Kobe Bryant vs. The Best Team Money Can Buy

Kobe Bryant is, as of now, the highest paid player in the NBA. According to Hoopshype.com, Mr. Bryant is set to make close to $25 million next season. That's a lot of dough.

Now, with all this talk about the NBA lockout, and owners needing to be a little more fiscally responsible, I got to thinking: What's the best starting five (no rookie contracts) I could get for the price of Kobe Bryant?

Marcin Gortat: $6.79 Million

Laugh all you want, but Marcin Gortat is a runaway for best value at the center position. Let's put it this way, in his 55 games with the Phoenix Suns, he averaged, 13.0 pts, 9.3 rbs and 1.3 blks (NBA.com).

Just because the Polish big man started his career off playing minuscule minutes behind Dwight Howard doesn't mean he won't have a very bright future in the NBA.

Paul Millsap: $6.7 Million

Are you kidding me?

I fell in love with Paul Millsap after he helped soften the blow of Boozer's injury a few years back. For the price of essentially the MLE, you can get a guy who averaged 17.3 pts and 7.6 rbs last season (NBA.com).

Yes, he may be a little undersized, but he is definitely the most affordable player at the PF position.

Matt Barnes: $1.9 Million

Matt Barnes is a steal here. Not many players are going to provide the attitude and defensive abilities that Barnes brings, and he'll do it for cheap.

Not every player on the court needs to score, but when Barnes does, it's because he's moving without the ball or making the hustle play on the boards.

Dorell Wright: $3.8 Million

Is it possible that Dorell Wright's statistics are slightly inflated by the run-and-don't-play-defense style of the Golden State Warriors? Yes.

Has he still exemplified over the past season that he is deadly from three and has no problem getting open and waiting for the right pass? Most definitely.

Kyle Lowry: $5.75 Million

Rounding out the starting five is Mr. Kyle Lowry. This season he demonstrated that he could run the point for the Houston Rockets and did so with rather decent results. He's not Steve Nash, but he'll get the job done, fly down the court and feed the big men while still putting up a few points.

Recap of the World's Cheapest Team

Let's quickly look at this starting five: Gortat, Millsap, Barnes, Wright and Lowry.

Can't you already see Millsap and Gortat fighting over boards, getting the outlet to Lowry and watching the cleanest five-man break in basketball? Without any superstars, these guys would have a Denver Nuggets mentality where any particular night someone different could have a big game. If you can get George Karl or Rick Adelman to coach, you could easily squeeze 45-47 wins, and hey, if you're in the East, you make the playoffs!

Not bad for the price of Kobe Bryant...