The 2013 NBA Free Agency Thread

Nivek · Post #1186 » by **Nivek** » Mon Aug 26, 2013 1:47 pm

It's sorta interesting (to me at least) to consider what business Leonsis thinks Monumental Sports & Entertainment is in. My feeling based on Monumental's stated values and the way his teams operate is that he views it more as an entertainment enterprise designed to attract fans to their various venues, visitors to the various team websites and viewers to the TV -- and less as a competitive enterprise where team competes against team for players, coaches and managers and seek to win championships.

If my supposition is correct (and I'm not certain that it is), it suggests that his goals for his teams are to be good enough to attract fan attention and generate profits. Opposing teams in this construct are partners as much as competitors. To an owner who thinks like this, winning a championship would be nice if everything falls his teams way (if they get lucky), but it's a fairly unrealistic goal. Meanwhile, it's fairly easy to be "decent" enough to keep fan interest and be profitable.

Post #1187 » by **Ruzious** » Mon Aug 26, 2013 2:14 pm

Nivek wrote:It's sorta interesting (to me at least) to consider what business Leonsis thinks Monumental Sports & Entertainment is in. My feeling based on Monumental's stated values and the way his teams operate is that he views it more as an entertainment enterprise designed to attract fans to their various venues, visitors to the various team websites and viewers to the TV -- and less as a competitive enterprise where team competes against team for players, coaches and managers and seek to win championships.

If my supposition is correct (and I'm not certain that it is), it suggests that his goals for his teams are to be good enough to attract fan attention and generate profits. Opposing teams in this construct are partners as much as competitors. To an owner who thinks like this, winning a championship would be nice if everything falls his teams way (if they get lucky), but it's a fairly unrealistic goal. Meanwhile, it's fairly easy to be "decent" enough to keep fan interest and be profitable.

That's the impression that I got from comments he's made over the past couple of years. Before he bought the Wizards, I think he was very differently focused with the Caps and was primarily motivated by winning and making them a great hockey organization. Somewhere along the way, becoming a successful giant organization focussed on entertainment became his passion - rather than trying to build championships.

Dat2U · Post #1188 » by **Dat2U** » Mon Aug 26, 2013 3:32 pm

Nivek wrote:It's sorta interesting (to me at least) to consider what business Leonsis thinks Monumental Sports & Entertainment is in. My feeling based on Monumental's stated values and the way his teams operate is that he views it more as an entertainment enterprise designed to attract fans to their various venues, visitors to the various team websites and viewers to the TV -- and less as a competitive enterprise where team competes against team for players, coaches and managers and seek to win championships.

If my supposition is correct (and I'm not certain that it is), it suggests that his goals for his teams are to be good enough to attract fan attention and generate profits. Opposing teams in this construct are partners as much as competitors. To an owner who thinks like this, winning a championship would be nice if everything falls his teams way (if they get lucky), but it's a fairly unrealistic goal. Meanwhile, it's fairly easy to be "decent" enough to keep fan interest and be profitable.

What I've noticed about Ted is that he's going to do it his way. I think he likes to prove people wrong, even if there's evidence to the contrary. He's refused to fire George McPhee or Ernie Grunfeld although he's had plenty of reason to do so. I almost believe he's kept both in spite of public opinion because he believes that anyone can succeed under his leadership if they follow his vision. GMGM & GMEG are both yes men who've earned the trust of Ted over the years so neither is going anywhere unless they violate that trust or the situation gets so untenable that Ted has no other choice.

pancakes3 · Post #1189 » by **pancakes3** » Tue Aug 27, 2013 12:06 pm

If we didn't already have a glut of forwards, and signed Al Harrington, I'd totally sign Lamar Odom for the vet min.

payitforward · Post #1190 » by **payitforward** » Tue Aug 27, 2013 1:12 pm

Nivek wrote:It's sorta interesting (to me at least) to consider what business Leonsis thinks Monumental Sports & Entertainment is in. My feeling based on Monumental's stated values and the way his teams operate is that he views it more as an entertainment enterprise designed to attract fans to their various venues, visitors to the various team websites and viewers to the TV -- and less as a competitive enterprise where team competes against team for players, coaches and managers and seek to win championships.

If my supposition is correct (and I'm not certain that it is), it suggests that his goals for his teams are to be good enough to attract fan attention and generate profits. Opposing teams in this construct are partners as much as competitors. To an owner who thinks like this, winning a championship would be nice if everything falls his teams way (if they get lucky), but it's a fairly unrealistic goal. Meanwhile, it's fairly easy to be "decent" enough to keep fan interest and be profitable.

