I've had just about enough of owners, reporters and all manner of talking heads declaring that the NBA?pocalypse is upon us due to players "just now" discovering that they are able to force their way onto any franchise they want, with any friends they want and get as much money as they want.
Let's get a few things straight. First: free agency. Unrestricted free agency at the conclusion of every player's contract was established in 1996, with an inaugural class that included Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton, Juwan Howard and many more. These are some of the best players ever. Guess what they did with their newfound power. Signed with whatever team they felt like. Sound familiar?
Jordan obviously re?signed with Chicago, with which he had won a championship the season before and would go on to win two more. He signed a one?year contract, because - oh, I'm just guessing here - he felt comfortable there, owner Jerry Reinsdorf was paying him enough to buy any other franchise and he thought the team gave him the best chance of stroking his trophy?fueled ego.
Shaq signed with the Lakers because Los Angeles was the only city built to handle his personality, he wanted to be a genie in a movie and probably wanted to chill with Jack Nicholson. He didn't feel like staying in Orlando with a bunch of scrubs and thought purple and gold would nicely complement his eye color and Superman tattoo.
LeBron James decided to play copycat this past summer, and while I have not and will not ever condone his fated "Decision" program, I have no problem with his actual choice. He looked around and saw Miami would let him play with a bunch of buddies from Team USA, build a mansion on a beach and generally live a superstar lifestyle while being on a competitive team. Sounds like a viable alternative to Cleveland, otherwise known as the pit of all sports despair. Think of it like your housing decision going into sophomore year - another sad, lonely year in a South Hall single because of "dorm loyalty" or a year in Hillsides with a bunch of sweet friends, more freedom and faster Pizza Days delivery. Easy.
Second thing that needs to be cleared up: trades. Carmelo Anthony forced his way out of Denver? What, by having one of his best all?around seasons as a Nugget? Yeah, he said he wanted to play in New York a couple of times and might have not have signed the contract extension offered to him. But seriously, Denver's rookie general manager got nervous, didn't want to lose 'Melo for nothing this summer, thought his team's glorious chemistry would be disrupted if he didn't trade him and just generally panicked. 'Melo can say whatever he wants, but the GM pulls the trigger. Basketball is a business, and it is solely a GM's prerogative (and owner's, in the case of Mark Cuban) when a player is traded. When it's finally the player's turn to be in control during free agency, we shouldn't criticize him acting in his self?interest - it's natural.
And finally, my favorite line from the masses: "With all of these high?profile moves, there is no more parity in the NBA!" Like there was before? Two teams - the Lakers and Spurs - have combined to win nine of the past 12 championships. The Lakers and Celtics have combined to win 33 of 64 possible NBA championships ever. Sounds like the definition of parity.
More significantly than any one player, seven coaches have combined to win the last 24 titles. How many rings does Carmelo have? I'd trade for Gregg Popovich before any player in the league, but that's just me.
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