RealGM

Excellent plan, Phil. Fifty dollars might not seem like a lot to a bunch of millionaires, but when it's a whole team full of hyper-competitive guys, they'll be trying to take charges just so their teammates don't get the money. Like I said, excellent plan.

According to Smith's report, the Lakers have been paying out for charges since last season. The money comes from a pool of money generated by various players' fines. So when Ron Artest(notes) is late to practice the day after tipping in a game-winner, he pays a fine that eventually turns into charge money.

Considering he paid the fine, you'd think Ron-Ron would want to get his money back. But that'd mean taking a charge which is something Artest won't do. The man has principles.

"I don't even know how to take a charge," he said. "To get the charge you have to fall. I'd rather not fall. You call an offensive foul, possibly be a fight. That's just how we grew up playing basketball."