Woj: "Rudy Gay trade shows LeBron James the future: Super team era ending"

[D-Rose]

Link (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--rudy-gay-trade-shows-lebron-james-the-future--super-team-era-ending--065716242.html;_ylt=AqfukWmuQXJdsMcFlJTfVDW8vLYF;_ ylu=X3oDMTN1YzN2NjM1BG1pdANGRUFUVVJFRCBNZWdhdHJvbi BOQkEEcGtnA2RiY2UwNmVhLWI5MGUtMzRlMi05ZTliLWMyZjk2 YjM3ZTRhNQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDbWVnYXRyb24EdmVyA2M3ZTc5Yz IzLTZiZGYtMTFlMi1iZGI1LTQzZTk5ZDExODk4Yg--;_ylg=X3oDMTJjcTBwcmhtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRw c3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANuYmEEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnMEdGVzdANHcm FuZHNsYW1fT25fSW50ZXJuYWw-;_ylv=3)

[QUOTE]

[Related: Grizzlies trade Rudy Gay to Raptors in three-team deal]

LeBron James could become a free agent in the summer of 2014. (USA Today Sports)James' agent and childhood friend, Rich Paul, born and raised and still living in Cleveland, has been privately telling people for two years of his intrigue with bringing the prodigal son back as the conquering hero in Cleveland. James will ultimately make the call to return

[DukeDelonte13]

more parity = better league

[fpliii]

more parity = better league

Possibly, but definitely worse ratings.

[NLZ]

Possibly, but definitely worse ratings.
National TV? Perhaps.
Adds to local ratings to these teams if they have at least one star. It all evens itself out.

[fpliii]

National TV? Perhaps.
Adds to local ratings to these teams if they have at least one star. It all evens itself out.

That's true, though I don't know if it evens out since ratings in the playoffs will suffer.

I don't care personally though...I try to watch as many of each team as possible (League Pass ftw).

[blablabla]

what a stupid article, what does one team that is trying to shed salary because they can't afford the luxury tax have anything to do with lebron james decision or the ending of the "super team era"(note: there are 2 "super teams" in the nba right now and one isn't doing so super)

[ZeN]

what a stupid article, what does one team that is trying to shed salary because they can't afford the luxury tax have anything to do with lebron james decision or the ending of the "super team era"(note: there are 2 "super teams" in the nba right now and one isn't doing so super)
The fact that (so called) small market teams profit from luxury tax teams that pay a lot for stars like James.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Woj is great at getting the scoop on everything NBA related. But the guy always comes off as a petty little b.itch

[ZeN]

Woj is great at getting the scoop on everything NBA related. But the guy always comes off as a petty little b.itch
How?

[SilkkTheShocker]

How?

The guy is still utterly butthurt LeBron went to Miami to form the Big 3. Read his articles around 2010. He was one of the biggest crybabies about it. The guy would love nothing more than to see LeBron out of Miami or Wade/Bosh taken away from him

[ZeN]

The guy is still utterly butthurt LeBron went to Miami to form the Big 3. Read his articles around 2010. He was one of the biggest crybabies about it. The guy would love nothing more than to see LeBron out of Miami or Wade/Bosh taken away from him
He wasnt the only one harping back in 2010, as he was echoing the sentiment of a heap of people.


Also, You really dont think that Wade/Bosh could eventually be traded or that LBJ could leave in 2014?

[Shaquille O'Neal]

Lebron's been in Miami now 3 years. The last "Super team" is this year's current LA roster. Shouldn't that have been the topic?

[SilkkTheShocker]

He wasnt the only one harping back in 2010, as he was echoing the sentiment of a heap of people.


Also, You really dont think that Wade/Bosh could eventually be traded or that LBJ could leave in 2014?

I never said any of that.

[ZeN]

Lebron's been in Miami now 3 years. The last "Super team" is this year's current LA roster. Shouldn't that have been the topic?
How would you fit the Laker Foursome into this discussion? How would it be more relevant?

[bdreason]

Does this really improve parity though? Or does it just insure that the largest market teams (LA/NY/etc.) will always have an advantage, because they're the only teams that will even think about paying the luxury and/or repeater tax?


I mean, we've seen two small market, possible contenders trade away key pieces this season to avoid the luxury tax (OKC and Memphis). While a team like the Lakers just keeps stacking salaries over the cap and subsidizing it with their billion dollar TV deal.


I think a team like Miami could be effected though, because if they fail to win a championship, I doubt the owner is willing to pay the repeater tax to keep the big 3 together. Not in a market like Miami.

[ZeN]

I never said any of that.
So why does it bother you that those possibilities happening would make Woj happy?

[ZeN]

I think a team like Miami could be effected though, because if they fail to win a championship, I doubt the owner is willing to pay the repeater tax to keep the big 3 together. Not in a market like Miami.


Thats spot on the issue here.

