Just an example of how the whole Miami thing is making other star players antsy to do the same or be in the same position.
Soon something that everyone is toting as blasphemy will become the norm.
The Miami thing didn't start it.
The Boston 3 Party started it!
I think its kind of stupid, really. If all the superstars are gonna get together and leave like 2/3 of the league without an elite player we might as well collapse the league back to 8 teams and give each team 2-3 superstars. Otherwise you just have a bunch of dead weight for a league, and the regular season becomes utterly meaningless. That trend has already begun -- Boston assembles its Big Three, Miami gets its trio together... now CP3, Amare and Melo? Boston didn't give a crap about the regular season and saved all its energy for the playoffs...that's the beginning of a trend...both of these developing realities are scary business.
It will be interesting to see if the new collective bargaining agreement addresses this problem/trend. One idea would be to limit 1 maximum contract per team; and to have a second level for players who are really good, but not worthy of a max deal. This would spread the wealth around a bit more on salary, and at the same time try to limit the conglomeration of super-stars on just a few teams.
The idea that stars collecting on a handful of teams being bad for the league and competitiveness is not true. The idea that it's new, or that the C's Big 3 started it, shows ingorance of our own franchise history.
My friends, in over a half-century, the majority of championships were won by two teams. If the Pistons and Bulls are added in, it's close to 70ish% of titles won by 4 teams. Today, there are 30 teams with cap and trade rules that attempt to create balance, yet still the Celtics and Lakers meet in the finals in 2 of the last 3 years, and the Pistons were in the ECF for most of the last decade. Look at the HOF: what teams did most of the NBA inductees play for?
The NBA has never truly been a balanced, competitive league. It probably never will. Recent developments are nothing really new, it just came together in a new way. Now, rather than Red making crazy deals (like trading the Ice Capades?) to accumulate top talent, like with much else in the NBA, the balance of power has shifted completely from owners to players, and now the players have gone the extra step, not just making the guaranteed money while owners have risk (and less than half the BBRI), but now players get to make roster decisions, too. THAT shift will be what drives the next CBA: power (and, of course, money, but I think money will be easier to agree on than many think). Small market teams have more to fear from losing players (or the ability to get/keep players) than from paying salaries, even guaranteed ones. Look how long Cleveland has to wait for their (low) picks received from Miami. They got royally shafted because they players are in control of the franchise, not the owners.
Look for the owner of the Hornets to get some calls/pressure from other owners if CP3 goes (more) public and this gets stinky. A line will be drawn heading into this season (ahead of the new contract).
Topic: With the news that CP3 wants to leave..... (Read 3565 times)