Over the summer Andrew Perna and I drafted the best team that the 2008-09 salary cap of $58.68 million can buy.  We alternated picks until we got 13 players (no players still on rookie contracts), plus ourselves.

Chris Reina's Team

Starting Five

C: Dwight Howard, $13.76M

I was able to select first and gave some thought to picking LeBron James, who easily is the best non-rookie contract value in the NBA, but I decided that Howard doesn?t have a true peer as a big.  Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett will combine to make over $45 million during the 08-09 season while Yao Ming can?t stay on the floor, and Amare Stoudemire can?t impact a game defensively.

Howard was third in season FIC last year with a 19.8 per 40 FIC and had a Reina Value of +225%, deserving to make $19.73 million during the final year of his rookie contract.  He played in all 82 games and grabbed 14.2 rebounds a night to go with his 20.7 points that came on 60% shooting.
 
SG: Dwyane Wade, 14.41M

Because I believe Wade is in that second tier of perimeter superstars just  below Kobe and LeBron, he made going with Howard over LeBron an easy decision for me.

He may not fill up a stat sheet the way LeBron does or have the perimeter game and array of moves off the dribble of a Kobe, but he has plenty of talent to will himself up to overachieve into an elite status when he is healthy as he showed during the 2006 playoffs and the Beijing Olympics.

Wade was a bad value during the 07-08 season (-48%), but he played in just 51 games and still had a respectable 15.0 per 40 FIC.

PF: Carlos Boozer, $11.59M

Boozer stayed healthy in 2008 and ended up 14th in season FIC and had an extremely healthy RV of +41%, deserving to make $16.36 million.

His ability to hit the 15-footer and pass the ball makes him a nice complement for Howard.

PG: Louis Williams, $4.5M

Williams is far from a classic point guard, but I believe Wade is much better when he has the ball in his hands more so I feel comfortable with them sharing the backcourt.  He can score quickly, and he can score often, and I fully expect him to truly have a bust out season in 2008-09.  As much difference Elton Brand will make on a nightly basis for the Sixers to improve their bottom line as soon as they walk on the floor, I believe Williams is the player (much like Rondo with the Celtics at times) that can elevate that club (and hopefully mine) to greatness.

SF: Grant Hill, $1.98M

The second half decline last season is worrisome, but the savings here allowed me to comfortably start a reliable do-everything guy that still has flashes of All Star basketball beside three of the game?s unquestioned best players.

Bench- All eight, even the last one, will contribute

- Daniel Gibson, $3.7M

Gibson negotiated his new contract with Cleveland without an agent, using his father as a consultant and even though his per minute numbers are below the NBA median, his career 43.4% shooting from beyond the arc makes him extremely valuable on this team given how teams will collapse on Howard, Wade, and Boozer.

- Brandon Bass, $826k

Bass ?deserved? to make $4M in his first season with Dallas last year, and although he didn?t rebound at quite the same rate, his ability to score for the first time makes him a four off the bench that will get plenty of high percentage shots.

- Jamario Moon, $711k

When Jamario Moon was playing professional basketball, do you think he ever thought he?d start 75 games for a playoff team in his first NBA season?  He does a little bit of everything out there: block shots, rebound and he even developed a decent 3-pointer as the season went on.  He won?t start on this team, but with only Hill ahead of him at the 3 on the depth chart, he would get a solid 20 minutes a night.

- Andray Blatche, $2.74M

He doesn?t shoot at a very high percentage for a PF/C, but that is because his game is more finesse.  Blatche is young and developing and has improved significantly in each of his three season.  His combination of affordability and upside is really unmatched by any other player in the league on his second contract.

- Anthony Carter, $797k  

How do the Nuggets have so many big-ticket players but get good point guard play?  Anthony Carter.  He had a 12.8 per 40 FIC, which is pretty extraordinary considering how he is used in their offense and was higher than other point guards like Rafer Alston, Kirk Hinrich, Mike Bibby, and Derek Fisher.  He easily shot his highest percentages from both the floor and three-point territory while also reducing his turnover rate.

- Steve Novak, $797k

Even though he?s 6-10, Novak hit 47.9 of his attempts from beyond the arc.  The ability to spread the floor is invaluable and offsets his deficiencies on defense.

- Matt Barnes, $797k  

I still can?t believe the early 2000?s UCLA group of Barnes, Jason Kapono, Earl Watson, and Dan Gadzuric are all plugging away in the NBA in 2008.  Barnes is a low-rent pest in the mold of James Posey.  He doesn?t have the same kind of impact of Posey on the defensive end, but he also won?t cost $25M over four years and has comparable offensive numbers and might be a better rebounder.

- Brian Skinner, $1.26M

Skinner won?t do many things to hurt you and will block shots and rebound off the bench as well as anyone.  He?s savvy on both sides of the floor, and if he has the second lowest ceiling on your team, then you have some nice depth.

