2017 NBA Offseason

[MrCrowesGarden]

The competitive spirit thing is such a copout. It was okay for Jordan to be "given" Pippen, but it's not okay for Durant to "get" Curry and Klay.

KD's legacy gets one million times the flack it does now if he stays in OKC and chases a ring that never comes.

[Socnorb11]

The competitive spirit thing is such a copout. It was okay for Jordan to be "given" Pippen, but it's not okay for Durant to "get" Curry and Klay.

KD's legacy gets one million times the flack it does now if he stays in OKC and chases a ring that never comes.

How do we know it never comes?

Pippen is a poor example. He was essentially drafted by the Bulls, much like Klay Thompson was drafted by the Warriors. That's completely different.

A better example would have been Michael Jordan going to the Pistons in the early 90's when he couldn't beat them. Instead, Jordan and Pippen took their lumps until they got over the hump.

[BottenFieldofDreams]

And FWIW the Dubs lost the title the year before Durant joined. They were the 2001 Mariners. And nobody would have gotten huffy if the 2002 Mariners added a Cy Young Winner or Home Run King, I suspect largely because in baseball we have been trained by big-market teams to not expect players to make contract decisions based on our own desires for parity.

IW nothing. If Draymond didn't have a genital fixation they win 73 and the title. Baseball is so different than basketball it doesn't matter.

My desire for meaningful basketball is built on the league of my formative years. It sucks that it's getting so far away from me, because my team team didn't win six championships when I was a kid. Instead they ripped my heart out a bunch of times in cruel and tragic ways (Drexler going certainly being one of them). Now if they win it will be because of some silly AAU conglomerate if trends continue, and that's not what I've paid my dues for.

At what point is ZERO parity (barring catastrophic injury) just not enough for you?

As good as ratings are, I watched zero minutes of the Finals. It kind of bums me out. There may be no place for me in the modern NBA.

[MrCrowesGarden]

The competitive spirit thing is such a copout. It was okay for Jordan to be "given" Pippen, but it's not okay for Durant to "get" Curry and Klay.

KD's legacy gets one million times the flack it does now if he stays in OKC and chases a ring that never comes.

How do we know it never comes?

Pippen is a poor example. He was essentially drafted by the Bulls, much like Klay Thompson was drafted by the Warriors. That's completely different.

A better example would have been Michael Jordan going to the Pistons in the early 90's when he couldn't beat them. Instead, Jordan and Pippen took their lumps until they got over the hump.

No, my example is actually perfect. It's okay for a star player to get help if ownership signs a player, drafts a player or trades for one, but it's not okay for a star player to use his free agency?

Do you call out the Warriors GM and ownership for a lack of competitive spirit for signing Durant or do you just blame KD?

[Socnorb11]

No, my example is actually perfect. It's okay for a star player to get help if ownership signs a player, drafts a player or trades for one, but it's not okay for a star player to use his free agency?

Do you call out the Warriors GM and ownership for a lack of competitive spirit for signing Durant or do you just blame KD?

Your example isn't the same thing at all. Pippen didn't decide to join the Bulls. Jordan didn't decide that Pippen would join the Bulls because he couldn't beat the Pistons. Pippen is essentially Klay Thompson. I'm talking about a top 2 or 3 player in the league deciding to join the top team in the league.

Yeah, I'll throw the Warriors GM & ownership in there, too. Although for them, there's financial incentive, so it's more of a business move.

[BottenFieldofDreams]

Other owners and GMs are the parity rules enough (for me) in that situation. They should do everything they can to build a competitive roster. No superstar is ever going to sign with Portland, but there is no salary cap for a front office. But once players are happy enough to have no hurdle there is a problem. I don't throw a parade when I strike out my son. The stakes there are different (slightly) but the principal is the same.

In the words of Damian Lillard 'I don't want it if I can't build it.' or in the words of Kevin Durant, 'Let's go at these peoples.'

[MrCrowesGarden]

No, my example is actually perfect. It's okay for a star player to get help if ownership signs a player, drafts a player or trades for one, but it's not okay for a star player to use his free agency?

Do you call out the Warriors GM and ownership for a lack of competitive spirit for signing Durant or do you just blame KD?

Your example isn't the same thing at all. Pippen didn't decide to join the Bulls. Jordan didn't decide that Pippen would join the Bulls because he couldn't beat the Pistons. Pippen is essentially Klay Thompson. I'm talking about a top 2 or 3 player in the league deciding to join the top team in the league.

Yeah, I'll throw the Warriors GM & ownership in there, too. Although for them, there's financial incentive, so it's more of a business move.

And that's why it's perfect.

Players who stay on the team and get help from ownership = A-okay

Players who leave to get help = monsters.

It's like Lebron getting all the flack for the Heatles when D-Wade reaped the benefits. No one said "Wade wants another ring but now that Shaq is gone he needs Lebron to do it."

[Socnorb11]

And that's why it's perfect.

Players who stay on the team and get help from ownership = A-okay

Players who leave to get help = monsters.

So you don't think that teams should be able to draft players? I'm not following you. Pippen was drafted, just like Klay Thompson. No players made those decisions.

[Socnorb11]

It's like Lebron getting all the flack for the Heatles when D-Wade reaped the benefits. No one said "Wade wants another ring but now that Shaq is gone he needs Lebron to do it."

Because Lebron made that decision, not Wade. Why should Wade catch heat for a decision that Lebron made?

[MrCrowesGarden]

And that's why it's perfect.

Players who stay on the team and get help from ownership = A-okay

Players who leave to get help = monsters.

So you don't think that teams should be able to draft players? I'm not following you. Pippen was drafted, just like Klay Thompson. No players made those decisions.

No kidding.


Jordan was gifted Pippen. He won nothing without him and won a ton with him. Apparently, it's okay to get help in that way.

The Bulls gave Jordan Rodman, and apparently, it's okay to get help that way.

Durant goes to the Warriors-- the only logical path to 4-6 rings-- but that's not okay.

Why is it okay for players to be given help, but they can't help themselves?