Around The League - Bullock to Houston

[chonestown]

Every year I think it might be interesting/fun to watch the young guys in summer league and then I watch five minutes and remember these games are terrible.

And some years you get to see Giannis and Gobert battle it out and see the future unfold in front of your eyes.

[machu46]

I think it was a Jazz fan on Twitter that put it pretty elegantly, but they pointed out how ridiculous this is all getting...

Small market teams are unable to sign star players in free agency because they all want to go to destination cities like LA, Miami, NY, etc. If a small market team is able to get a star player to sign long-term, it doesn't matter because they can just demand a trade one year later and make a stink about it until they get their way. Small market teams are unable to trade for star players even if they have the most assets to offer because star players will just leverage their way to the destination team they want. And now small market teams can't even trade their unhappy stars for the best return available because the star will leverage his way to where he wants to go.

Obviously the deck has always been stacked against the little folks, but it feels like it's getting more and more out of hand.

[blazza18]

Totally fine with players choosing wherever they want to go in free agency but Dame basically forcing his way to Miami is a pretty bad look on him and the nba in general.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I think it was a Jazz fan on Twitter that put it pretty elegantly, but they pointed out how ridiculous this is all getting...

Small market teams are unable to sign star players in free agency because they all want to go to destination cities like LA, Miami, NY, etc. If a small market team is able to get a star player to sign long-term, it doesn't matter because they can just demand a trade one year later and make a stink about it until they get their way. Small market teams are unable to trade for star players even if they have the most assets to offer because star players will just leverage their way to the destination team they want. And now small market teams can't even trade their unhappy stars for the best return available because the star will leverage his way to where he wants to go.

Obviously the deck has always been stacked against the little folks, but it feels like it's getting more and more out of hand.

All true but I don't think there's any simple solution to the issue. They can already fine guys for asking for trades but that does nothing.

One potential somewhat deterant would be a reverse trade kicker of sorts where if a guy signs the home team supermax it drops down to whatever number it would have been if they signed as a FA if they are traded. The whole practice of taking the bigger contact then asking for a trade is some real BS.

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[Ron Swanson]

At the end of the day it's up to Portland and these other small market franchises to not cave and acquiesce to these "I only want to play for this team" demands though. I'm 100% not buying this garbage that Dame's gonna be toxic if they trade him to Brooklyn for the much better asset package, and that's exactly the bluff I'm calling if I'm the Blazers. As long as you can say you traded him to a team that (with him) is a contender (Brooklyn, OKC, Boston, etc.), then I'm just choosing the best offer.

[MVP2110]

At the end of the day it's up to Portland and these other small market franchises to not cave and acquiesce to these "I only want to play for this team" demands though. I'm 100% not buying this garbage that Dame's gonna be toxic if they trade him to Brooklyn for the much better asset package, and that's exactly the bluff I'm calling if I'm the Blazers. As long as you can say you traded him to a team that (with him) is a contender (Brooklyn, OKC, Boston, etc.), then I'm just choosing the best offer.

I think it's more a question of if Brooklyn, Boston, OKC, etc. will give up those assets for a guy who is claiming he doesn't want to be there

[msiris]

Lets say a star player gets traded to a team he did not want and refuses to play. Doesa player still get paid?

[GoldenAntlers]

I think it was a Jazz fan on Twitter that put it pretty elegantly, but they pointed out how ridiculous this is all getting...

Small market teams are unable to sign star players in free agency because they all want to go to destination cities like LA, Miami, NY, etc. If a small market team is able to get a star player to sign long-term, it doesn't matter because they can just demand a trade one year later and make a stink about it until they get their way. Small market teams are unable to trade for star players even if they have the most assets to offer because star players will just leverage their way to the destination team they want. And now small market teams can't even trade their unhappy stars for the best return available because the star will leverage his way to where he wants to go.

Obviously the deck has always been stacked against the little folks, but it feels like it's getting more and more out of hand.

It's the American way.

[msiris]

I think it was a Jazz fan on Twitter that put it pretty elegantly, but they pointed out how ridiculous this is all getting...

Small market teams are unable to sign star players in free agency because they all want to go to destination cities like LA, Miami, NY, etc. If a small market team is able to get a star player to sign long-term, it doesn't matter because they can just demand a trade one year later and make a stink about it until they get their way. Small market teams are unable to trade for star players even if they have the most assets to offer because star players will just leverage their way to the destination team they want. And now small market teams can't even trade their unhappy stars for the best return available because the star will leverage his way to where he wants to go.

Obviously the deck has always been stacked against the little folks, but it feels like it's getting more and more out of hand.

It's the American way.

Not the right way. Baseball has the same problem. Only the fans can change it. Stop watching.

[James1980]

I think it was a Jazz fan on Twitter that put it pretty elegantly, but they pointed out how ridiculous this is all getting...

