington 26 $55 million $2.1 million
Utah 25 $57 million $2.3 million
Milwaukee 27 $62 million $2.3 million
Dallas 41 $94 million $2.3 million
Memphis 29 $66 million $2.3 million
Charlotte 14 $34 million $2.4 million
New Jersey 28 $66 million $2.4 million
Golden State 24 $57 million $2.4 million
Seattle 20 $51 million $2.6 million
Chicago 22 $58 million $2.6 million
Sacramento 24 $62 million $2.6 million
Atlanta 16 $43 million $2.7 million
Boston 20 $55 million $2.8 million
L.A. Lakers 26 $73 million $2.8 million
Minnesota 23 $64 million $2.8 million
Philadelphia 25 $74 million $3.0 million
Toronto 20 $61 million $3.1 million
Houston 22 $69 million $3.1 million
Indiana 26 $80 million $3.1 million
Portland 18 $60 million $3.3 million
Orlando 19 $74 million $3.9 million
[b]New York 15 $126 million $8.4 million





We need to purge all big contracts !!! Let Penny, Mo T and Jalen expire. Then Try our best to trade Jamal, JJ & Q and just simply buy out Malik's contract !!!

i wish they would try to get under the cap, but they just won't so getting something for penny makes sense as long as it doesnt cost any of our future. next year $35mil comes off the books that we can't trade, so big deal if our payroll is $125mil, next season $35mil will definately be off, while still having moT and Jalen to work with.

The knicks have a bundle of expiring contracts that dae back to the Layden era

Lets see how Isiah/Larry play it out by the end of next year.

It ain't your money

we knew this already.

Posted by mikesknicks:

Why does everybody fans and ny media obsessed over getting under the salary cap. Tell me this when was the last time a super star player left his team to sign with a new team? Only players that come to mind are Hughes not a super star but very good player. boozer under the table deal back-fired. Most Stars get Sign & trade deals so why all the get under the cap talk.

getting under the cap also allows you to make sign & trade deals as the $$$'s don't match.

but it's not just about GETTING under the cap but that also means you have a roster full of players not making disgusting dollars. so making tweak moves are ALOT easier.

it's all about flexibility. if you think moving guys like penny + AD (as expiring deals) as flexibility, then cool. i see moving those type of deals as just "more of the same" and we'll just be spinning our wheels for another 5 years. new faces, new players, same money, same results...