D-Day for labor negotiations. More than likely, owners will vote to lock players out today in Dallas. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com though has an excellent piece that unfortunately no one will listen to: “A split of revenues that addresses the owners’ losses and gives the players clout to win negotiating victories elsewhere — soft cap, guarantees, and getting a small percentage of profits from franchise sales set aside in a pension fund for retired players — would form the basis for determining the details of a system that would provide far more competitive balance and revenue growth than the league has ever seen. And despite the owners’ grandiose vision, it wouldn’t require pummeling the players with more than $8 billion in concessions in a 10-year deal.”
Nazr Mohammed’s one-year extension is for $3.75 million. A little more than I expected honestly. That’s about the same per year Thabo and Nick Collison make. Seems just a bit off.
Serge Ibaka says he fully intends to be in the Slam Dunk contest against next year.
Shoals with an interesting lockout take on The Goodmen Project: “We come to sports for entertainment, civic identity, escapism, and a host of other needs that our daily lives leave unfulfilled. I suppose that resenting multi-millionaires who fail to put up the requisite stats is part of that, but labor trouble falls outside of that love/hate dynamic. We’re used to balancing the tension between individuals and team success, wishing players well while wanting the best for the team. Scratch at the surface a little, though, and this off-season’s battle lines become painfully clear. Players and teams, or workers and employers, both inspire fondness and loyalty. The problem comes when we see athletes as wastrels, clogging up this delicate exchange of energies and priorities—professional, personal, and otherwise. But it’s the players, visible and easier to judge, who are both easier to love and easier to hate. The franchise, with its front office, owners, stakeholders, and impenetrable long-term plans, remains shielded.”
Henry Abbott of TrueHoop if the NBA season will start by Christmas: “Fact. I’d bet my house on it. The league is going gangbusters right now. The big play is to have the best ratings moving forward for better future TV deals. Missing games is very expensive in that regard, and demonizes those idle rich players — the same players the league needs to be likable as hell to inspire further growth.”
Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman: “In the midst of a hectic summer schedule that has included trips to all corners of the country, Durant said at his kids basketball camp on Wednesday that he forgot the league’s current collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of the day Thursday. “I lost track of time,” said Durant, the Thunder’s player union representative.”
I ranked the top 10 moments for the season. I couldn’t keep myself from including two Thunder moments.
Berry Tramel on the labor stuff: “But before we get too militant on demanding our basketball, let’s put on the wide-angle lens. An ownership victory in these labor negotiations would be good for Oklahoma City. A fundamental change in the NBA’s economic model would help the Thunder’s long-term viability.”
wow hickson for casspi and first rounder huh. Sacramento's scratching as hard as they can to sell tickets. They now have a heckuva young, talented starting four, but their skills and attitudes don't mesh at all. But I do think they'll get some burn on my league pass.
Speaking of which, with the lockout.. How much will they mark down League Pass? I should get a rebate for not getting to see summer league play or use my League Pass or NBATV at all this summer.
@ TempBoy Brandon
The best part of the starting 5 intro -- Serge's great monologue - "Serge Ibaka, I am from Congo." With the foreign dialect immediately paired with the Texas drawl of Perkins - "Kendrick Perkins, Beaumont Texas."
I don't think KD has any problems with endorsements
Nene would have been a great pick up as well. His value went up
Serge has been everywhere lately, first he's voted the best dressed at the draft, now he's in a rap video. Its only a matter of time before he starts dating a kardashian
PNT :@Steve H No state income tax is a big plus for certain teams (Texas and Florida that I know of).
Thunder players have a special state income tax exemption. I forget the bill number, nobody in that organization making more than about $1 million pays state income tax. Shhhhhhhhhh. Don't tell anybody.
@Steve H
I disagree about San Antonio. They have a lot more to offer IMO. And more importantly, they have one thing in common with OKC that Cleveland does not: the potential to compete for a championship. THAT is why they never have problems attracting and retaining talent.
On the previous thread, I talked about the fact that (because of the Perk trade) OKC is now a destination for any player seriously interested in getting a ring. But two years ago, there was simply no way OKC was going to attract top-tier talent via free agency. Now, the Thunder have a different problem: They are loaded with talent and can't offer big contacts to bigtime players and can't offer minutes to mid-level talent.
