Let’s stop pretending the league isn’t corrupt

[NoStatsGuy]

unfortunately if you are in too deep, you see the conspiracy everywhere.

i just love reading those theories. its highly entertaining.

[Parasite]

Let's stop thinking there's some conspiracy behind absolutely everything, shall we?

You do realize so-called “conspiracy theorists” have been pretty much bang-on for a while now right?

[NoStatsGuy]

Interesting that you post this knowing that your GM (Ainge) and his ex-teammate (McHale) got together to trade KG. Were you as upset over that too?

I don’t remember KG being secretly shopped with no other team being allowed to bid

That's because McHale and Ainge already had a deal between them. C'mon, you know it's true.

relationships..

dallas gm and lakers gm have a 20 year history and a relationship.

it happens everyday in life all around us. we all know that guy, that got a job/promotion/bonus or whatever because he had a relationship with the boss. We all know that landlord, that only puts people in his appartments that he knows or gets recommended.

this is just what humans do. relationships build trust, naturally you gravitate towards people that you trust. this is regular human behaviour and not a conspiracy.

Harrison could have never pulled off this kind of deal in silence with other GMs he has no relationship with. and they didnt want a bidding war, circus or huge distraction for their team with a weeklong bidding war between teams for their star player. perfectly fine, reasonable and totally legit. now the decision to trade luka is definitley something we can argue about, does it make sense or not? we can all have different opinions that.

there is absolutely NO WAY the mavs do this for the lakers out of pure love for the league or the pockets of other owners.

[SkyBill40]

Let's stop thinking there's some conspiracy behind absolutely everything, shall we?

You do realize so-called “conspiracy theorists” have been pretty much bang-on for a while now right?

Have they?

[srhcan]

Let's stop thinking there's some conspiracy behind absolutely everything, shall we?

you are a sheep

[SkyBill40]

Let's stop thinking there's some conspiracy behind absolutely everything, shall we?

you are a sheep

Sure, dude. Says you, who is a nobody. Good luck with that.

[og15]

If someone just say sh*t to the conspiracy, and basketball business will run only by basketball reason

just ask him why Mark Cuban, one of the famous boss being known loving basketball and his team, sold his stock to a group he said not like basketball.
Oh, and Cuban just accidently doesn't know the trade even he say he still have the power to manage the team.

LOL, some people really need to stop being act like a pure child

You're actually a little behind on that front.

That was actually Cubans first mistake, which he really shouldn't make as an experienced business man. So what's the mistake? Not getting everything in writing.

Read on Twitter

?s=19

That was the report after the trade, that there was nothing in writing.

Then months later....

https://marcstein.substack.com/p/exclusive-mark-cuban-reveals-why

Mark Stein talked with him and Cuban realized that his role with the team was different than expected and he wasn't actually going to be making management decisions.

“I'm not there making day-to-day decisions," Cuban told NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line. "That's all Nico [Harrison, the Mavericks' general manager]. That's just the way it's evolved. Honestly … is it exactly the way I expected it to be? No. But we're winning and things are going well. I'm fine with it.”

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/dallas-mavericks/news/mark-cuban-admits-stepping-down-mavs-majority-owner-isnt-what-he-expected/6241c4d2876f0cdd9781fe1a

It's fine while you're winning, until, you know, they make this day to day big move and you're not there, but if you had nothing in writing, what power do you have?

[Sealab2024]

Conspiracy theorists have a mental disease. It's called acute paranoia. They see subtext in everything, think the whole world is an underground conspiracy and in general are philosophic deconstructionists, IE: everything has to broken down to some simplicity in order to make sense of the whole, even if there's nothing simplistic to be found. It's more prevalent in youth still trying to figure out the world but also afflicts empty nesters with little to do.

That's not to say no conspiracies exist but the few that are exposed are suddenly verification that all exist in some people's minds.

Did the league orchestrate the moving of Luka to LA? I'm sure they weren't opposed, but I find it more likely that the Mavericks didn't want to give 350 million to a guy they don't think really wants it and did a bad job of getting proper return. Though AD is no slouch.

