NBA Season 2011-12 Thread

[lexbur]

There was still the fun of flipping on the game and watching on any given night.

Yeah, and Thursday nights don't seem the same without Ernie, Kenny, and Charles.

[wco81]

So looks like there will be a season after all.

And it looks like the players ate s*** to have a season, with BRI around 51%.

Stern and the other NBA brass said the luxury tax will be stiffer so that there's going to be more parity in the league. Will believe it when I see it. If he really wants more parity, he could start by not using the officiating to tilt games in favor of certain teams.

He has to talk about parity in order to maintain the 30-team league, despite several of the teams struggling and moving among smaller markets in recent years -- far more franchise movement than the NFL or MLB. But a number of teams will only be able to win 20-30 games every year and those teams will struggle for viability.

Ironically, the players trying to hold to soft-cap rules may ultimately hurt their job security. Big-spending teams will give out max contracts, which is good for a dozen or so superstars. But that system maintains the competitive imbalance, which makes contraction more likely, resulting in fewer jobs.

Oh and it looks like Stephen A. Smith is back?

[pk500]

As someone for whom the NBA fire was rekindled last year after 17 years of ash and quiet, charred wood, I'm just glad pro hoops is back.

I respect your opinion and knowledge, WCO. I don't know enough about the labor strife brewing over the last few years to deduce which side won more spoils in the deal. I'm just glad we'll see games on Christmas Day, especially the Knicks!

[Rodster]

I'm pretty much in PK's situation. I quit following the NBA since the late 80's early 90's. The Big 3 in Miami changed that for me and especially Blake Griffin making his rookie debut last year and the feel good story of Dirk and Dallas winning the NBA Title against the Heat. I was bummed that all the excitement and interest this brought the NBA last year was being pissed on by the Lockout.

So yes i'm stoked that the NBA is back so I can watch more Blake Griffin monster dunk highlights and the Big 3 on their quest for their first NBA Title.

[wco81]

Well the Big 3 alienated a lot of fans outside of Miami and some of the negotiations were based on trying to prevent a similar situation from happening again.

But in the first 2 years, there are loopholes so that Chris Paul and Howard and some of the other big free agents in the next two years can go to the big market clubs.

Again, NBA will talk up competitive balance but they don't really want it, neither the owners nor the players.

[Rodster]

Well the Big 3 alienated a lot of fans outside of Miami and some of the negotiations were based on trying to prevent a similar situation from happening again.

But in the first 2 years, there are loopholes so that Chris Paul and Howard and some of the other big free agents in the next two years can go to the big market clubs.

Again, NBA will talk up competitive balance but they don't really want it, neither the owners nor the players.

I have never blamed the players for this mess as IMO it's on the owners. If they are stupid enough to pay and throw lots of money at a particular player, it's his business and you can't blame the player for accepting the money.

Sure The Big 3 alienated many outside of Miami but don't tell me the NBA did not love that scenario? Look at how it pumped up interest around the league so as to see them fail. Hell even here in Miami, The Big 3 caused Condo prices and purchases to pickup because people from Latin America wanted to see them play.

Also the Heat caused the league to change it's strategy as we saw Melo and other moves being made to counter the Heat. That all added to the interest in the NBA last year. I do think there are way too many teams and some sort of contraction so be considered moving forward.

[greggsand]

"The Big 3" did wonders for the NBA. Fans finally had some true "villains" to root against. Anyway, the Heat made out like bandits with the new CBA:

http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamihe ... ike-miller

[Diablo25]

Looks like Paul is heading to the Lakers. Wow.
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/stor ... ources-say

[pk500]

Tyson Chandler probably going to the Knicks, too.

Rumor was the Knicks offered Amare to New Orleans for Paul. As a Knicks' fan, I'd rather have a "Big Three" of Paul, Chandler and 'Melo than Paul, Amare and 'Melo. Amare and 'Melo are somewhat redundant players, pure scorers. The ball isn't big enough for both.

But adding Chandler to 'Melo and Amare still improves the Knicks, even if they need to dump Billups to afford Chandler. Toney Douglas running the point scares me a bit, but all he needs to do is feed the three stars inside and pop the occasional three.

This is going to be a fun week for the NBA with all the deals. Free agency bazaar!

[wco81]

Not sure how Paul helps the Lakers if they have to give up Gasol and Odom.

Unless they plan to take a run at Howard too, but then they probably need to give up Bynum. Will Orlando just trade Howard for Bynum or would they have demanded Odom too?

Anyways, these deals stink of the 2-year loophole in the new deal. They put in these loopholes for big market teams and teams over the cap to go after the free agent class of 2012.

So much for competitive balance.

[greggsand]

The owners killed the deal. talk about conflict of interest!! The NBA OWNS the Hornets!!!

[pk500]

The owners killed the deal. talk about conflict of interest!! The NBA OWNS the Hornets!!!

This could set an ugly precedent with the Hornets. If L.A. is too star-studded for the owners' liking, then Paul sure as hell isn't going to the Knicks, either.

How the hell can the other owners force Paul to free agency? Can't the NBA operate like any other franchise owner, trying to do what's best for the team? I'd rather get Odom for Paul than lose CP3 for nothing to free agency if I owned the team.

CP3, welcome to Milwaukee.

[wco81]

Deal may still happen. If Paul or Howard says they're only going to sign their next contracts with the Lakers, those small market teams may have no choice.

