Even the franchise star Stephon Marbury, one of the best point guards in the league, has a bloated contract by today's standards.

But it will not be Manny Ramirez, the Red Sox slugger with the bloated contract Boston is trying to unload.

Strikes were thought wasteful, and to avoid them bloated contracts were negotiated and costly work rules not ad- dressed.

After taking over on an interim basis last June, he dumped veteran players with bloated contracts and disappointing statistics.

In making the deal, the Nets had to take on the bloated contracts of MacLean ($2.12 million) and Harris ($1.4 million).

But the roster is overstocked with bloated contracts, making an overhaul highly problematic, if not impossible.

While the rest of the league has been test-driving imports, Thomas has steadfastly purchased big American reputations and punitive bloated contracts.

In this era of bloated contracts and urgent World Series expectations, baseball heroes who once had an emotional attachment to fans can be dismissed in fairly rapid fashion.

He was a symbol of Steve Phillips's tenure as general manager, an era of bloated contracts and irresponsible spending.

That means avoiding high-risk players and bloated contracts.