Monday Bolts – 11.28.11
Zach Lowe of SI.com on how the new system affects OKC: “Can this team afford Kevin Durant, James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Russell Westbrook under the new system? Wouldn’t it be appropriate if changes, including a super-harsh luxury tax, designed to limit big-market spending ended up costing the small-market Thunder a piece of their four-man core? The conventional wisdom says Oklahoma City can’t afford to add big-money extensions for Westbrook (a restricted free agent after this season) and the Harden/Ibaka duo (each a year behind Westbrook) because such moves would tie between $50 million and $60 million (as the deals mature) to just four players. Fill out the roster, and you’ll cross the tax line– something a tiny-market team can’t do, the thinking goes. But the tax and cap lines will rise if revenue jumps as the league expects, and if that happens, it’s possible the Thunder could be the San Antonio of the 2010s — only with four highly-paid players, instead of three, flanked by guys on bargain-basement deals. And remember: This question gets at profitability and revenue sharing, from which the Thunder should benefit.”
Michael Wilbon on Christmas kicking off the NBA: “The NBA’s fans don’t even want parity; they want the big stars in the game at that moment (mostly in big markets) dominating the sport. That’s always been what’s worked for the NBA, with an interruption every now and then by Portland (Bill Walton) or Milwaukee (Kareem) or Oklahoma City (Kevin Durant). (Let’s leave San Antonio, with David Robinson and Tim Duncan and all manner of international stars like Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, out of this discussion.)”
Bob Sansevere of Twin Cities is the first to writes a “who cares?” column about the lockout: “Gone With the Wind” was playing on the AMC network Saturday morning. Upon hearing that the NBA lockout likely was ending, my reaction was similar to Rhett Butler’s at the end of the movie: “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” End the lockout. Keep it going. Most of the planet doesn’t care, including my little nook of it. It’s difficult to become passionate and take sides in a battle between rich men and richer men. Do you know why there never was an Occupy the NBA movement? It’s because so few people cared.”
Darnell Mayberry on OKC during free agency: “A popular free agent among Thunder fans has been Shane Battier, a defensive difference-maker who helped Memphis give Kevin Durant fits in the playoffs. But Battier fits the bill as a player who could be too costly and is nearly a clone of a current Thunder player, shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha. While Battier is a better perimeter shooter, Sefolosha is younger, possesses the franchise’s “corporate knowledge” and, most importantly, already is signed to a relatively budget-friendly deal that pays him less than $4 million in each of the next three seasons. Sorry, Battier seekers.”
OKC’s cap breakdown from Blazers Edge: “They are committed to $53,316,629 for 13 guaranteed players (Durant, Perkins, Westbrook, Harden, Robinson, Mohammed, Sefolosha, Collison, Aldrich, Maynor, Mullens, Ibaka and Ivey) and have an additional $788,872 on the books for one un-guaranteed player (Vaden). Oklahoma City is another team that will probably not make many (if any) major moves during this free agent period simply because their roster is basically set. After they sign 1st round pick Reggie Jackson (does this mean that the Reggie candy bar will be making a comeback?), the Thunder will be at 15 players. They could waive Robert Vaden and his non-guaranteed contract to either sign restricted free agent Daequan Cook or another free agent, but I don’t expect any blockbuster signings by the Thunder.”
KD could win big with this new CBA, via Chad Ford: “Real winner of new CBA? @KDTrey5 Under old rules he earns $13.6 million this year. Under new rules he earns $16.3 million. Difference between 25 percent and 30 percent of cap.” That’s in reference to this, but it isn’t quite known whether a player already under a max deal counts.
Chad Ford of ESPN.com his top 20 free agents: “Battier remains a non-stat All-Star with a terrific basketball IQ, but his effectiveness as a defender is beginning to wane. He filled in admirably for the Grizzlies when Rudy Gay went down with an injury last season, but with the team on the hook to pay Marc Gasol, where will the money come from to keep Battier too? Look for both the Thunder and Clippers to make a strong run at him. Both are young teams that would value his veteran leadership.”
James Harden on the new deal: “I feel like I just got drafted again,” Harden said. “I’m just excited. It’s a sigh of relief and now it’s time to get to work.”
Kevin Arnovitz on the new CBA and competitive balance: “Yes, the Thunder have some built-in advantages. A publicly-funded $120 million renovation to their arena — along with the construction of a practice facility — provided the franchise with a solid foundation in Oklahoma City. Voters even approved a one-cent sales tax increase. General manager Sam Presti has drafted and managed the roster impeccably. If the Thunder can translate that sound management into a Larry O’Brien trophy, it will serve as further evidence that small-market teams can prosper if they do the right things. That, in turn, could make competitive balance an antiquated notion.”