Let’s stop pretending the league isn’t corrupt

Broadcaster · Post #21 » by **Broadcaster** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 4:03 am

There is no defence in my mind. All of the NBA press is trying to normalize it but it reeks so much that it feels completely dishonest to push for it to seem reasonable. You’re fooling fans to make more money. At least be honest about it.

durden_tyler · Post #22 » by **durden_tyler** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 4:05 am

The sports fans got tired of the Kansas City Chiefs conspiracy theories so now we're here in the NBA. LOL

Sports fans are generally dumb so that's why these leagues will just keep on going and getting bigger.

And the fans, well they'll continue to watch and bet on these games. LOL

Post #23 » by **Jakay** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 4:11 am

The long and short is:

1) this is an entertainment business first and foremost
2) dealing on a money scale the average person can barely comprehend

There are many conclusions you can reach from there. Those conclusions being true or not, those two above points are.

TravisScott55 · Post #24 » by **TravisScott55** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 4:18 am

Every sport is corrupt

WolfAddict · Post #25 » by **WolfAddict** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 4:20 am

No... I like pretending things... Like I'm a 6'4 adonis that's hung like a rogue rhinoceros

Post #26 » by **GeorgeMarcus** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 4:33 am

This is not directed at the OP, but I feel like the discussion is too often reduced to "corruption: yes or no?" I'm generally a skeptic when it comes to this stuff, yet I (like many others) believe the trade is evidence that there's some level of foul play behind closed doors. I don't believe in rigged lotteries, a scripted league, etc but this... almost feels like Epstein suicide level BS. An insult to our collective intelligence.

The more interesting question IMO involves the nature and magnitude of corruption. What do people believe actually happened? There's a big difference between lying about reasons behind a deal (i.e. the Luka alcoholism theory) versus a scenario where a GM is actively making decisions to improve another team at the expense of his own.

GrindCityHustle · Post #27 » by **GrindCityHustle** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 4:52 am

Basically its good to have friend in the league.

Rob knew he would get fired in the off-season. He won't now.
Nico knew they couldn't keep Luka the way ownership was acting. Paying back a Nike favor he owed.

Sometimes it's just about buying more time.

All these guys wants to keep their millionaire lifestyles.

Warspite · Post #28 » by **Warspite** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 4:55 am

The NBA is simple: 20 teams are trying to make money 10 teams are trying to make money by making the playoffs. Of those 10 teams the Lakers, Celtics and 2-4 teams with superstars are trying to win the Championship.

The NBA is a 2-tier league with 20 teams being farm clubs for the Lakers/Celtics and a few others. It has always been this way and always will be.

MrGoat · Post #29 » by **MrGoat** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 4:59 am

Warspite wrote:The NBA is simple: 20 teams are trying to make money 10 teams are trying to make money by making the playoffs. Of those 10 teams the Lakers, Celtics and 2-4 teams with superstars are trying to win the Championship.

The NBA is a 2-tier league with 20 teams being farm clubs for the Lakers/Celtics and a few others. It has always been this way and always will be.

I generally agree with this statement. What was wild about this trade was the Mavericks were not one of the farm clubs, they were one of the 2-4 teams with a superstar trying to win the championship and decided to nuke their future and soon join ultimate farm club status

Baz · Post #30 » by **Baz** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 5:15 am

Warspite wrote:The NBA is simple: 20 teams are trying to make money 10 teams are trying to make money by making the playoffs. Of those 10 teams the Lakers, Celtics and 2-4 teams with superstars are trying to win the Championship.

The NBA is a 2-tier league with 20 teams being farm clubs for the Lakers/Celtics and a few others. It has always been this way and always will be.

Non competitive owners should be forced to sell

MrBigShot · Post #31 » by **MrBigShot** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 5:18 am

The mavs just tanked the value of their franchise by giving up their 25 year old franchise player.

Easier explanation is that their GM is simply incompetent.

Broadcaster · Post #32 » by **Broadcaster** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 5:20 am

MrBigShot wrote:The mavs just tanked the value of their franchise by giving up their 25 year old franchise player.

Easier explanation is that their GM is simply incompetent.

I have a hard time believing that anyone in one of these positions is that incompetent. That feels like a cop out.

SlimShady83 · Post #33 » by **SlimShady83** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 5:27 am

MrBigShot · Post #34 » by **MrBigShot** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 5:28 am

Broadcaster wrote:
MrBigShot wrote:The mavs just tanked the value of their franchise by giving up their 25 year old franchise player.

Easier explanation is that their GM is simply incompetent.

I have a hard time believing that anyone in one of these positions is that incompetent. That feels like a cop out.

David Khan and Billy King beg to differ

metalinguss · Post #35 » by **metalinguss** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 5:35 am

durden_tyler wrote:LOL. Kids these days, only realizing this now. LOL

Isn't that the point of being kids? The innocence?

Enso · Post #36 » by **Enso** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 6:08 am

WolfAddict wrote:No... I like pretending things... Like I'm a 6'4 adonis that's hung like a rogue rhinoceros

elchengue20 · Post #37 » by **elchengue20** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 6:12 am

Stop crying, it is what it Is.

NBA has quite the complex system of salary cap, apron, contract scales, trade restrictions, etc to have the most possible parity. Still life isn't perfect, powerful teams going to be powerful and get away with the best players sometimes.

As a soccer fan believe me, it could be waaaay worse.

Enso · Post #38 » by **Enso** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 6:16 am

Read on Twitter

WWSRD · Post #39 » by **WWSRD** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 6:19 am

The Mavericks ownership and the NBA corporation's priority is not creating a great Basketball league for you to watch. It is making money.

Your priority is watching a great basketball league.

You hope that they make money creating a great basketball league. And, historically, that is what has been. However, things have changed.

sp6r=underrated · Post #40 » by **sp6r=underrated** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 6:28 am

From 2002 to 2020, 19 seasons, the New York Knicks had a 39.0% winning percentage. The 2nd worse team, Charlotte, was 40.6%. Their MOV was -3.14 while the 2nd worse, Charlotte was -2.89. Both teams tied for 7 wins in the playoffs.

If there was a shadowy conspiracy behind the NBA, why didn't they try to make the Knicks contenders or at the very least competent?

The San Antonio Spurs play in one of the NBA's smallest markets. They landed 3 # 1 picks, all years in which a top miss HOF prospect existed. If there really is a shadowy conspiracy behind the NBA, why do they keep handing elite players to a team with no national fan appeal?