nba goes nuclear

[bill russell]

I've been watching the NBA for quite a while and I can't remember a time when so many teams were pulling out all stops to sign the one big veteran player who will help them be competitive right freaking now. The Lakers did it with Karl Malone and Gary Payton about five years ago, and Miami did it with Payton and Antoine and Alonzo -- it brought Miami a championship. But now we've got a whole bunch of teams doing it at the same time: Boston signing Garnett and Ray Allen, Phoenix signing Shaq, LA signing Gasol, Dallas probably going to sign Kidd, Denver ready to gamble on Artest, and San Antonio (at the low end of the scale) signing D. Stoudamire. And there's a few days to go before the trading deadline. It's the NBA talent equivalent of a nuclear arms race.

1) Have we seen anything like this before? I don't think so. It used to be you could win with one or two bona fide stars and a bunch of role players. Now it seems GMs want three hall-of-famers to compete.
2) Why is it happening now? Is it coincidence? Is everyone inspired by Miami's example? Have the league's leading GMs settled on a new paradigm for building a championship team?
3) What does it mean for the league? There's a growing gap between the haves and have nots.
4) Finally, what's it mean for the raps?

[raps4life~]

you mean "trade" not sign.

[wade2bosh]

The "haves" are more plentiful and talented than in the past.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

A lot of teams near the top are looking to get to the next level before their window is closed. This was before Boston made it's move. After Boston made it's move - it was on. However, if Miami hadn't been so bad, would Shaq be moved? Marion wanted to go anyway, and Gasol been on the block for over a year, so are the players really that surprising or just who ended up with them? We know Garnet was going somewhere. We thought Seattle was going to trade Allen, we wanted him here. Those two ended up going to the same place and I think teams are trying to compete with a team on paper before they have to face them on the court. Injuries could really screw a lot of teams, but injuries can screw any team.

Injuries have dealt us a big blow this year. One, it cost us TJ for a while, but that wasn't the real cost. The real cost was jos

[bill russell]

east coast -- a lot of good points. I agree entirely that we're over-invested a point guard. something will give there between now and the end of next season.
I agree that long term planning is hazardous because of injuries, player's being unpredictable, etc. But I also thing there's more long-term job security for a GM who has built a team to win and endure, even if he falls short of a championship. (It's the coaches that get fired in the latter situations).

Finally, I think you have to enter the arms race at some point if you really want to contend. San Antonio and Detroit have chemistry, you're right, but think of it this way. Four of five Detroit's starters from their championship year are multiple-time all-stars (the exception is Prince, and he's a hell of a player). Maybe no hall-of-famer on the Pistons roster, but they are absolutely loaded with talent.
And San Antonio went into its 2007 championship run with three all-stars, a two-time defensive player of the year runner-up in Bowen, and Robert Horry, the best-clutch shooter in playoff history and a five-time NBA champion (now six-time). One of their all-stars is the best player in the game over the last decade. Also loaded.
We have one guy who is a bona fide all-star in bosh. I think TJ and Jose might be capable of a couple of all-star years. I would like to think that Bargs will grow up to be an all-star someday -- and I think he's gotten a lot better in recent weeks -- but I wouldn't put money on it. We're still a long ways away.
You've depressed me about Bosh and the playoffs. I fear you are right.

[TheMainEvent]

What's up with all the signing? They were trades.

Anyways, yeah, the NBA so far this year have been quite a trade-fest with big name players being shopped around quite a bit. Atleast more than usual seasons.

It makes things a lot more fun and interesting, especially in the West this year. I guess the West teams are doing more of this because they know that their competition is strong. With the surprise development of New Orleans and Portland... the re-arrival of Houston, LA Lakers, Golden State, and Denver... and with the usual great teams in San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas, Utah... teams just know that they need more to compete, especially in the West.

As for the Bibby trade to ATL... Atlanta feels that this year, they can finally make the playoffs. Except for Boston, Detroit, and maybe Orlando and Toronto, every other team now is a tossup for the playoffs. Atlanta FINALLY has a chance to make it, so they felt they should do something to solidify their chance instead of them faltering in the second half.

[Axl]

I think the state of the eastern conference has been a bit of a wake up call. Too many teams spent the last few years not making enough deals, then being forced to give away what they do have because their teams are so bad they need to gut the whole thing. Meanwhile a few teams, make minor deals all the time, upgrading, keeping their bench fresh and motivated while developing their core players. Other gms have seen that and a light went on. You have to make moves. Period.

/ramble

[Merit]

i think our time to make moves will come next year - likely via sign and trade. we have rasho's contract, plus joey, plus first rounders.