[Catchall]

From DWade: “First of all, I said to myself, before all the reports come out I said, no players were involved in this decision; this is billionaires' business,” Wade said. “This was at the top; the last 12 to 15 years, the players have decided what we want to do. This was the owners, the governors, the billionaires deciding what they want to do."

Read on Twitter

this is a terrible look for the nba.. no other way to explain it

it makes me sick tbh

The NBA is a media product, and it makes sense to protect the value of the league's media contracts. The Lakers have gotten stale.

[Enso]

Conspiracy theorists have a mental disease. It's called acute paranoia. They see subtext in everything, think the whole world is an underground conspiracy and in general are philosophic deconstructionists, IE: everything has to broken down to some simplicity in order to make sense of the whole, even if there's nothing simplistic to be found. It's more prevalent in youth still trying to figure out the world but also afflicts empty nesters with little to do.

That's not to say no conspiracies exist but the few that are exposed are suddenly verification that all exist in some people's minds.

Did the league orchestrate the moving of Luka to LA? I'm sure they weren't opposed, but I find it more likely that the Mavericks didn't want to give 350 million to a guy they don't think really wants it and did a bad job of getting proper return. Though AD is no slouch.

I wouldn’t blanket statement that conspiracy theorists are all mentally ill. I think you’re on to something for a portion of them but there’s a reason why the CIA coined the term shortly after JFKs assassination, to discredit people who point them out. As you said conspiracies exist, if not there wouldn’t be a word describing the phenomenon lol now do some people take it too far absolutely.

In this case there’s more to what happened than meets the eye, it doesn’t take a rocket doctor to see that. Why do you think so many analysts, fans and people who follow the game are so dumbfounded.

Now to say you know the exact reasons why is crap, we’re all speculating and putting small pieces together. There’s clearly some precedent with with lakers favouritism, blatantly stated by the previous commissioner. You have people involved with deep friendships and business connections. Then you have the Adelson family who has been described as not really basketball first owners, more involved in their own business interests and geopolitical issues.

There’s smoke but who lit the fire and exactly why will prob take a long time to come out if it ever does.

Now hear me out and let me tell you why the moon is actually made of feta cheese.

[artsncrafts]

Conspiracy theorists have a mental disease. It's called acute paranoia. They see subtext in everything, think the whole world is an underground conspiracy and in general are philosophic deconstructionists, IE: everything has to broken down to some simplicity in order to make sense of the whole, even if there's nothing simplistic to be found. It's more prevalent in youth still trying to figure out the world but also afflicts empty nesters with little to do.

That's not to say no conspiracies exist but the few that are exposed are suddenly verification that all exist in some people's minds.

Did the league orchestrate the moving of Luka to LA? I'm sure they weren't opposed, but I find it more likely that the Mavericks didn't want to give 350 million to a guy they don't think really wants it and did a bad job of getting proper return. Though AD is no slouch.

I dont know if I would put NBA conspiracies in the same classification as the mentally ill conspiracy theories. Firstly, the NBA has been proven to be corrupt in the past and its a hundred billion dollar business probably (All teams, TV money, etc). People kill for much less than the impact of this trade so its really not that far fetched to think something shady went down. This obviously would have had to come from the owners so I am not sure Nico is to blame, at the very least owners would have to sign off on it. Maybe he is to blame for the return and the owners just said "make sure he is traded", but I would say its just as likely there is some under the table kickback or this was done as a precursor to some bigger plan by the team or NBA (relocation or something).

I dont know the real truth, and there could be no "conspiracy", but there is a good argument in this case that there could be one. This isnt some chemtrails level obviously "mentally ill" conspiracy.

[BasketballAnon]

The league is obviously corrupt. Just compare the number of foul calls in playoff games vs Summer League games and 4th quarters vs other quarters. Also notice how nobody ever gets popped for PED's while everyone in cycling and MMA do with much less money on the line.

[ConSarnit]

To those who think this league is corrupt and rife with conspiracy:

Why do you continue to support a product you think is rigged? Why do you continue to give your money to a corrupt organization? How does that speak to your own intelligence?