Certainly it's an entertainment enterprise. This doesn't rule out an interest -- even a strong interest -- in his teams' competitive excellence, but that's not the center of the enterprise.

How important winning really is will surely depend on how important it is to "attract(ing) fans to ...venues" etc. -- because the goal is not to "generate profits"; it's to maximize profits! (which is only sensible; it's how you run a business) That goal is not necessarily in conflict with the desire to win titles -- if anything it's helpful. But, again, the latter is essentially a means to the former.

As much money as Ted Leonsis has, you would expect him to be more like Mark Cuban -- to identify personally with his team's success, its competitiveness. But, that doesn't seem to be Ted's nature.

Maybe, in part, it's because Monumental comprises more than one team, and this might explain someone else's remark that earlier he was more focused on the Caps' success. Back then, there was no Monumental, and he didn't have an active role in the Wizards or in running the stadium.

verbal8 · Post #1191 » by **verbal8** » Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:30 pm

pancakes3 wrote:If we didn't already have a glut of forwards, and signed Al Harrington, I'd totally sign Lamar Odom for the vet min.

On a career basis Odom is a lot better. However over the last 2 years their production has been pretty similar. Both had one disastrous season and one mediocre one.

Post #1192 » by **montestewart** » Wed Aug 28, 2013 2:57 am

verbal8 wrote:
pancakes3 wrote:If we didn't already have a glut of forwards, and signed Al Harrington, I'd totally sign Lamar Odom for the vet min.

On a career basis Odom is a lot better. However over the last 2 years their production has been pretty similar. Both had one disastrous season and one mediocre one.

It might be a false impression, but my impression has been he's had a lot of off court distractions and issues recently.

Kanyewest · Post #1193 » by **Kanyewest** » Thu Aug 29, 2013 4:13 am

montestewart wrote:
verbal8 wrote:
pancakes3 wrote:If we didn't already have a glut of forwards, and signed Al Harrington, I'd totally sign Lamar Odom for the vet min.

On a career basis Odom is a lot better. However over the last 2 years their production has been pretty similar. Both had one disastrous season and one mediocre one.

It might be a false impression, but my impression has been he's had a lot of off court distractions and issues recently.

Yup.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/stor ... lem-source

hands11 · Post #1194 » by **hands11** » Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:14 pm

Wow. Surprised to read so much Tea Leaf reading from a Ted statement.

As for his goals. I don't see them as different then most owners.

Not that they all go about it exactly the same way. Some have a burning desire to win now. Some have deeper pockets. A handful are probably content to sit back and just make money. There are owners that are unwilling to ever go over the cap. But most are involved in making decisions. They are smart people with lots of money and they own a business. Of course they are going to have their hands in things.

But it is a franchise. They are all investors in the system and a product. I think the new CBA will help level the playing field more.. even though you still have teams like Brooklyn who will just spend spend spend. Some people have sick money.

How much of it is a business vs how much of it is just get a ring probably has a lot to do with how much money the individual owner has and what other pockets they have their hands in. Some deep pocket owner want a ring as a bad of honor. It gets them exposure. They all have egos. But the majority are probably in it to make money first and foremost. Winning raises the franchise value. They are in it for a combination of reasons, but money is a big part.

So how many owner are their out their that just want to win at any cost and don't want to be involved in the decision ?

pancakes3 · Post #1195 » by **pancakes3** » Wed Sep 4, 2013 11:10 pm

If real life was a movie, Lamar Odom and Michael Beasley would come to DC and John Wall will have a "Like Mike" effect on those two en route to a championship (and learn about a different ship along the way. Friendship). There would be 5 musical numbers scored by Sir Elton John, and Ernie would be a talking woodchuck who tidies the Verizon Center before games with his woodland pals. Helen Mirren plays Irene and has a tasteful nude scene.

Ed Wood directs. Our Ed Wood.

DCZards · Post #1196 » by **DCZards** » Thu Sep 5, 2013 2:00 am

Great post, pancakes.

Post #1197 » by **LyricalRico** » Thu Sep 5, 2013 3:47 pm

WizardsWorld · Post #1198 » by **WizardsWorld** » Sat Sep 7, 2013 9:38 am

pancakes3 wrote:If we didn't already have a glut of forwards, and signed Al Harrington, I'd totally sign Lamar Odom for the vet min.

I'd rather set our arena on fire and play our games on an elementary school playground then have lamar odom anywhere near this team.

payitforward · Post #1199 » by **payitforward** » Sat Sep 7, 2013 12:18 pm

WizardsWorld wrote:
pancakes3 wrote:If we didn't already have a glut of forwards, and signed Al Harrington, I'd totally sign Lamar Odom for the vet min.