It's amazing how small market clubs just feed the Lakers key players to build them championships. I think the old New Orleans Jazz gave the Lakers the pick which turned out to be Magic for a now long forgotten Gail Goodrich.

Then Orlando lost Shaq to the Lakers for nothing and now faces the same thing happening with Howard.

Of course the Grizzlies gave Gasol away too.

Oh well, it's good for the league when the Lakers win. If the league is Lakers and Celtics and a couple of other contenders and the rest of the teams are just feeder clubs.

[Lancer]

The NBA is always like that. Remember the Bird Celtics era. Teams like Pho would give the Celts guys like DJ for nothing. Remember Bowie Kuhn in MLB when he was Commish? I think that ranks up there.

[dbdynsty25]

This could set an ugly precedent with the Hornets. If L.A. is too star-studded for the owners' liking, then Paul sure as hell isn't going to the Knicks, either.

I have a feeling it's the other way around. They didn't want the Lakers to give up as much as they did. Stern doesn't want one of his marquee franchises hurt by a trade. Hornets got a HAUL from the Lakers and Rockets...if it was nixed for basketball reasons, those reasons were in LA not in NO. This really pisses me off.

He ain't going to the Knicks anyway...the Knicks wouldn't do Stat like that. At least I hope not...he brought the NBA back to NY...at least the fans anyway. Melo was just icing last year.

[wco81]

Knicks gave Tyson Chandler $60 million for 4 years.

So do they have cap room for Paul? Of course not but luxury tax isn't going to stop them if they really want him bad enough.

Someone at OS said Paul is refusing to report to Hornets training camp, presumably because the trade was nixed?

Oh and the theory about the Lakers giving up Gasol and Odom is that they expect to end up with both Howard and Paul.

[dbdynsty25]

Oh and the theory about the Lakers giving up Gasol and Odom is that they expect to end up with both Howard and Paul.

The Magic would never trade for Bynum straight up, so that theory is ridiculous and pretty much impossible. They would need A LOT of help if that was to happen.

[wco81]

Lakers got Gasol for Kwamme. They have a history of being on the long end of lopsided trades.

But if Howard, who supposedly wants to do movies, the same as Shaq, tells the Magic that he will only sign with the Lakers, Orlando may not have much pickings.

[greggsand]

The owners killed the deal. talk about conflict of interest!! The NBA OWNS the Hornets!!!

This could set an ugly precedent with the Hornets. If L.A. is too star-studded for the owners' liking, then Paul sure as hell isn't going to the Knicks, either.

Exactly. What a horrible move & bad "look" for the NBA. Like Jim Rome said on Twitter: It's not like the Lakers traded a ball rack for CP3.

The media was wondering if this even made the Lakers better much less a "steal". UGLY!!!!!!!

[icvu42]

Tyson Chandler probably going to the Knicks, too.

Rumor was the Knicks offered Amare to New Orleans for Paul. As a Knicks' fan, I'd rather have a "Big Three" of Paul, Chandler and 'Melo than Paul, Amare and 'Melo. Amare and 'Melo are somewhat redundant players, pure scorers. The ball isn't big enough for both.

I saw this story yesterday and was a bit shocked. Wouldn't Amare have a no trade clause in that big contract he signed last year? I couldn't imagine he would approve of that.

Rick

[EZSnappin]

Tyson Chandler probably going to the Knicks, too.

Rumor was the Knicks offered Amare to New Orleans for Paul. As a Knicks' fan, I'd rather have a "Big Three" of Paul, Chandler and 'Melo than Paul, Amare and 'Melo. Amare and 'Melo are somewhat redundant players, pure scorers. The ball isn't big enough for both.

I saw this story yesterday and was a bit shocked. Wouldn't Amare have a no trade clause in that big contract he signed last year? I couldn't imagine he would approve of that.

Rick

Only player in the league with a no trade clause is Kobe. Under old CBA, that clause was not allowable in a contract unless you had a certain number of years with one team. I have no idea if that is true under new CBA. I would think so, or they might have eliminated it altogether.

[pk500]

Knicks gave Tyson Chandler $60 million for 4 years.

So do they have cap room for Paul? Of course not but luxury tax isn't going to stop them if they really want him bad enough.

The Stat-for-Paul deal could be back in play.

As a Knicks' fan, I'd accept that deal despite the PR collateral damage. DB makes a damn good point: Stat put Knicks' basketball back on the radar last season, signing with New York as a free agent when it wasn't fashionable.

P.S.: Why doesn't every pro sports league condense its free-agency signing period into a week to 10 days, like the NFL and NBA were forced to this year because of their respective lockouts? This is like a fantasy draft -- but real! Seriously, I can't recall more pure fun over a free-agent signing period than this August in the NFL and right now in the NBA.

[jLp vAkEr0]

Whatever keeps the Paul-Rondo swap alive is happy news to me.

[icvu42]

Just read that the 3 teams are appealing the decision of the trade veto.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/73350 ... ources-say

So assuming the Knicks sign Chandler, keep Amare and dump Billups, who is available for them to be their PG?

Rick

[pk500]

Just read that the 3 teams are appealing the decision of the trade veto.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/73350 ... ources-say

So assuming the Knicks sign Chandler, keep Amare and dump Billups, who is available for them to be their PG?

Rick

Toney Douglas, with Andy Rautins as a very shaky backup.