[Sealab2024]

The league is obviously corrupt. Just compare the number of foul calls in playoff games vs Summer League games and 4th quarters vs other quarters. Also notice how nobody ever gets popped for PED's while everyone in cycling and MMA do with much less money on the line.

This is what I'm talking about about. People not getting popped for PED use does not in any way prove that there's rampant PED use and the league just does nothing about it. That's like saying there haven't been any bank robberies in my area so obviously bank robbers have developed a way to turn themselves invisible and pass through walls.

[og15]

There are some important distinctions, there's a difference between "there is corruption in the NBA", and "the NBA is corrupt".

The former which I have no reason to argue against suggests that there are people who are being / acting dishonestly for their own monetary or personal gain. Yea, these are tons of humans involved, no way I would think that wouldn't happen.

The latter suggests that the whole system and enterprise is corrupt, which is a different claim and implication.

Not every owner is an owner for love of basketball or for the expansion and betterment of the sport. So there are going to be some people who might have their own plans for sure.

Other thing is that there is a difference between a conspiracy and a secret plan. While a conspiracy is a secret plan, not every secret plan is a conspiracy.

The NBA does have a reality where they can only police so much. You have no league avenue of preventing GM's who are friends from making their own side deals (hard to argue you should), and the teams as a whole haven't really made a fuss about it, because, well, owners still have final veto on big moves, so that's the internal way of preventing.

The main issue with any conspiracy the way many think of it, a league wide, hush, hush, everyone is in on it type thing is that conspiracies like that have to be worth it. In addition, anything where you have to have a lot of people in on, especially when these people aren't static in your organization, and let's be real here, the NBA has no ability to go anyone, those are going to come out.

Now, if the NBA as an entity has somehow been having illegal/unlawful or harmful things going on behind the scenes, but absolutely nothing has actually come out, they are either amazing at keeping things hush, or there are just not things actually worth the risk and trouble to devise a whole conspiracy.

[Enso]

There are some important distinctions, there's a difference between "there is corruption in the NBA", and "the NBA is corrupt".

The former which I have no reason to argue against suggests that there are people who are being / acting dishonestly for their own monetary or personal gain. Yea, these are tons of humans involved, no way I would think that wouldn't happen.

The latter suggests that the whole system and enterprise is corrupt, which is a different claim and implication.

Not every owner is an owner for love of basketball or for the expansion and betterment of the sport. So there are going to be some people who might have their own plans for sure.

Other thing is that there is a difference between a conspiracy and a secret plan. While a conspiracy is a secret plan, not every secret plan is a conspiracy.

The NBA does have a reality where they can only police so much. You have no league avenue of preventing GM's who are friends from making their own side deals (hard to argue you should), and the teams as a whole haven't really made a fuss about it, because, well, owners still have final veto on big moves, so that's the internal way of preventing.

The main issue with any conspiracy the way many think of it, a league wide, hush, hush, everyone is in on it type thing is that conspiracies like that have to be worth it. In addition, anything where you have to have a lot of people in on, especially when these people aren't static in your organization, and let's be real here, the NBA has no ability to go anyone, those are going to come out.

Now, if the NBA as an entity has somehow been having illegal/unlawful or harmful things going on behind the scenes, but absolutely nothing has actually come out, they are either amazing at keeping things hush, or there are just not things actually worth the risk and trouble to devise a whole conspiracy.

Some great points.

With the Nico Pelinka angle the league doesn’t have to hold some kinda secret meeting and tell them to do this. It can be a shady deal they put together secretly and once the league finds out they’re obviously not gonna stop it since everyone understands it’s to the benefit of the NBA.

[Enso]

To those who think this league is corrupt and rife with conspiracy:

Why do you continue to support a product you think is rigged? Why do you continue to give your money to a corrupt organization? How does that speak to your own intelligence?

As others have pointed out if you go by human nature there’s gonna be corruption and bad actors. Doesn’t mean the league is corrupt from head to toe but there’s gonna be some corrupt aspects.

