The Ill-Fated Incentive Clause . . .
             Paul Westphal, Guard, Phoenix Suns

    Basketball player Paul Westphal's 1983-84 contract with the Phoenix Suns contained an incentive clause that guaranteed Westphal an extra $250,000 if he played in at least 60 games during the season. As it turned out, Westphal played in only 59 games, but there were two games in which Westphal's line read "DNP-Coach's Decision." For reasons unknown, coach John MacLeod had held Westphal out of two games in which he was available to play. Westphal sued the Suns for breach of contract, but lost in court. Long-time Celtics coach and general manager Red Auerbach believed that the judge had reached the correct decision in Westphal's case. Auerbach felt that the Suns had simply outsmarted Westphal and his agent. In Auerbach's view, "if they had worded the perk correctly -- specifying how many games Paul was available to play in, rather than how many games he actually played --they would have been able to pocket the dough."