Small market teams are unable to sign star players in free agency because they all want to go to destination cities like LA, Miami, NY, etc. If a small market team is able to get a star player to sign long-term, it doesn't matter because they can just demand a trade one year later and make a stink about it until they get their way. Small market teams are unable to trade for star players even if they have the most assets to offer because star players will just leverage their way to the destination team they want. And now small market teams can't even trade their unhappy stars for the best return available because the star will leverage his way to where he wants to go.

Obviously the deck has always been stacked against the little folks, but it feels like it's getting more and more out of hand.

All true but I don't think there's any simple solution to the issue. They can already fine guys for asking for trades but that does nothing.

One potential somewhat deterant would be a reverse trade kicker of sorts where if a guy signs the home team supermax it drops down to whatever number it would have been if they signed as a FA if they are traded. The whole practice of taking the bigger contact then asking for a trade is some real BS.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

That is a good idea, player gets supermax with his team, but if wants out and traded to another team drops down to a regular max contract.

[jschligs]

If I'm Portland I'm telling Miami it's going to take Herro, Martin, and a ALL of their picks MINIMUM to get Dame. Two can play hardball.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I think it was a Jazz fan on Twitter that put it pretty elegantly, but they pointed out how ridiculous this is all getting...

Small market teams are unable to sign star players in free agency because they all want to go to destination cities like LA, Miami, NY, etc. If a small market team is able to get a star player to sign long-term, it doesn't matter because they can just demand a trade one year later and make a stink about it until they get their way. Small market teams are unable to trade for star players even if they have the most assets to offer because star players will just leverage their way to the destination team they want. And now small market teams can't even trade their unhappy stars for the best return available because the star will leverage his way to where he wants to go.

Obviously the deck has always been stacked against the little folks, but it feels like it's getting more and more out of hand.

All true but I don't think there's any simple solution to the issue. They can already fine guys for asking for trades but that does nothing.

One potential somewhat deterant would be a reverse trade kicker of sorts where if a guy signs the home team supermax it drops down to whatever number it would have been if they signed as a FA if they are traded. The whole practice of taking the bigger contact then asking for a trade is some real BS.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

That is a good idea, player gets supermax with his team, but if wants out and traded to another team drops down to a regular max contract.

Thinking about this more and it would probably have to be accompanied by the player getting a no trade clause. Because a team trading a dude on a super max who didn't want to be traded and then having to take a pay would be very unfair for the player.

But that could be OK. A super max should be a commitment from both sides.

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[lightningrodman]

If you trade for my client, you will be the subject of slanderous rap lyrics for the duration of his contract. Hundreds of listeners will hear your last name rhymed with things like sharks, larks, and Tony Starks — is that what you want?

[Matches Malone]

The player empowerment pendulum is starting to swing too far the other way.

[averageposter]

I don't really think it needs to be a complicated solve. Players demanding trades especially the Harden era crop have normalized, getting the bag wherever, whenever, and then asking out. It hasn't changed teams giving the bag out, or acquiesing, Even bad behavior to speed it up seemingly gets the job done. And whatever shine comes off the star hasn't seemed to be much of a deterrent. It's so much of a rite of passage even the media is calling this the transfer portal era. Harden is doing an SNL skit everytime he said winning mattered, and he still keeps going wherever he wants to go.

It's long past time to normalize drawing a line in the sand, work with the player to go where he wants sure absolutely, but if that package isn't near the best just do the best deal. This idea that Portland can't then get some unknown superstar to want to come years from now because Dame asked out and didn't get Miami is a fallacy, the years left are the years left sorry. They can't sign a free agent superstar help now, it's kind of the reason he wants out. Sending Dame to Miami doesn't change that.

It used to be any major market, but you know the desired destinations its down to about 4 maybe 5, that's 15 max slots and generally some are already filled. Players have other options too, take less years, do plus one contracts and get the move to where you want when they have the goods.

[skbucks1985]

Portland is in no hurry to get a deal done. From a macro perspective, the season doesn't start for another 3.5 months. But also more in the near-term, a Blazers-Heat deal probably involves Jaime Jaquez going to the Blazers and that can't happen until July 31st. Obviously a deal can be agreed to in principle before then, but there's no incentive for the Blazers to not wait until at least the end of the month

[skbucks1985]

If I'm Portland I'm telling Miami it's going to take Herro, Martin, and a ALL of their picks MINIMUM to get Dame. Two can play hardball.

If Portland wanted Herro this deal would be done already. Between his contract and the fact that they have Simons (who has a VERY overlapping game with Herro), Sharpe and Scoot, they have no use for Herro. And so you have to involve a 3rd team and that's complicated matters.

[MVP2110]

What's the best offer Miami can realistically offer that doesn't include Bam or Jimmy?

Martin, Herro, Jovic, Jacquez, and 3 1sts plus whatever swaps are available?

[skbucks1985]

What's the best offer Miami can realistically offer that doesn't include Bam or Jimmy?

Martin, Herro, Jovic, Jacquez, and 3 1sts plus whatever swaps are available?

That or if Portland wants to offload Nurkic they add him and the Heat add Lowry whose in the final year of his contract to the above deal

[ReasonablySober]

It's wild to me that another team isn't stepping up to the plate for Dame.