As the great bill burr would say it’s not 100% rigged but it’s definitely “massaged” lol

[G_K_F]

I don’t remember KG being secretly shopped with no other team being allowed to bid

That's because McHale and Ainge already had a deal between them. C'mon, you know it's true.

relationships..

dallas gm and lakers gm have a 20 year history and a relationship.

it happens everyday in life all around us. we all know that guy, that got a job/promotion/bonus or whatever because he had a relationship with the boss. We all know that landlord, that only puts people in his appartments that he knows or gets recommended.

this is just what humans do. relationships build trust, naturally you gravitate towards people that you trust. this is regular human behaviour and not a conspiracy.

Harrison could have never pulled off this kind of deal in silence with other GMs he has no relationship with. and they didnt want a bidding war, circus or huge distraction for their team with a weeklong bidding war between teams for their star player. perfectly fine, reasonable and totally legit. now the decision to trade luka is definitley something we can argue about, does it make sense or not? we can all have different opinions that.

there is absolutely NO WAY the mavs do this for the lakers out of pure love for the league or the pockets of other owners.

Relationships got major superstar players traded to the Lakers for the last 50 years? Or was it the league needing its marquee franchise always relevant?

[og15]

There are some important distinctions, there's a difference between "there is corruption in the NBA", and "the NBA is corrupt".

The former which I have no reason to argue against suggests that there are people who are being / acting dishonestly for their own monetary or personal gain. Yea, these are tons of humans involved, no way I would think that wouldn't happen.

The latter suggests that the whole system and enterprise is corrupt, which is a different claim and implication.

Not every owner is an owner for love of basketball or for the expansion and betterment of the sport. So there are going to be some people who might have their own plans for sure.

Other thing is that there is a difference between a conspiracy and a secret plan. While a conspiracy is a secret plan, not every secret plan is a conspiracy.

The NBA does have a reality where they can only police so much. You have no league avenue of preventing GM's who are friends from making their own side deals (hard to argue you should), and the teams as a whole haven't really made a fuss about it, because, well, owners still have final veto on big moves, so that's the internal way of preventing.

The main issue with any conspiracy the way many think of it, a league wide, hush, hush, everyone is in on it type thing is that conspiracies like that have to be worth it. In addition, anything where you have to have a lot of people in on, especially when these people aren't static in your organization, and let's be real here, the NBA has no ability to go anyone, those are going to come out.

Now, if the NBA as an entity has somehow been having illegal/unlawful or harmful things going on behind the scenes, but absolutely nothing has actually come out, they are either amazing at keeping things hush, or there are just not things actually worth the risk and trouble to devise a whole conspiracy.

Some great points.

With the Nico Pelinka angle the league doesn’t have to hold some kinda secret meeting and tell them to do this. It can be a shady deal they put together secretly and once the league finds out they’re obviously not gonna stop it since everyone understands it’s to the benefit of the NBA.

....and not just that, the league actually has no mechanism for stopping any trade unless it goes against the salary cap.

There's no rule that says every team must get a fair chance to any available superstar. There's no rule that says teams /GM's can't make deals in confidence, in fact, that's how they are expected to do it. There's no rule that says if friends make a deal among each other, it's not valid, again, unless there is a salary cap issues or circumvention.

The commissioner and his office can't on the spot make up a rule like that, just because people complain, and if they want it for the future, it would have to pass with the board of governors who are themselves made up of one rep from every teams ownership.

So even if Silver et al said, "this sucks for the NBA", they have no mechanism to do anything about it. The NBA has vetoed exactly ONE trade in the history of the league and it was when the NBA was the owner of a team and had veto rights.

If Dallas on the other hand really wanted to get out of the trade after the fact (doesn't seem like they do), they would need to argue that Davis didn't pass his physical and they found an issue that could linger. Of course you would need to actually find a specific real injury to use, can't just make it up.

[AmusingFiddle]

Yes and No. Its an Entertainment league. Some of conspiracy theories are over exaggerated and many completely ignored (relationships, profits, $$$$$). Never believe an owner when they claim to be only driven by winning and not $. Irregardless, of their net worth.