Dan Shanoff on the idea of LeBron James or Kobe Bryant signing with a European team: "I wonder if the NBA will be forced to adopt an MLS-style 'Beckham Rule,' where one player (presumably the superstar) can be signed for any amount of money and would not count against the team's cap. (Or, alternatively, allowing for players to become part-owners.)"
Mark Cuban loves that players like Josh Childress, Carlos Arroyo, and Earl Boykins are going overseas to get paid. One of the best things, he points out, is that the NBA team gets to see that player develop while holding on to their rights. Much better than losing them to another NBA team. And if superstar NBA players go over there? So much the better, as far as Cuban is concerned: "Let's say for the sake of example a couple players got 25mm, 50mm or whatever a year pay and they play on teams that just dominate. They rip apart every team they face. What happens next? People wonder who the best teams in the world are. When that discussion becomes serious, the NBA and those winning overseas teams get paid. European Soccer has done a phenomenal job of inventing tournaments that drive huge revenues and TV dollars. This would allow the NBA to do the same thing. Take a Christmas break, or do it in the summer, where the top 6 records in the league play the top 6 teams over there, with the revenues from the event being split primarily among the participant teams rather than equally among all NBA teams. Not only would that be a great revenue source for all the teams involved, but it would create a huge economic incentive for the other 24NBA teams and all overseas team to become top tier teams. Then of course we could create our own World Cup type tournament every 4 years. ALL of this could open the door to create more NBA owned competition. I'm not saying it would be easy or automatic. Quite a few parties that dont always see eye to eye would have to come to agreement, But the timing for all of that is right and its an amazing opportunity for players, leagues and teams alike."
You ever collect basketball cards? I never really did, but I'm sitting on a nice Steve Nash card that Jamie Mottram gave me years ago in a bar in Brooklyn. This makes it sound pretty fun, though. (Via Detroit Bad Boys)
People are organizing to buy a (very) minor league team. Not too late for you to get in on the action.
Kevin Arnovitz of ClipperBlog on the Clippers' signing of Jason Williams: "Williams hasn't been effective for a few seasons now. Last year with Miami, he shot below 40% from the field, and hasn't averaged more than two FTA/G since his second year in the league. He's an awful defender, and one of the worst rebounders in the game. But as sentient beings go, he's a better option than Smush Parker -- his turover and assist rates confirm that."
Reportedly only seven Sonic employees have relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City. If that's counting players, the team could be in real trouble. In all honesty, that's a barrier to getting things done. I mean, having seven people who have experience running an NBA team while orchestrating a move, a new name, and a launch? Those are some busy people.
The Eric Musselman guide to interpreting your team's schedule. He likes home games early in the season to get a nice rhythm, early start times for better travel, not too many back-to-backs, and as little time zone hopping as possible.
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