Kwame Brown’s new contract with Warriors really takes the cake
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Kwame Brown is going to make $7 million this season. That’s how much the Golden State Warriors have agreed to pay the free-agent center in a one-year contract announced Tuesday.
Lakers fans might want to let that sink in for a minute. Fans of the Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies and Detroit Pistons might have some trouble digesting the news as well.
But fans of the Charlotte Bobcats, Brown’s most recent employer, may a little less aghast at the hefty sum the Warriors were willing to pay for the services of the former No. 1 overall draft pick who never seemed to live up to his potential.
Acquired by the Lakers in a four-player trade with the Wizards in August 2005, Brown spent nearly three seasons in L.A., mainly as a reserve. Although he played well during a first-round playoff loss to the Phoenix Suns that season, most of his tenure with the Lakers was marred by injuries and overall disappointing play.
(Of course, his time in L.A. might be best remembered for the infamous birthday cake incident.)
Brown was traded to Memphis in February 2008 -- part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers -- and he continued to underwhelm there and in Detroit before signing last season with the Bobcats, reportedly for the league-veteran minimum salary of $1.3 million.
He looked to have revived his career in Charlotte, where he averaged 7.9 points and 6.8 rebounds in 66 games (50 starts). Those aren’t superstar numbers, but they were Brown’s best in years -- and they were enough to persuade the Warriors to give him another big payday going into his 11th NBA season.
So congratulations, Kwame. You’ve got a great new contract, and that warrants a celebration ... let’s just hope there’s no cake involved.
[For the record: An earlier version of this report Incorrectly said Brown is a 13-year veteran. That error has been corrected.]
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-- Chuck Schilken