[bmulls]

Woj is great at getting the scoop on everything NBA related. But the guy always comes off as a petty little b.itch

I agree. I always respected him because he was a fast and reliable news source, but then I read some of his articles and he pretty much sucks.

[SilkkTheShocker]

So why does it bother you that those possibilities happening would make Woj happy?

My whole point was that he should get over LeBron leaving Cleveland. I have no opinion on the LeBron to Cleveland speculation.

[ZeN]

My whole point was that he should get over LeBron leaving Cleveland. I have no opinion on the LeBron to Cleveland speculation.
So your saying that he 'always comes off as a petty little b.itch' because he hasnt gotten over LeBron leaving Cleveland? Isnt this article about more than LBJ leaving Cleveland?

[Doctor Rivers]

Levien is making these deals based largely on the recommendations of John Hollinger, a statistician who worked for a cable sports company. The San Antonio Spurs once used him as a consultant and regretfully took his advice to sign a free agent named Jackie Butler. It was such a disaster, the Spurs had to attach Luis Scola to a trade to get Butler out of town.

haha

[atljonesbro]

I hope LeBron goes to Cleveland. I can be a fan of him if he does.

[Blue&Orange]

Does this really improve parity though? Or does it just insure that the largest market teams (LA/NY/etc.) will always have an advantage, because they're the only teams that will even think about paying the luxury and/or repeater tax?


I mean, we've seen two small market, possible contenders trade away key pieces this season to avoid the luxury tax (OKC and Memphis). While a team like the Lakers just keeps stacking salaries over the cap and subsidizing it with their billion dollar TV deal.


I think a team like Miami could be effected though, because if they fail to win a championship, I doubt the owner is willing to pay the repeater tax to keep the big 3 together. Not in a market like Miami.
small market owners idea.

[chazzy]

Shots fired at Hollinger

[guy]

You know whats funny? If Lebron returns to Cleveland because Miami will have to break up, he can sort of say that he left Cleveland to help Cleveland by ensuring that the new CBA will make sure that bigger and more attractive markets won't have as much of an advantage, so when Lebron returned they'd have a much better chance to build a relatively better team around him.

[guy]

more parity = better league

Maybe, but its almost impossible to achieve alot of parity in the NBA. This isn't the NFL. The league will almost always be dictated by who has one of the 5-7 best players.

[chips93]

Does this really improve parity though? Or does it just insure that the largest market teams (LA/NY/etc.) will always have an advantage, because they're the only teams that will even think about paying the luxury and/or repeater tax?


I mean, we've seen two small market, possible contenders trade away key pieces this season to avoid the luxury tax (OKC and Memphis). While a team like the Lakers just keeps stacking salaries over the cap and subsidizing it with their billion dollar TV deal.



thats a really good point

its only the huge markets that can afford these new penalties

[chips93]

i didnt really see the connection between gay's situation and lebron leaving in 2014

is he trying to imply that mickey arison will bail on the heat, quit spending money, let the roster worsen, and lebron will have to leave to find a better roster, so he can contend for titles?

if thats his point, its a bit of a stretch. arison has always been very happy to spend money, and its not like the heat are spending an insane amount of money right now.

also, he even says in the article that the heat are committed to winning, so presumably, that means arison is happy to continue to spend money, so his attitude is very different to Pera.

not woj's best article

[jrong]

Isn't the relevant question what the Cavs have to offer the Heat? Because if Miami thinks he's going to leave, they'll trade him. They're not going to get burned like Cleveland did. And unless the Cavs plan on parting with Kyrie, I don't know what they have that Miami would want. I'm fairly certain there are other teams that could put together a much more attractive package. And then the Heat will still be contenders.

[Sarcastic]

more parity = better league


1970s NBA had more parity than it will ever see ever again.


So 1970s is the pinnacle of basketball?

[ZeN]

1980s NBA had the least amount of parity than well see ever again.


And isnt 1980s the pinnacle of basketball?

[Sarcastic]

1980s NBA had the least amount of parity than well see ever again.


And isnt 1980s the pinnacle of basketball?


1980s was the golden era as they recovered from the mess that was the 1970s. 1990s was the pinnacle.

In the 2000s, parity started to come back, and the league began to tank.

[HiphopRelated]

The NBA doesn't work on parity

Stern has probably had his 3 best years in a long time and would be even better if the Lakers weren't shit

[PJR]

Pat Riley and Micky Arison laugh at this garbage article.

[RedBlackAttack]

Isn't the relevant question what the Cavs have to offer the Heat? Because if Miami thinks he's going to leave, they'll trade him. They're not going to get burned like Cleveland did. And unless the Cavs plan on parting with Kyrie, I don't know what they have that Miami would want. I'm fairly certain there are other teams that could put together a much more attractive package.
I hope you're right.

[ZeN]

I hope you're right.
How infuriated would you be if LBJ did return to the Cavs? :lol

[sixer6ad]

The guy is still utterly butthurt LeBron went to Miami to form the Big 3. Read his articles around 2010. He was one of the biggest crybabies about it. The guy would love nothing more than to see LeBron out of Miami or Wade/Bosh taken away from him

Along with about 5 Billion other people...

