ATL - New Lottery Rules Move to Owner Vote - pg59

[Ron Swanson]

I'm sure he does, but if that's what it took to make him sleep good at night while ignoring the context in how it was achieved, then that kinda just reinforces my opinion that his actual basketball motivations are superficial and shallow. But hey, whatever makes him happy.

[mademan]

I don't get the constant hiding behind the "It's his right as a free agent/it's a business" shield by the players and Durant defenders. Ok, great, no one's really saying that he didn't have a right to do what he did. So then, stop harping about how much you love basketball and how competitive you are. You made a business decision for your personal brand. That's it.

So many of this generation's star players want the freedom to make all their own decisions but then don't want to deal with the criticism of said decisions that follows. It's like they're shocked when people don't agree with their every move and love them unconditionally. Lebron kinda opened the flood gates with that type of thinking with PG and Hayward being the latest to do it. I just don't understand it. If you're gonna be a heel, own up to it and be a **** heel.

Problem is, nobody looks at a team and says "what an azzhole team, uprooting and trading a guy who played his heart out for them". At least be consistent with the logic. If you're gonna criticize players for being dicks in FA, criticize teams too

[DingleJerry]

IDK what he did that was some kind of underhanded way. He knows a player of his level gets purely judged on Ringz, he chose the route to get the most Ringz. It wasn't his hometown and he didn't hold a live tv show to stab his home city in the back. I'm fine with what LBJ did overall too, but if you're going to criticize the way he did it KD was nothing compared to LBJ. He was a FA, he took meetings, he chose. Standard. The perfect storm that led to the GSW situation being there wasn't his fault at all.

[Ron Swanson]

A contract is a contract. You can call Danny Ainge an **** hole for trading IT and I wouldn't disagree. I'm certainly not taking the side of the sleazy, rich, old owners here.

[ReasonablySober]

I'm sure he does, but if that's what it took to make him sleep good at night while ignoring the context in how it was achieved, then that kinda just reinforces my opinion that his actual basketball motivations are superficial and shallow. But hey, whatever makes him happy.

What is it about wanting to win a ring that makes you question is basketball motivations? There literally couldn't have been a better basketball move for him to make.

[mattg]

IDK what he did that was some kind of underhanded way. He knows a player of his level gets purely judged on Ringz, he chose the route to get the most Ringz. It wasn't his hometown and he didn't hold a live tv show to stab his home city in the back. I'm fine with what LBJ did overall too, but if you're going to criticize the way he did it KD was nothing compared to LBJ. He was a FA, he took meetings, he chose. Standard. The perfect storm that led to the GSW situation being there wasn't his fault at all.

All I'll say regarding the decision show is this: People criticized Lebron an insane amount for how that was handled then and now. Can you imagine the amount of criticism James would have received if he didn't do the show and it inevitably leaked that he could have raised millions for the Boys and Girls club and he chose not to instead? It was a lose-lose scenario.

[M-C-G]

I'm sure he does, but if that's what it took to make him sleep good at night while ignoring the context in how it was achieved, then that kinda just reinforces my opinion that his actual basketball motivations are superficial and shallow. But hey, whatever makes him happy.

What is it about wanting to win a ring that makes you question is basketball motivations? There literally couldn't have been a better basketball move for him to make.

I just don't agree that it was some kind of "coward" move to go to the team that beat him. He was at a workplace that he didn't like and wasn't taking him to where he wanted to go in his career. So he went to a better company where he now has the chance to be the be the best employee in the world, at the best company in the world, and be part of a staff that might go down as the best staff in the history of the world.

Or he can keep playing Vice Principals with Westbrook, who he clearly didn't enjoy playing with. I just don't get the hate. I mean the reasons have been explained, but I just don't have any emotional attachment to the reasons people give.

Lebron is the only one I think was ****, and it wasn't that he left, it's that he held an entire city hostage and then embarrassed them in front of the entire world. That was straight up ****.

[DingleJerry]

IDK what he did that was some kind of underhanded way. He knows a player of his level gets purely judged on Ringz, he chose the route to get the most Ringz. It wasn't his hometown and he didn't hold a live tv show to stab his home city in the back. I'm fine with what LBJ did overall too, but if you're going to criticize the way he did it KD was nothing compared to LBJ. He was a FA, he took meetings, he chose. Standard. The perfect storm that led to the GSW situation being there wasn't his fault at all.

All I'll say regarding the decision show is this: People criticized Lebron an insane amount for how that was handled then and now. Can you imagine the amount of criticism James would have received if he didn't do the show and it inevitably leaked that he could have raised millions for the Boys and Girls club and he chose not to instead? It was a lose-lose scenario.

Yup, personally I get that and why I was still fine with it. Was just comparing it to KD who did nothing like that type of bad PR decision as that was somewhat tone deaf if he wasn't just going to stick at home. If he was sticking at home that would have been the best PR move possible. In this case he could have announced his decision and simultaneously said he turned down this TV opp and is instead donating 2 mil himself.

ETA: maybe even bigger mistake than the TV show was the celebration party with the Not 1, Not 2, etc.

[ReasonablySober]

I'm sure he does, but if that's what it took to make him sleep good at night while ignoring the context in how it was achieved, then that kinda just reinforces my opinion that his actual basketball motivations are superficial and shallow. But hey, whatever makes him happy.

What is it about wanting to win a ring that makes you question is basketball motivations? There literally couldn't have been a better basketball move for him to make.

I just don't agree that it was some kind of "coward" move to go to the team that beat him. He was at a workplace that he didn't like and wasn't taking him to where he wanted to go in his career. So he went to a better company where he now has the chance to be the be the best employee in the world, at the best company in the world, and be part of a staff that might go down as the best staff in the history of the world.

