As of January, 2007

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/32/biz_06nba_NBA-Team-Valuations_Rank.html

1 - New York Knicks = $ 592 million
The Knicks 2005-06 season was a train wreck. Their $118 million in player costs were $21 million higher than anyone else, but the team finished with the second worst record in the league. Knicks paid coach Larry Brown a $18.5 million buyout to go away after only one season that featured him openly warring with the team's top players. (The Knicks got 23 wins and Brown $30 million in their one season together). For the first time, Cablevision is having to work to retain season ticket holders. The cable giant rewarded some long-time ticket holders with ducats and suite access to concerts at MSG, like Billy Joel. The hope is they will sign on again to cheer for a team with a sketchy future

2 - Los Angeles Lakers = $ 568 million

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers back to the playoffs after a one-year playoff drought. The Lakers and owner Jerry Buss are mere tenants in their building, albeit an important one. Billionaire Philip Anschutz controls the Staples Center and owns hockey's Los Angeles Kings and 30% of the Lakers. But the Lakers remain the hottest ticket in town and Buss raised prices 5% for the current season including courtside seats which now go for $2,200 a game or $100,000 for the season. No wonder Jack Nicholson still works so hard.


3 - Dallas Mavericks = $463 million

In his seven years as owner, Mark Cuban has turned the Mavs from a laughingstock into one of the NBA's best run teams on and off the court. Strong marketing, good player evaluations, and a fantastic arena, which Cuban owns half, make the Mavs a model NBA franchise. Last year the Mavs reached the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Most owners use playoff success to jack up ticket prices the following season. Cuban? He lowered prices on the four lowest ticket price levels citing a reduction in payroll for the reason.


4 - Chicago Bulls = $461 million

The Bulls are accumulating talented, young players in the hope of finding playoff success for the first time since Michael Jordan retired after winning his sixth championship in 1998. To add some veteran leadership, the team signed proven playoff performer Ben Wallace to a 4-year, $60 million contract this summer. When they were the champs the Bulls didn't gouge fans on ticket prices and the goodwill has helped the team remain among the league leaders in attendance during the lean years. The United Center, 50% owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, remains one of the NBA's most profitable buildings with its 220 luxury suites.


5 - Houston Rockets = $439 million

Taxpayer financed Toyota Center has some of the priciest seating in the NBA. Fans and corporations pack the $185 per game club seats and $250,000 luxury suites. But lack of fans in the cheap seats resulted in the third lowest paid attendance in the NBA last year. Valuable concessions and parking revenue were lost when these tickets went unsold (the team's losing season also meant thousands of no-shows on purchased tickets as well). The team benefits from a lucrative cable deal with FSN Southwest. Reached at the end of 2004, it calls for the Rockets and baseball's Houston Astros to share $600 million over 10 years.

6 - Detroit Pistons = $429 million

7 -Phoenix Suns = $410 million

8 - Miami Heat = $409 million

9 - San Antonio Spurs = $390 million

10 - Cleveland Cavaliers = $380 million

11 - Sacramento Kings = $379 million

12 - Philadelphia 76ers = $375 million

13 - Boston Celtics = $367 million

14 - Indiana Pacers = $340 million

15 - Washington Wizards = $334 million

16 - New Jersey Nets = $325 million

17 - Toronto Raptors = $315 million

18 - Memphis Grizzlies = $313 million

19 - Denver Nuggets = $309 million

20 - Minnesota Timberwolves = $308 million

21 - Utah Jazz = $297 million

22 - Los Angeles Clippers = $285 million

23 - Orlando Magic = $283 million

24 - Charlotte Bobcats = $277 million

25 - Atlanta Hawks = $275 million

26 - Seattle SuperSonics = $268 million

27 - Golden State Warriors = $267 million

28 - Milwaukee Bucks = $260 million

29 - New Orleans Hornets = $248 million

30 - Portland Trail Blazers = $230 million

Just goes to show no matter how much we suck, Dolan wins!

"even when we are bad it is good"

"lose the battles but win the war"

" Sal cap is for pussies"

3 - Dallas Mavericks = $463 million

In his seven years as owner, Mark Cuban has turned the Mavs from a laughingstock into one of the NBA's best run teams on and off the court. Strong marketing, good player evaluations, and a fantastic arena, which Cuban owns half, make the Mavs a model NBA franchise. Last year the Mavs reached the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Most owners use playoff success to jack up ticket prices the following season. Cuban? He lowered prices on the four lowest ticket price levels citing a reduction in payroll for the reason.

It ain't your money, eh misterearl? Well it seems like in Dallas, it IS the fans money!

It's a license to print money just having the Knicks and Rangers. MSG is a gold mine and it allows Dolan and Isiah to be sloppy with the money, just like the Yanks can afford to throw 20mil at Clemens even tho he can't give you anything close to that kind of performance.

The good thing is that it seems like those days are coming to a close. I thought for sure that they'd let Jerome go, since they've let big money walk before, but they didn't do it. Some people think the Zach deal was more business as usual, but he's still young and he plays up to his salary from what I can see. Zach makes big money, but after him it's not a lot of longterm big money left. We've got this year and next and then we are back down to reasonable levels. We drop 30 mil at the end of next season. You can see the upcoming years here:

http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/new_york.htm