I still think it takes a certain type of player to want to come here. And there are not many of them. I mean, what better situation could Dwight Howard find himself in in terms of winning NOW? I know he can go wherever he wants, but is there a team that makes more sense than OKC? But does anyone actually think he would come here? No. Why? Well, because OKC is a small market with a small budget and few endorsement deals and pretty much nothing to do for a 20-something millionaire.
I don't have an issue with people liking it here. But it's just not Miami or NYC or L.A. Those cities will ALWAYS have their pick of the litter because they are more fun and lucrative.
@gr8ball83
You think so? In my head, every time he talks, all that comes out of his mouth is, "Serge Ibaka. I am from Congo."
@ Steve H
I agree San Antonio hasn't had any problems retaining talent, but what is the most significant FA acquisition they have had in the last 15 years??
@ TempBoy Brandon
you know he's gonna hold that over the other guys until they're in a video.... "yeah, you might have the KD4's coming out, but i was in lupe fiasco and trey songz video!!"
@Steve H
No state income tax is a big plus for certain teams (Texas and Florida that I know of).
Really surprised that Serge's cameo in the new Lupe Fiasco/Trey Songz video wasn't in the Bolts this morning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuyL2cwyFRc
Go to the 3:15 mark. Blink and you miss it, but still cool.
Steve H :
San Antonio has never had any trouble attracting or retaining talent, and I can’t think of a single thing SA has to offer that OKC doesn’t have.
Well, their river walk is a real river.
@ DSYIII
That's partly the case, but I think one of the reasons Presti has a "type" is because those players rarely bust. You're right in that we hit the jackpot multiple times but players with the work ethic and maturity that Presti requires are almost always going to work hard enough to reach their potential. Plus, making moves like Presti did at the trade deadline this year to field a team that makes sense, not just one with a bunch of good players, is what sets successful organizations like OKC and San Antonio apart from unsuccessful franchises.
It'd be funny if Cleveland signed Nene and Shannon Brown.
Bryan :I understand what you’re saying. But Cleveland and OKC share a similar hurdle: being undesireable cities for young millionaires. If they can’t get some quality players in the next couple of drafts and make some crafty trades, they will be stuck in mediocrity the forseeable future.
I have always thought the "not a desirable location" idea was vastly over blown. Players want to win, they want to get paid,and they want minutes. Those are about the only significant signing considerations IMO. San Antonio has never had any trouble attracting or retaining talent, and I can't think of a single thing SA has to offer that OKC doesn't have.
just got an email from the nba.com store, can they still sell player stuff during the lockout??
I think sacramento is trying to put together the most dysfunctional team this decade. I think we're about to see the phrase 'too many cooks in the kitchen' put into action this season in a highly entertaining way. (They have officially become a must-watch league pass team IMO)
Man Cleveland is seriously putting faith in Tristan Thompson being good. Hickson was a beast by the end of last season and to give up on him now after you wouldn't include him in trade for Amar'e is puzzling. Hickson next to Cousins could be scary.....
justin :JJ Hickson traded to Sacramento for Omri Casspi and a 1st round pick.
Whaaa??? My dream boats docking in Lake Erie??
The worst thing that could happen to Cleveland is for them to actually be a decent team next year.
Collison was one of the many player reps wearing a union "STAND" shirt to a meeting a week or so ago. So I take it he's involved.
I understand what you're saying. But Cleveland and OKC share a similar hurdle: being undesireable cities for young millionaires. If they can't get some quality players in the next couple of drafts and make some crafty trades, they will be stuck in mediocrity the forseeable future.
not trying to shoot down the notion that the building structure will be similar, but we got REALLY lucky with durant AND westbrook. I just have a hard time seeing them landing anyone on either of their levels before they propel themselves out of the top of the lottery. It'll be interesting to see how dan gilbert's desire to win a title soon coexists with the rebuilding plan
I'm suprised that KD is the OKC Players Union rep. I would have thought it would be someone like Nick. Not a good sign for the Players Union if one of the handful of guys that should care the most about union stuff forgot that today is the deadline.
....which is why they need another draft or two....
@ Bryan
Who's their superstar going to be again? The OKC method for success relies heavily on having one of the best players in the league to build around...