Or he can keep playing Vice Principals with Westbrook, who he clearly didn't enjoy playing with. I just don't get the hate. I mean the reasons have been explained, but I just don't have any emotional attachment to the reasons people give.

Lebron is the only one I think was ****, and it wasn't that he left, it's that he held an entire city hostage and then embarrassed them in front of the entire world. That was straight up ****.

100% to all of this.

[blazza18]

Kevin Durant a heel for wanting to be happy both on and off the court instead of doing what fans think he should do.

One day athletes will be treated like real people.

[raferfenix]

I don't necessarily blame players or the owners / front offices for pursuing deals based on the incentives before them.

However that is very different than what is best for fans. Especially fans of small market teams whose cities don't offer the surroundings / endorsement deals / media coverage / tax breaks that other markets cans.

The onus though needs to be on the CBA to make sure that's in sync.

I for one wish the Bucks could offer Giannis so much more than other teams that we weren't so at risk of the scales being tipped for him going to LA for Hollywood connections or Houston for the tax breaks or Golden State for silicon valley opportunities etc.

If he leaves due to basketball reasons that would be different. Kevin Durant leaving such a successful team was what I see as atypical about him. Lebron and the Cavs to a lesser extent too.

Losing superstar players however which way is a terrible experience for fans who spend a lot of money and time towards those ends.

And if we do lose Giannis -- whether it's due to our front office or not -- I know it'd be a lot harder for me to get excited about the Bucks for a long time.

[Ron Swanson]

Hate is a pretty strong word that I'd never really use to describe an athlete I simply disagree with. If you're gonna keep using the "Average Joe American better workplace, better co-workers" comparison (which is just a little bit insulting to most working class people if you ask me) then I don't see how that isn't admitting it was purely a "business decision".

I don't find someone whose first and foremost thought to be "what is the path of least resistance to justify my personal legacy?" to have admirable competitive qualities. That's just what coaches and people I respected always taught me and what I believed were the redeeming qualities of athletic competition other than personal fitness. Sports are just that; competition where you should be proud in overcoming obstacles.

[Prez]

I'm not sure why we can't acknowledge that it was both a fine decision for him financially, basketball-wise, lifestyle, etc...and also that from a competitive standpoint it was kind of a pussy move.

[blazza18]

How is that a Kevin Durant problem though?

[Xanadu]

Who? Derozan, McCollum, and Beal? Two of three of those players' teams went further than the Buck in the playoffs with these players as second fiddles (what Middleton is supposed to be).

Ahh **** and John Wall, Damian Lillard and Kyle Lowry all led teams to playoff series wins as the main guy, Giannis must be worse than them. Cool reasoning I guess.

Conveniently leaving out the part where I mentioned that they statistically played better than Middleton ever has. Whatever advances your argument, though!!!

Oh and by the way, the only reason Giannis didn't advance is because his second fiddle (Khris Middleton!) was utter poo poo the whole series!

Continue to take things out of context and block out rationalization, by all means!

Yeah but Khris came back early from a injury that doesn't allow the preparation needed to have the stamina for the NBA. Hence him not being a 100%.

[Xanadu]

There's a very good chance two years from now he is a more complete player than Kyrie.

I didn't write this nor do I know who it was written about.

[Xanadu]

I get the attraction to Kryie but honestly he just isn't that good. He was a loser before Lebron and has always been a net negative when given the keys to the offense. Also I can't believe the whole flat earth thing isn't bigger talking point. This guy is just flat out incredibly unintelligent and seems like a big mouth toxic presence. I really want to see what Brogdon and Thon do this year before sending them off. I especially think Brogdon can improve quiet a bit and becoming a borderline all star guy. If he can tighten his handles and improve his finishing ability he could be Billups 2.0. To me he is the biggest sticking point. I really think people are selling him short due to his age.

Not really sure why him being on a bad team post Lebron means anything. Or him being on a team clearly designed to maximise Lebron. Or him thinking the earth is flat. And where is the big mouth toxic thing coming from or are you just making **** up?

Brogdon could be Billups 2.0. Why can't Kyrie be even better than he's shown?

He can but the earth is flat stuff just shows a lack of intelligence imo. Also him making a public statement to that fact shows a big mouth personality type person also imo. If you have every meet anyone who is vocal about their conspisarcy beliefs they are usual loudmouths who seem to want to condraticed everyone just because. Just how I view that quote never claimed to have inside info but as this is a forum I thought most came here to post their opinions. I will try to make it more obvious when posting my opinion from now on.

[FlagsFlyForever]

Lebron is the only one I think was ****, and it wasn't that he left, it's that he held an entire city hostage and then embarrassed them in front of the entire world. That was straight up ****.

I feel like I live in a different world when people criticize The Decision. I view The Decision as one of the most wonderful things any NBA player has ever done. LeBron raised $6 million for charity from the ad revenue from that ESPN special.

I wish every star free agent had their own Decision-like special where they raise millions for charity but that will never happen because of the backlash LeBron received.

[RRyder823]

I'm not sure why we can't acknowledge that it was both a fine decision for him financially, basketball-wise, lifestyle, etc...and also that from a competitive standpoint it was kind of a pussy move.

I think it's really as simple most of KD "haters" acknowledge all that but the "apologists" refuse to acknowledge the last part of that

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[ReasonablySober]

How many times on here have I read that it'll be the Bucks fault if Giannis leaves in three years? It's literally the exact same thing as Durant choosing to leave.