Durant

Shorter contracts.

Celtics big 3.

Agreed.

The Celtics forced LeBron to take his talents to South Beach because he knew he couldn’t beat them anytime soon in Cleveland.

The Big 3 winning right before the 08 Olympics + reduced contract length (by owner design) + big salary jump (for the Warriors). 

You could add that recent generations are the first to really grow up in the same general community. They've known each other and interacted a lot more pre-NBA that past generations of stars.

There have always been super teams in the NBA and personally I think I like that.

I think it sort of lulled during the 90s/00s but the 08 Cs sort of ushered it back (albeit or via trades). LeBron took it to next level via FA and we are seeing that trend sort of continue now.

I think the max contract will be an issue looked at in the next CBA negotiations.

Celtics big 3.

which version?  Bird/Parish/McHale or Pierce/Garnett/Allen.  of course, now they might have four and be on the verge of a superteam in Kyrie/Tatum/Brown/Hayward

Agreed. Assuming there were no max contracts, elite players would receive offers for let's say 50+ million a year. It would be far more difficult (if not practically impossible) for big market teams to sign 3 all stars in their prime via free agency. Consequently, it would be easier for small market teams to retain their star players.

Chances are that LeBron would have never joined the Heat. KD couldn't have possibly joined the Warriors. Pretty much every team around the league would have had an all-star caliber player. Instead of watching the Warriors and the Cavs playing in the Finals 4 years in a row, there would be plenty of teams competing for the title.

Quote from: GreenEnvy on June 28, 2018, 01:31:33 PM

Quote from: apc on June 28, 2018, 12:49:21 PM

Celtics big 3.

Agreed.

The Celtics forced LeBron to take his talents to South Beach because he knew he couldn’t beat them anytime soon in Cleveland.

But what if PP, KG and Ray were each getting paid 40%-50% of the cap? There would have been no way for the C's to create the big 3, hence LeBron would have had a realistic chance of winning the title at Cleveland.

The reason for the super team was the Celtics. Ainge played within the rules and so did everyone else (Heat maybe not lol). If you want to change the rules, that’s another story.

I don’t think our big three would have required max contracts. They were past their primes and already got their mega-contracts. IIRC, they all took less to stay together. If they were all 26 years old when brought together, yeah, it could have been a different story.

But the NBA is heading down that path, where you are going to see teams in a few years having to pay multiple players $40M+ and getting hammered in luxury tax. If owners are willing to do that, so be it.

I think on the draft ESPN said the Warriors team will cost their owner over $325 million in two seasons if they stay together. The new supermax and the repeater tax are all steps the league is taking to try to reduce the chance of superteams.

You can’t just announce a hard cap either. One could be discussed on the next CBA, but would have to be introduced the season after the longest current contract is signed through.