I'd rather set our arena on fire and play our games on an elementary school playground then have lamar odom anywhere near this team.

Yeah, but how do you really feel about Lamar?

doclinkin · Post #1200 » by **doclinkin** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 2:17 am

pancakes3 wrote:If real life was a movie, Lamar Odom and Michael Beasley would come to DC and John Wall will have a "Like Mike" effect on those two en route to a championship (and learn about a different ship along the way. Friendship). There would be 5 musical numbers scored by Sir Elton John, and Ernie would be a talking woodchuck who tidies the Verizon Center before games with his woodland pals. Helen Mirren plays Irene and has a tasteful nude scene.

Ed Wood directs. Our Ed Wood.

Enshrined and immortalized. Heh.

jivelikenice · Post #1201 » by **jivelikenice** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:01 pm

When do we start hearing about training camp invites? And are we really going to camp with 15 guys under contract? Just give Singleton away and be done with it!

verbal8 · Post #1202 » by **verbal8** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:47 pm

jivelikenice wrote:When do we start hearing about training camp invites? And are we really going to camp with 15 guys under contract? Just give Singleton away and be done with it!

But someone who have to take him. Unfortunately EG can only be the GM of one team.

jivelikenice · Post #1203 » by **jivelikenice** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 7:23 pm

A team like Philly who is under the minimum salary floor wouldn't take him for free? Maybe Ernie is still actually trying to get something instead of cutting bait. Or maybe a buyout is in play?

hands11 · Post #1204 » by **hands11** » Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:52 pm

Here is the roster and some FA that are coming free.

Wall 23/ Maynor 26 PO 2014
Beal 20
Webster 26
Trevor A 28 FA
Al Harr 33 FA
Nene 30
Okafor 30 FA

Temple 27
Booker 25

That the 10 experienced players I think they feel they can most count on.

Glen Rice 22
Otto 20
Ves 23
Kevin S 23
Singleton 23

Above is the pool from which players need to raise their value and show consistent good performance.
Below is a list of potential options for trade deadline or next off season moves. A trade might be easier given our cap situation. Not sure. Some would be better a FAs than a trade.

Dirk 2014 FA 22M 2013 will be 36 ( could sign 2 years 10/12M KG money)
Pau 2014 FA 19M 2013 will be 34 EST 15M
Bogut 2014 FA will be 29 8/10 M 2 yrs/3 option (injury concerns)
Oden 2014 FA will be 26 ?? (injury concerns)
Bosh 2014 PO will be 30 Expensive
Melo 2014 PO will be 30 Expensive
Asik 2015 FA ( but 14M next year and they have Howard) will be 28
Frye 2014 PO 6.8M will be 31 7M 2 yrs/3 option
Gortat 2014 FA will be 30 7/8M 2 yrs/3 option

Paul George 2014 RFA will be 24. They won't let him go.
Greg Monroe 2014 RFA
Patrick Patterson 2014 RFA

Love 2016 FA ( would have to get in a trade before then )
Durrant 2016 FA (earlier if he asks for a trade )

http://www.hoopsworld.com/2014-nba-free-agents

Dirk would be nice but to do it in season, they would have to give up something like Nene or Okafor, plus other player so without another move like Gortat or Asik, that doesn't move you ahead enough. But he is a FA over the summer. Dirke a UFA might be better.

Gotta see what the movable players do first I guess. Its really the only way to get a feel for what is really possible or smart.

Might be resigning AH is a good option. At his age, he shouldn't cost to much. If we end up with Dirk and Al next year, I would be happy with that. Buy us time until KD comes in 2016 when we add a player like Asik to play center. Maybe Nene and Okafor will still have something in his tank as a back ups.

So cap people. Is this even possible ?

Wall
Beal
Webster
Dirke/AH
Nene/Okafor

What would we be able to keep from the remaining pieces and what would we want to keep ? Booker or better as a PF rebounder cheap. We would need at least one big with some spring in their legs. One of Otto or Trevor A for SF. Maybe draft McDermott or Corey Jeffereson in the draft or a center. Glen Rice back up SG/SF.

Sign Dirk and Okafor and then MLE AH ? Trade Trevor A, Ves, Kevin, pick to Dallas ? Seems if we can get him UFA that would give us more options.

dangermouse · Post #1205 » by **dangermouse** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:05 am

I dont think we would be able to sign both Dirk and Okafor. They would both have to take paycuts i imagine. Maybe they would be willing to do that just to play on that team, which looks damned good on paper.

I like the idea of signing that pair for 2 years, then we can trade them + Porter for Durant in 2016