@Keith
If Cleveland is smart, they will get those kids in the starting lineup ASAP, let them suck it up for a while and get another year or two of good draft picks. Given the situation, I think Cleveland fans will stick with them and, in the end, the franchise will look a lot like OKC.
I think it would be difficult to judge who would be the better player for OKC, Nene, Perk, or Chandler. I guess I'd have to give a slight edge to Chandler because of his athleticism. He is at least as good a defender as Perk and anchors the D with vocal leadership. But Chandler can cover more ground and has better hands and the tools to finish at the other end. Nene seems like a wash to me. Clearly he is more athletic and far better than either of the other two on offense, but his defense leaves some to be desired.
I really didn't find myself regretting the Perk trade during either playoff series. So there's that.
Cleveland is really going to shove their young guys down their fans' throats it seems. Probably a good idea in the long run as it will get them more high picks.
Portland should'e taken Faried over Nolan Smith, no brainer given their frontcourt situation.
Nene isn't honestly a great defender or rebounder. He is far and away better than what we had pre-Perk, but probably not getting the team any closer than they are right now. Perk is younger and better at what he does (when healthy of course). An ideal frontcourt would have someone like Perk AND Nene, or multiple all-around players. Just one or the other is too close to call, but we certainly wouldn't have beaten Memphis with Green in the lineup.
The same J.J. Hickson they wouldn't put in a package for Amare? Oh, that was brilliant.
@ justin
Maybe I should clarify. I don't know him personally or anything, I read a lot over at Denver stiffs during the series and posters talked a lot about how he goes through these cycles where he gets knocked down and it takes a very long time for him to get up again. He just quits on people in the mean time. He is, however, great for the community and people generally admire him. Maybe I meant to say he is not a "complete" Presti player.
Going back to the PDX discussion (since I missed it yesterday), I think as currently constructed they're a borderline playoff team. Their lineup is ridiculous and they have no GM in place to plot a course to better roster balance. Look at their bigs: Lamarcus Aldridge, Marcus Camby (who fell off a cliff at the end of the year) and D-league call-up Chris Johnson. That's it. And it's not like their guard rotation is bursting at the seams especially since it's unclear how often/well Brandon Roy will be able to play. Felton is not better than Miller, or at least he wasn't last year.
Lamarcus Aldridge beasted for the last 3 or so months of the reg season, but he got a bit passive and jump-shot happy again in the playoffs. Gerald Wallace played very well after the trade, but health is always an issue for him. For them to make any noise this season, they'll need both to play extremely well and for Oden to come back and contribute.
JJ Hickson traded to Sacramento for Omri Casspi and a 1st round pick.
Nene's a great guy, how is he not a Presti-type player? The dude fought back from ACL surgery and cancer to have a great career.
@ sammasaaron
Nene is not very vocal, but he is not a Presti-type player. He is not going to implode on you but he is also going to put in less than his maximum effort...especially after he gets overpaid this offseason.
@ Bryan
Not to mention that Perkins was a Presti-type player before anyone knew what a Prest-type player was. Not sure where Nene fits in that category.
@Perkins Game Face
Yeah, I'm pretty sure we played that what-if game already. I'm pretty sure the Thunder would have made a first round exit in the playoffs, thus diminishing the possibility that they could even get a player like Nene in free agency. But, whatever.
Thanks to that trade (which made the Thunder better simply by removing the two most troublesome players), the Thunder got better and is now a destination for any player seeking a ring! Thanks again, Presti.
Green got extended the QO.
I hope the lockout ends quickly, but with a lower, firmer salary cap situation. If Dallas, L.A. and Denver can't keep their rotations intact, that would be wonderful.
I wonder what's on Nene's mind. I hope he wants to head East! Chandler too!
Was Zach Lowe trying to start an argument on this board by tweeting today this hypothetical "What if the Thunder had never dealt for Perk, let Green walk and made a run at Nene?" This has been talked about already right?.....
I can't imagine NBA owners would want to squander the ratings momentum they have right now. It was a story book season. Surely they want to take advantage of that.
Lockout goes all of July and August. Deal done late September or early October.
@ justin
agreed. any guesses on lockout length?
Nazr got more money for taking a one year deal, IMO.