I can envision it now. After about a month or so into the NBA season, and the GM of the Chicago Bulls, John Paxson, is riding in his car blasting some Brittany Spears, “Ooops I did it again!”
The song so fitting to Paxson’s career as the GM of the Chicago Bulls. In mid-July of 2006, the Bulls were coming off a promising playoff run and looking to add to their team and, what they were thinking, look to make a deep run in the playoffs. That summer Paxson went out and grabbed Ben Wallace, a 6’9 center who was known as one of, if not, the best defensive player in the league. They gave him a 4 year $60 million contract. Paxson’s move was praised by the Chicago fans and the media alike– he had positioned the Bulls to make a deep playoff run.
That signing turned Ben Wallace from the most under-rated player in the league to the most over-rated player in the league. The move never panned out, at all. The Bulls were never a marquee contender, and the notion to sign a big man center, who can’t score, to a $60 million contract over 4 years was dead. Every front office executive knew not to follow in Paxson’s footsteps and repeat this same ill-conceived move.
Fast forward to October 2010 and who makes the same dumb move, none other than John Paxson, when he signed Joakim Noah to a 5 year $60 million contract. Although it is $2 million less per year than Wallace, he is still paying $12 million a year to a guy who is a 6’10 center and 232 lbs, who has trouble scoring. Unlike Wallace, he has never been an All-Star and does not hold an NBA Championship ring. I know Chicago fans are probably going to be up in arms with me, but these are probably the same fans who blessed the Wallace signing, only to want Paxson’s job on the chopping block afterwards.
Look, I will agree Noah had a promising season last year and a promising and productive playoffs. He did average a double double during the season and, in the playoffs, averaged 14.8 ppg and 13.0 rpg. Also, he brought plenty of energy in the playoff series and really turned some heads.
But, this is one playoff series we are talking about, and really a quarter of the season as well. Watching Noah, he is not skilled offensively. His post moves are suspect and he does not have much of a jumper, an incredibly ugly one at that. He relies on his work ethic, which you have to admire, but you don’t give $12 million a year just to a guy because he works hard. He is a solid defender as he is smart on his rotations and he does come across with the occasional block. At times he defends the post well, but, more importantly, he also gets out-muscled by some of the bigger front court players in the league. His ‘Sideshow Bob’ looking frame doesn’t quite cut with the big boys in the paint. He only weighs all of 232 lbs. and, by comparison, Lebron James is an inch or two shorter and at least 30 lbs heavier, while playing small forward. I can’t recall, but I would be hard impressed to find an NBA team who went to the NBA Finals with their starting center weighing 232 lbs. Can you think of one?
This year, one of the bad contracts of the NBA is finally coming off the books. Erick Dampier signed a 7 year and $73 million contract that has been in the pain in the arse of Marc Cuban and the Mavericks for sometime. Well, looking at Dampier’s numbers, prior to him signing the contract, he averaged 12.3 ppg and 11.9 rpg, better numbers than Noah. I hate to say it but I think this contract is giong to be the pain in Paxson’s arse for some time to come, as in his death march to the GM job of the Bulls. The Bulls will be stuck with this contract and not be able to maneuver within the cap. Paxson should have pulled the trigger on the trade for Carmelo with Noah as his bait.
He could have resurrected his career as a GM just like Brittany.Wait, her comeback didn’t last.
