To me the question is if Karl Malone had taken a drop in salary so the Jazz could add one more piece in 97 or 98 (Free agents we potentially could have had at the time:Brent Barry, Theo Ratliff, Jimmy Jackson, Rick Fox, David Wesley, George Mcleod, among others). The reason I ask is because he took a huge cut (signed for $1.x million)to go to the Lakers in 2003/2004 when he could have commanded $10m.
If he took a cut when it mattered he would have his ring. Not saying he should have taken a pay cut at all, but if you are going to, do it when it matters.