NBA Rumors Thread

[ZoneBlitz]

The Bulls dominated because they were pretty arguably the best team of all time in 98 led by the best player ever. Not because small market teams were relegated to farm systems and decimated by their best players leaving. Imagine if Reggie Miller or David Robinson left for Utah or Chicago or Seattle. Instead of making their small market teams interesting and competitive. At any point during their dominance, Orlando had Shaq, Houston had Hakeem, NY had Ewing, Seattle had Sonic Boom, Philly/Phoenix had Barkley.

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. People got interested in the Heat because they were freakishly talented and people were hoping someone would knock them off. It's different when more and more teams like that start popping up and there's about 18-20 teams that just don't matter at all. You water down the product when these guys are pretty much encouraged to do this and leave teams like Cleveland, New Orleans, Denver, and Toronto to wallow in obscurity. It's good for the ratings of the finals and the big match-ups, but what about for the attendance of about 15 markets when the Heat aren't in town. Think anybody wants to go see a T-Wolves/Cavs game or a Rockets/Raptors game or a Nuggets/Bobcats game or a 76ers/Hornets game when Paul inevitably leaves or a Magic/Pistons game when Howard leaves? You say the NBA is driven by star power, but when your're adding stars to teams that are already contenders and have stars, you're condensing the # of teams that can really make money moreso than it was before the lockout when owners were saying they weren't making much of a profit.

I understand the small-market teams lose money, i didnt say otherwise. But the overall interest in the league grows. If they had a revenue sharing model, the small market teams could reap the benefits.

Yeah, because that model has worked out so badly for the NFL. Struggling for fan interest, they are.

And tell the 20 or so owners that lose money every year that Super Teams are great for the league.

For all of the talk of how resurgent the NBA was last season, that was largely for aesthetic reasons and slightly increased TV ratings. When 2/3 of the teams are losing money, there is a problem.

Super Teams are great for ESPN, TNT, ABC, and the Super Teams. That's it.

I never said the NFL model doesnt work for the NFL, I said it wouldnt work for the NBA.

And I would like you to explain why this wouldn't work. Not just an NFL model with a hard cap and revenue sharing, but any model that featured a hard cap & free agent compensation, and took the power away from the players to basically do whatever the fuck they want with impunity in terms of basically telling owners to fuck themselves while they decide where & who they want to play with?

Nobody cared about the Raptors when they had Chris Bosh. Nobody cared about the Hornets with Chris Paul. Now you put Bosh on the Heat and Paul on the Lakers paired with other superstars, suddenly casual fans are very interested. Fans like to see stars paired with other stars, and like to see elite teams.

[Chrispy]

CP3 to Griffin

[EmpireWF]

JJ Barea signing a $19 million deal with the TWolves.

[Chrispy]

CP3 to Clippers just needs NBA approval, we will see how that goes.....

[EmpireWF]

Paul to the paper clips almost done

Kaman, aminu, Bledsoe and a 1st rounder (twolves one) for paul

A source tells ESPN's Chris Broussard that Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and Minnesota's unprotected first round pick for 2012 have been offered for Paul.

Differing reports as to whether Gordon is in it or not. Plus, the NBA supposedly wants Bledsoe involved.

I'll assume it gets done without giving up Gordon, like you mentioned.

[s@ppisgod]

There are stars all over the league but only a few have a collection of them.

You and I clearly have different ideas of what "NBA star caliber" is. I noted mostly HOFers close to or in their prime from the 90's. And guys like Howard and Paul and James undoubtedly have a gigantic affect on their franchises. Someone like Ray Allen past his prime, or Al Horford and David Lee? Please, that's a completely different level. I guess I should have also counted guys like Tim Hardaway. Maybe Arvydas Sabonis or Nick Van Exel or Latrell Spreewell. It depends on exactly how low we're setting the bar. And I actually like Al Horford. But he's not going to cause a huge bump in fan interest or season ticket sales. Neither will Manu unless your team is in Argentina.
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[EmpireWF]

Chris Paul will opt in to the final year of his deal (12-13) so the Clippers will get at least 2 years with him for what they will give up.

You and I clearly have different ideas of what "NBA star caliber" is. I noted mostly HOFers close to or in their prime from the 90's. And guys like Howard and Paul and James undoubtedly have a gigantic affect on their franchises. Someone like Ray Allen past his prime, or Al Horford and David Lee? Please, that's a completely different level. I guess I should have also counted guys like Tim Hardaway. Maybe Arvydas Sabonis or Nick Van Exel or Latrell Spreewell. It depends on exactly how low we're setting the bar. And I actually like Al Horford. But he's not going to cause a huge bump in fan interest or season ticket sales. Neither will Manu unless your team is in Spain.

Okay, if we're talking the elites of the game who can bump ticket sales, there's only 10 or so of those types of players.

[s@ppisgod]

Is Gordon not involved in the deal? If so, that seems like pretty awful returns. It's actually a worse deal than the Lakers one. Bledsoe is a solid PG, I'm not really high on Aminu, but it all comes down to the pick. If that player turns out to be a stud, it's not a bad deal. But betting on coming out of the draft with a stud, even with a top 5/10 pick, isn't great odds. It makes them look even worse if the player they take with their pick works out, and the T-Wolves one doesn't. Regardless, I feel they should have pushed for Gordon. Unless his contract isn't for much longer, which I have no clue of.
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[ralaw]

I'm surprised Paul decided to opt in for the 2012 season.....he must really want out of New Orleans. If the Clips can keep Gordon they'll be in pretty good shape. I'm having a hard time seeing the Clippers as an elite team, but with Paul it very well could become a reality.

[EmpireWF]

The latest rumor is the trade has been submitted to the league and includes Eric Gordon but the NBA wants Bledsoe included.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/217409/Paul_Trade_To_Clippers_Submitted_For_Approval

[Primetime]

Fuck that. That deal is ridiculously good for a player that would leave in a few months anyway. No reason to add Bledsoe....Hornets are already dominating the trade.

[ralaw]

Yeah, if i were the Clippers I'd back out of that deal.

You can't give up Gordon and the Minnesota's unprotected 1st round pick (probably top 3). That's just too much......they have to remember they have to keep Paul going forward,

[EmpireWF]

lol, the NBA wants Bledsoe and a 2nd draft pick included in the deal.

The Clippers (rightfully) don't want to give up that much.

WTF, this is getting ridiculous.

[Sharkweather]

Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Clippers are currently refusing to improve their offer and that the deal could be dying. Via Marc Stein, Chris Broussard/ESPN

Bledsoe > CP3

[FirstTimer]

Fuck the NBA.