Pistons third-year shooting guard Jerry Stackhouse is worried
about a lockout, extended negotiations on a new collective
bargaining agreement and other labor strife that might delay the
payoff he expects to receive as a free agent this summer. "It
was a tough situation, having to deal with the rookie salary
cap, because it meant being underpaid for three years," he says.
"The owners wanted us to prove ourselves. I have. Now it's time
to reap the benefits of free agency."
Yet after averaging 15.8 points and shooting 43.5% from the
floor this season, Stackhouse is headed for a rude awakening
come contract talks. He figures he'll sign for around $11
million a season; general managers around the NBA put his value
at closer to $5 million. "He's not one of those top-tier free
agents," says the Nets' John Nash. "He can score, but he hasn't
proven he can shoot the ball consistently. We have Kendall Gill,
who'll make around $5.5 million and is similar in that he isn't
a pure shooter. Would I trade him for Stackhouse? Probably not."
Stackhouse wouldn't dream of comparing himself to Gill. Though
most general managers project Stackhouse as a backup, he
believes he's just two notches below Kevin Garnett, the
Timberwolves' $20.8 million-a-year franchise forward. "If you
look at my numbers over the past three years, they compare to
anyone's," Stackhouse, 23, says. "Michael Jordan makes
what—about $33 million? Tell me I don't deserve a third of what
he makes. I'm not saying half, I'm saying a third."
Stackhouse, who thinks he'll earn $11 million next
season, will be lucky to get half that.
(John W. McDonough)
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With the 76ers, Stackhouse averaged 20.0 points over two
seasons, but he also shot only 41.1% and turned the ball over
3.7 times a game. Stackhouse still fails to grasp the concepts
of ball movement and spacing, and it's widely known that he
favors his right hand. "I'd challenge him to go left," says
Hawks guard Steve Smith, "and you know what? He'd start trying
it. The more he couldn't get his shot or the more he'd lose [the
ball], the harder he'd try."
The Sixers sent the 6'6" Stackhouse packing to Detroit in
December after indications that he wanted at least $11 million a
year to re-sign. In return Philadelphia received third-year
center Theo Ratliff, who has blossomed into a dependable shot
blocker and will likely command a better deal than Stackhouse
this summer.
In his defense, Stackhouse has had five coaches in three
seasons. "And I haven't played with a point guard since I came
into the league," he says. "People will best see my talents when
I'm with a distributor." Like Jason Kidd? "Exactly. The Suns
would be a great situation. That's definitely a viable option."
But sources in Phoenix say that the Suns have no interest in
Stackhouse. The Kings, Nuggets and Raptors will have plenty of
cap room, but officials on those teams aren't excited about
acquiring him either. Stackhouse would rather re-sign with the
Pistons, but they, too, are lukewarm about a new deal. As one
Detroit source says, "We are quite certain we can live without
him."
Issue date: April 27, 1998
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