D-Will to follow DH12 (forget about him coming to BOS)

[kgiessler]

There is no logical complaint or quarrel one can have with people who work in the same field wanting to work together to reach new heights in that field.

That is an absurd statement, especially given that you somehow consider it logical.

How about any industry or setting that thrives by creating competition?  For instance...sports.  But sports are not some unique exclusion.  You couldn't have a local chowder cook-off if everyone in the town that knew how to make chowder well worked in the same restaurant.

By your logic, why would there be a draft?  Or a salary cap?  Or even a team roster limit?  Those are all restrictions on "people who work in the same field wanting to work together to reach new heights in that field".

To create a league that sells competition requires some limits that balance talent and creates competition.  Problems arise when the parties break those limits, or perhaps in this case the intent of those limits.  Normally it would be called "cheating".

[kgiessler]

I'll continue, not to mention it's essentially pretextual.  Given that the NBA's product is displays of competition, how exactly would some sort of player level collusion bring their product to new heights? 

It would do the exact opposite, bring their product to new lows. 

[Tai]

Supposedly we need a center. D-Will may want Howard, but how does Howard feel? Would he be satisfied in a pass-first PG in Rondo?

[wiley]

Supposedly we need a center. D-Will may want Howard, but how does Howard feel? Would he be satisfied in a pass-first PG in Rondo?

only if he wants touches

[SHAQATTACK]

Well the future is in Danny's hands, no matter what we think....

Its up to Danny to sell this team to players like DH.  He needs to get his rearend in gear and do some of that high paid mgmt act and get us some real talent.

We'll see "WHO" DA lands for the next version of the Celtics.

[snively]

I wouldnt wanna stay on the Nets either.

I still stand my by prediction. Howard and Dwill will both be wearing Mavs jerseys next season alongside Dirk.

How?  Even if they waive Odom and Carter and amnesty Haywood, they'll still have around $40 mil in salaries, buy-outs and cap holds.  One max there, not two.

[Who]

I wouldnt wanna stay on the Nets either.

I still stand my by prediction. Howard and Dwill will both be wearing Mavs jerseys next season alongside Dirk.

How?  Even if they waive Odom and Carter and amnesty Haywood, they'll still have around $40 mil in salaries, buy-outs and cap holds.  One max there, not two.

I believe the idea is for Dwight and Deron to take slightly less than max deals like Wade, LeBron and Bosh did in Miami. They don't have enough available funds for two max contracts but they can create enough to make near-max offers (~~$15mil starting salary each).

[chambers]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/218455/Source_Williams_Future_With_Nets_Completely_Tied_To_Howardhttp://

Deron Williams' would prefer to remain with the Nets, but that appears to be predicated on the team's ability to acquire Dwight Howard, say sources.

Williams will sign a new deal with the Nets if Howard ends up joining him in Brooklyn.

The Mavericks, the Knicks and the Lakers would be his preferred options if he leaves the Nets, according to sources close to the situation.

If Howard is traded to another team that he plans on re-signing with, the Nets will begin to explore a trade of Williams, according to a source.

Doesn't appear we'll have any shot at D-Will; unless of couse we can pull off landing DH12 AND D-Will.

These guys sicken me. I don't remember Michael Jordan demanding a trade when he couldn't win a title in the 80's.

Actually MJ wanted to go to the Knicks to play with Ewing at one point- I think before or after his first retirement- A lot of people overlook his holiness' ability to jump ship.

[KCattheStripe]

That is an absurd statement, especially given that you somehow consider it logical.

How about any industry or setting that thrives by creating competition?  For instance...sports.  But sports are not some unique exclusion.  You couldn't have a local chowder cook-off if everyone in the town that knew how to make chowder well worked in the same restaurant.

Sure you can, you make teams off that staff which is what the NBA does.Hires the best chowder cooks and then splits them into teams for the cook-off.

By your logic, why would there be a draft?  Or a salary cap?  Or even a team roster limit?  Those are all restrictions on "people who work in the same field wanting to work together to reach new heights in that field".

Yes, because professional sports needs a salary cap otherwise they'll end up like Baseball where the Yankees and Red Sox always win the title because they can just buy all the best players. Unlimited Roster Sizes would never happen because players want to play. It'd be interesting to see what an NBA with no draft would look like, would the number 1 SF prospect want to go to Miami, would the number 1 Center prospect want to go to Orlando? Even though those are warm weather destination cities I'd be shocked to see those players go there.