- Chris Reina, $797k

I?ll skip all of the Uncle Rico stories about my days of high school varsity basketball and rest easy knowing that if Perna and I are ever on the floor at the same time, Wade will call my number for ISO's all day long.

Andrew Perna's Team

For the second-straight year I have assembled what I believe to be the best team money can buy in the NBA. Just like I did last year (the 2007 version of Perna +13).

This year the 2004 draft class became eligible for +13 selection as we don?t allow rookie contracts to be used, but as you?ll see I restrained from splurging on a host of newly minted multi-millionaires.

Without further ado, here is the 2008 edition of the Perna +13 team:

The Starting Five

PG: Steve Nash, $12.25M

Last year I focused on a dependable bench, but with the ?Big Three? taking home the title in Boston this June I felt as though I needed to focus more on my starting five. With elite point guards like Chris Paul and Deron Williams ineligible because of their rookie contracts, Nash was the obvious choice. He?s been rock solid over the last four seasons, and despite his age, I don?t anticipate he?ll falter this season.

SG: Stephen Jackson, $7,14M

I know, he doesn?t have the best history in terms of team chemistry, but he has really impressed me with the Warriors. Not only has he been a leader, especially in Golden State?s first round upset of the Mavericks back in 2007, but he averaged a career-high 20.1 points last season in the Bay Area.

SF: LeBron James, Cleveland, $14.41M

In case you?re wondering, I have already used up 57.6% of my salary on Nash, Jackson, and LeBron. I?m okay with that because I feel LBJ?s other-worldly skill set will be magnified by the presence of a point guard like Nash. With a scorer like Jackson and Nash?s dead-aim, LeBron could average a triple-double.

PF: David West, $9.862M

West is still one of the most underrated power forwards in the game, but he won?t be finally under the radar too much longer after what he was able to accomplish against Tim Duncan in the Hornets? semifinal series against the Spurs. Like the three players listed before him, West can score easily, which means my team will have no problem putting points on the board. With that said, both LeBron and West are extremely strong and will be tough to score on in the post.

C: Chris Wilcox, $6.75M

I have spent 85.9% of my money on this starting five, which means I?ll be asking them to play major minutes. Only once in Wilcox?s career has he played more than thirty minutes a night, but considering the 13.5 points and 7.7 rebounds he has averaged over the last two seasons, I?m confident he?ll do the dirty work for my team.

The Second Unit

PG: Royal Ivey, $854k

I know, not too exciting or reliable. However, I will allow LeBron to handle the ball often when Nash is on the bench, so Ivey won?t be asked to do very much. He posted 5.6 points and 2.1 assists for the Bucks in 19.2 minutes last season, more than enough for this team.

SG: Kareem Rush, $926k

I had Rush on my bench last year, and I was even more anxious to ?sign? him this summer after watching him impress off the bench in Indiana (8.4 points in 21.2 minutes per game). He?ll be the main focus of the offense when the entire second unit is on the floor, which admittedly won?t be often.

SF: Ime Udoka, $1.08M

Udoka is the biggest bargain on my roster. He proved in the playoffs that he can hold his own against the best in the league, averaging 5.4 points and 2.9 rebounds in less then fifteen minutes a game. My team?s success will hinge on the ability of Udoka and Rush to contribute a little more than they were asked to last season.

PF: Melvin Ely, $998k

Ely is a similar player to Wilcox,and will be asked to fill his role when rest is needed. I figure with two hustle players of a similar mold, there will always be a lunch pail worker on the floor for my team.

C: Chris Andersen, $797k

As if LeBron wasn?t enough, Andersen will bring some high-flying antics to the floor, which will help energize the crowd. Hey, I?m all about making my team fun to watch, as well. Before his suspension for violating the league?s substance abuse policy, he was a force for the Nuggets and Hornets off the bench ? he?ll be the same for this team.

The Rarely Used Four

G: Stephen Graham, $826k

Graham is actually talented and athletic, but he?s had a problem channeling that into success on the floor. He has amazing stats ? Graham averaged 24.5 points per 36 minutes for the Pacers last season ? but I?m not that stupid. I?m not counting on that much production from Joey?s brother.

F: Solomon Jones, $787k

Yawn. Hopefully, Jones can grow a mean mohawk because someone is going to have to entertain me from the bench.

F: Malik Allen, $1.3M

Allen adds a nice veteran presence to my club, providing the skills to step in and contribute significantly when needed. He could find himself in the second unit if he plays well, perhaps bumping someone like Andersen down into the role of benchwarmer.

G: Andrew Perna, $700k

In order to field a full NBA roster, I?ve signed myself for the rest of money I had left under the cap. As a player-owner, I fancy myself as somewhat of a Jackie Moon (Semi-Pro), minus all the playing time. I just might wrestle a bear, though, so make sure you get your season tickets.