THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 11, 1995 TAG: 9504110453
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Joe Smith's decision regarding the NBA draft may come down to dollars and cents.
Or make that sense - as in common sense.
In the current environment, Maryland's All-American center from Norfolk could command a multiyear guaranteed contract easily worth $40 million to $50 million.
The question is, when could the environment be altered?
The NBA players' association and management are discussing a rookie salary cap as part of the collective bargaining agreement currently under negotiation.
``A rookie salary cap could possibly come into effect this year,'' said Los Angeles Clippers vice president of basketball operations Elgin Baylor, who was in Hampton Roads last week for the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
If it does not kick in for next season, it is widely believed a rookie salary cap will be instituted for the following season.
Although it's all speculative because negotiations are in progress, the numbers being talked about for the rookie cap are about $1.5 million maximum for the first year and three-year contracts limited to about $5 million.
That pales in comparison to the 10-year, $68 million contract Glenn Robinson signed with Milwaukee last year.
``If these kids come out, the money might not be there,'' said Los Angeles Lakers vice president of basketball operations Jerry West.
Smith has to declare for the draft by midnight May 14. But if he doesn't hire an agent, he could make himself eligible for the draft but still return to school later. By doing that, Smith would buy some time to see if the salary cap is instituted for next season.
If he does that, the team that drafts him would have rights to Smith for one year. If he were drafted and then returned to school and played both his remaining seasons of college eligibility, he could re-enter the draft in 1997.
``I would not be surprised if he put his name in and drew it out later,'' Maryland assistant coach Art Perry said. by CNB