To create a league that sells competition requires some limits that balance talent and creates competition.  Problems arise when the parties break those limits, or perhaps in this case the intent of those limits.  Normally it would be called "cheating".

I'm not sure the that a league with at most 8 title contenders of it's 30 teams sells competition but rather that it sells greatness.

[snively]

I wouldnt wanna stay on the Nets either.

I still stand my by prediction. Howard and Dwill will both be wearing Mavs jerseys next season alongside Dirk.

How?  Even if they waive Odom and Carter and amnesty Haywood, they'll still have around $40 mil in salaries, buy-outs and cap holds.  One max there, not two.

I believe the idea is for Dwight and Deron to take slightly less than max deals like Wade, LeBron and Bosh did in Miami. They don't have enough available funds for two max contracts but they can create enough to make near-max offers (~~$15mil starting salary each).

Well, that would be quite a team if they did that.  Dallas & Miami the new Boston-LA?

[kgiessler]

Sure you can, you make teams off that staff which is what the NBA does.Hires the best chowder cooks and then splits them into teams for the cook-off.

I hope you see the conflict in the fact that your suggestion to create competition was to split up the talent into different teams.

[KCattheStripe]

Sure you can, you make teams off that staff which is what the NBA does.Hires the best chowder cooks and then splits them into teams for the cook-off.

I hope you see the conflict in the fact that your suggestion to create competition was to split up the talent into different teams.

Well, I was still dealing with the flawed concept that the NBA is somehow in the business of creating even competition, when it's not. It never has been. No sports league ever has. They are always in the business of selling athletic greatness. So your chowder cook off analogy is flawed because the NBA is not about an even competition, nor should it be. 30 even teams would be a terrible product.

[chambers]

I'll continue, not to mention it's essentially pretextual.  Given that the NBA's product is displays of competition, how exactly would some sort of player level collusion bring their product to new heights? 

It would do the exact opposite, bring their product to new lows. 

This is all based on opinion.
You're saying it brings it to new lows...
Anyone can argue that it brings it to new heights and once the playoffs and finals come around, the product is MUCH better for the viewing audience.

What gets the most ratings? Die hards like us want different things from basketball.
Casual fans want to watch the best players duke it out for the championship- the most athletic, skilled and gifted players on the planet.
It's great to see the under dog win, but rarely does it happen.
Imagine how good it would be to watch a Lakers team with Chris Paul and Kobe and Bynum and Gasol vs Bosh, Wade and Lebron in a 7 game finals series?

Again, one can argue that taking two/three studs and sticking them on one team creates a competitive streak in the NBA and ignites a new level of product at the top of the food chain.
Yes, the bottom dwellers do suffer but they will get their chance- that's what the draft is for. ie OKC, Memphis, Chicago.
As Celtics fans I don't think we can hate on the idea of stars ganging up to win a flag.
Lebron never stood a chance with that garbage roster that his terrible management glued together around him. What was he supposed to do?
What is Howard supposed to do when Otis Smith gets Turkoglu and Arenas and those other bums locked up for 3-4 years at a time with no cap room left?

I understand your sentiment but if you want the toughest competition in some aspects these super teams are the best way to achieve a great,exciting,unpredictable playoffs.

[FallGuy]

If I was one of the ten best in the world at my job, I'd want the ability to choose what city I lived in and with whom I worked.

[PosImpos]

There is no logical complaint or quarrel one can have with people who work in the same field wanting to work together to reach new heights in that field.

That is an absurd statement, especially given that you somehow consider it logical.

How about any industry or setting that thrives by creating competition?  For instance...sports.  But sports are not some unique exclusion.  You couldn't have a local chowder cook-off if everyone in the town that knew how to make chowder well worked in the same restaurant.

By your logic, why would there be a draft?  Or a salary cap?  Or even a team roster limit?  Those are all restrictions on "people who work in the same field wanting to work together to reach new heights in that field".

To create a league that sells competition requires some limits that balance talent and creates competition.  Problems arise when the parties break those limits, or perhaps in this case the intent of those limits.  Normally it would be called "cheating".

well put.