The TL;DR is, they can spend the cash to keep the team together. With all that in mind, don’t compare who is more competitive the baby Lakers vs Westbrook alone - even in the scenario Westbrook is probably more competitive team for the next 3 years - but rather compare the baby lakers vs Westbrook, Adams, Roberson & Melo. At that point it’s kind of a non argument over the next 2-3 years.
i was going to point this out (not in that level of detail), but yeah, the annual operating cost isn't as big a deal as it looks on the surface. i will say that ownership groups have definitely used this illusion to support spending cuts, however. it's possible that these folks are maximizers, who don't believe in operating at a whopping loss, equity be damned. of course, they can mitigate some of those losses with some strategic cuts. i generally agree that the finances aren't the issue people think. the greater hope is that okc looks far from competing with gs and houston, making joining la a relatively similar proposition in terms of winning.
svtr just ruined my entire summer. Well, if we don't get PG or any max player for that matter this free agency, wouldn't be the first time. Just another year as a fan. At least this time, there's this hope our young core can actually develop into something competitive. Haiiizzzzt... Sent from my E6533 using Tapatalk
Hahaha sorry my man! It’s not all doom and gloom. We have two max slots open, that’s alleviated a lot of the competitive issues we had. If any two max FA’s collude, we’re in the running. They can even trade the kids for a third established star. And LA certainly is an attractive place to play. Also Roberson going down in my opinion was the nail in OKC’s coffin in terms of competitiveness. I think the risks to us now are: - Lebron stays with Cleveland - Lebron signs elsewhere (HOU or SAS) - PG sticks with Russ because they are a great one two punch in this years playoffs and highly competitive. - No other FA being interested to jump over to us and therefore PG not wanting to waste his prime as an 8th seed with us We’ve done what we could - not a great deal is in our hands anymore until the FA meetings.
Yeah that was a lazy take on my part Either way the value of NBA teams are appreciating and the key determining factor for franchise value is market size and the ability to generate revenue. I mean, the Brooklyn Nets are valued at approximately double the value of OKC. Need I say more? Ownership groups aren't going to tolerate annual losses for the sake of winning a few more games. In other words, they aren't going to recoup a $150M swing in finances, either through short-term profit or equity by adding George. In their eyes it's just a bad business decision.
It's a well researched point, but I disagree with the premise that the cost won't matter because the ownership group has deep pockets. We've seen the results of those deep pockets: jettisoning Harden, losing Durant, losing Ibaka, not paying role players or moving them when they become too expensive. The money will absolutely come into play. The type of tax penalty they're looking at is basically paying 2x what the team is "worth". There is no investment strategy where that makes sense unless winning is all you care about, but a team that is willing to lose Harden and Durant doesn't care about just winning. When you can field a competitive team for 160 million, why would you spend 350 million? It's just bad business. Those rich guys didn't get rich by spending more money than they had to spend. If that were the case and they were willing to spend for a contender, they would have done it already. This team is in no way a greater contender than the one they just had. They may be willing to make that call, but they've shown no proof of that thus far and would be the very first to make that call for a team that's probably 3-4 in the West at any given moment. If they were going to be 1st in the West? Sure, let's consider it, but they're not.
PLANS. Before we know it, we'll be trading Kuz/Hart/BI out to get rid of a bad contract to yet again free up some space for incoming max player/s for some 2020s plan. 2018 FA should be about EXECUTION! By the way. I've just read an article saying PG had suddenly become the clear #1 option of OKC. I hope he goes to a shooting slump to end the regular season. Like a sub 20ppg scoring drought. Sent from my E6533 using Tapatalk
Got to go with @therealdeal on this one. All of the above OKC financial info was true when they cheaped their way out of a championship level team. Not every owner or ownership group has a Doc Buss type of yearning to win at all costs.
Clips? Not a chance in hell. I look at those other teams and they're all wearing name-tags with a bold "Round 1 exit" on it. Sent from my E6533 using Tapatalk
Help? Are you kidding me? If OKC don't make the playoffs, I'll start organizing the parade and party and everything else that needs to be done in welcoming PG. OKC in WCF, that's our PG farewell. Anything less means Welcome Home PG. Sent from my E6533 using Tapatalk
I like the idea of Kahwi coming home as well. PG is step 1 this FA. Nevermind LeBron. Let's keep developing the team. A 6th-8th seed finish would be fine in 2018-2019. Then step 2, sign Kahwi in 2019 FA. Drooling for the idea of Kahwi and PG playing defense. Should be ELITE! Sent from my E6533 using Tapatalk
