
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, October 18, 1993                   TAG: 9310180105
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

NO. 1 PICK IN THE NBA A RICH MAN

The price of doing business with the NBA's No. 1 draft pick, Chris Webber, was revealed Sunday, and by all standards of economic measurement it's a very steep figure, indeed.

After weeks of bargaining, Golden State Warriors president Dan Finnane said the team had a binding agreement with the 6-foot-9 Webber, and though he did not disclose details of the contract, NBA sources confirmed an astonishing package worth $74.4 million over 15 years.

The final contract, which averages out to $4.96 million a year and $8.32 million in his final year, will be signed by both sides today - 11 days after the former University of Michigan power forward underwent an appendectomy in Detroit.

In addition, the contract contains a one-year termination clause, meaning that Webber, 20, can become a restricted free agent at the end of one season. At that point, the two sides can renegotiate, presumably for a shorter-term contract.

Webber's contract is undeniably huge, but it is not particularly out of line with contracts given to other top NBA rookies this season.

No. 2 pick Shawn Bradley, a 7-foot-6 center out of Brigham Young University and drafted by Philadelphia, received a $44.2 million contract for eight years.

No. 3 pick Anfernee Hardaway of Memphis State, who signed with the Orlando Magic, received a guaranteed $45.2 million over 13 years.

No. 4 pick Jamal Mashburn of Kentucky, drafted by Dallas, signed last week for $34.8 million, spread over eight years.

Keywords:
BASKETBALL

by CNB