This simply underscores the REAL reasons behind the lockout

This began as a comment but it grew out of control. The good news is while it sort was inspired by the recent trade attempt, this isn't a thread about Chris Paul. But I feel the need to talk about the smokescreen laid out by the NBA this summer.


The lockout was never about the Players vs the Owners as much as it was Big Owners vs Small Owners.

The Players were simply a pawn in the talks. There is a wave of new NBA Owners over the past handful of years and these guys are strict businessmen. They could give a fuck about th basketball side of things. They like the asset of owning a pro hoops team. This lockout was about them securing guaranteed profit. Call it a bailout of their past mistakes in handing out big contracts to flawed players. If you look at the details and the "system issues" it was so clearly about these guys not taking ANY responsibility for how they ran their teams in the past. This was their "do-over" and they knew they could run with the PR move of calling the Players greedy and spoiled. So they did and for the most part, much of the public rolled with it too. This block of owners will never understand that Cleveland, Portland, Charlotte, and Milwaukee will NEVER be more desirable than the natural allure of LA and NY and Chicago. It just won't. And that's fine. And these guys act like they are broke. It's the fucking opposite. They have money but they choose NOT to spend it. Their decision.

They essentially admit this too. As long as the Lakers (or another big market team like NY, Chicago, etc.) this trade was dead in the water. So Dan Gilbert complained about he Lakers taking all the best players. Well... were the Cavs even in talks with New Orleans? Was Charlotte? How about Washington, Portland, Phoenix, Milwaukee or any of the other small markets out there? No. They. Weren't.
And it doesn't matter in the least if Paul told NO where he wanted to go. If the Bucks and Trailblazers made a good enough offer, New Orleans would fuckng jump. The FACT is, this idea of "competitive balance" is a bullshit politcal term.
You cannot FORCE a league into competitive balance. Not while each team has a different owner. The salary cap is in place and that is enough. Yes, the Lakers end up with an incredible back court... buuutttt they're frontcourt is shit and they are out of money. THEIR PROBLEM. And if they traded Bynum to get Howard? Great for them! Frontcourt is STILL weak. Howard cant hit FTs and only has 6 fouls to use.

The sad thing about this is how the new owners have the answer already in their pockets. There is a small market team out there that understood their place and figured out that money isn't the only way to entice a player. They figured out you can build a team without just trading for the biggest stars. They figured out that you can keep a player if you pay him fairly and surround him with the right coaches and good teammates. You put together a cast who can win and can improve and you involve your franchise piece in each step. You make them feel loved and respected and you show them your committment to winning.
Everyone should already know the team I am talking about because it worked for them on their way to multiple championships and a dynasty of their own. I'm talking about the San Antonio Spurs. San Antonio is STILL riding that wave today too. They maintained their core, kept their coaching staff in place and have spent money on scouting to help tweak their teams over the years. They were already winning when they won the lottery for Tim Duncan. And even that one draft choice wasn't the only reason they won. They just made good decisions. And they are STILL a small market team. San Antonio competes with NY and LA and Chicago and Boston on the court with their talent and off the court by caring for their players the way those big cities cannot. They also found the right players and not simply the most popular ones.

Instead of antagonizing the largest market teams, these smaller teams ought to be copying San Antonio's model.

Let Chris Paul join the Lakers. It guarantees LA nothing but high ticket prices. Our Knicks have no guarantees even with Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. You still have to play the games and we all saw how that went with Miami and Dallas last season. Chemistry can defeat talent. Dell Demps knows this. Dan Gilbert does not. And watch closely how they handle Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson. Watch how Minnesota treats Kevin Love, Derrick Williams and Ricky Rubio. Look at Portland's team too. When these guys stop trying to control everyone else's teams and just worry about building their own, the NBA will get it's competitive balance.