[Blue&Orange]

is yet to been seen large markets will be able to live with the repeater taxes and the trade and signing limitations.

Memphis is a small market and last year had on of the top payrolls in the league, year before the same. Big markets will be the same, maybe they can endure a couple of years but at some point they will have to slash salaries.

[sixer6ad]

How infuriated would you be if LBJ did return to the Cavs? :lol

He wouldn't.

The question is: Is what we are watching now worse than the pain of The Decision?

I have no morals attached to this at all. I feel guilty because I don't go to church. I would feel guilty if I cheated on my wife or if I didn't take care of my kids the way that I do. I'm not going to stand on some pulpit and say that I don't want our best player ever to return and make this fun again.

Right now, the thought of being purely entertained in a sport that I love by a team that will always be my favorite is winning out over a moral compass in a situation that shouldn't even be measured. 20,352 people would agree with me on a nightly basis.

This is basketball. This isn't church or work or volunteer work at a food kitchen. This is entertainment. The people who say they don't want him back need to stop pounding their chest like their comments are impacting the world.

This IS NOT an unforgivable act. My God...it's a sport.

[guy]

Isn't the relevant question what the Cavs have to offer the Heat? Because if Miami thinks he's going to leave, they'll trade him. They're not going to get burned like Cleveland did. And unless the Cavs plan on parting with Kyrie, I don't know what they have that Miami would want. I'm fairly certain there are other teams that could put together a much more attractive package. And then the Heat will still be contenders.

Huh? It doesn't matter what they have to offer. He'd be a FA. If it was going to be an S&T, and Lebron was going there regardless, then the Cavs would dictate the terms.

[JohnnySic]

Bullshit, LeBron's not going back to Cleveland, keep dreaming. He's gonna pull another douchy move and join Howard and the Lakers along with Bosh to form yet another super team.

[ZeN]

Bullshit, LeBron's not going back to Cleveland, keep dreaming. He's gonna pull another douchy move and join Howard and the Lakers along with Bosh to form yet another super team.
I very much dislike both Howard and LeBron..

That shit would be awkward for me.. LBJ may be great but I dont see myself embracing him.

#LakerFanFirstWorldProblems

[hawkfan]

LBJ, Bosh and Wade can always just take bigger paycuts than now.
They will still win and make money off of endorsements and playoff money.
So the super team thing can still work.

Joe Johnson with the Hawks should have taken less money so we could have added another big to help out inside. But he wasn't willing to do it.

[Fatstogey]

what a stupid article, what does one team that is trying to shed salary because they can't afford the luxury tax have anything to do with lebron james decision or the ending of the "super team era"(note: there are 2 "super teams" in the nba right now and one isn't doing so super)
Exactly.

And of course in a much smaller market. Doesnt mean super teams wont exist. Just means that its gonna be LA,Boston,Miami,NYC,Nets,Clippers and thats about it.
And that smaller markets will end up trapping stars for their entire career so they get no rings. Stars should not go to teams that have no intention of winning. Its a waste of talent.

[KyrieTheFuture]

You guys aren't thinking of parity the way the owners do. They want FINANCIAL parity and you want COMPETITIVE parity. They care about making a profit not winning and this repeater tax means more money for them due to wealth distribution. So the CBA hurts title chances but improves the bottom line. Never forget this is a business.

[Fatstogey]

You guys aren't thinking of parity the way the owners do. They want FINANCIAL parity and you want COMPETITIVE parity. They care about making a profit not winning and this repeater tax means more money for them due to wealth distribution. So the CBA hurts title chances but improves the bottom line. Never forget this is a business.

Thats fine, but dont try to trap the best talent for that end. Lebron shouldnt be in cleveland. Stars of that caliber should not be on teams that dont care at all about winning.

[KyrieTheFuture]

Thats fine, but dont try to trap the best talent for that end. Lebron shouldnt be in cleveland. Stars of that caliber should not be on teams that dont care at all about winning.
Are you implying Cleveland is cheap and doesn't care about winning? Because if so, kill yourself.

[Pushxx]

Woj is the most respected source for NBA news, but his opinion articles tend to suck.

[RedBlackAttack]

How infuriated would you be if LBJ did return to the Cavs? :lol
Not so much infuriated as just disgusted. It would be enough for me to give up on the NBA entirely.


My God...it's a sport.

Exactly. A sport which I can either choose to follow or not.

[coin24]

Super team era ending? I think not...

Last time I checked Rudy Gay is an overrated ball stopping chucker. Who gives a shit honestly that hes on the craptors now:confusedshrug:
The Raptors arent winning anything and neither are the Grizzlies.

Not sure how this has anything to do with LeBron going back to Cleveland. Hed be better off staying in Miami, they will surround him with talent to stay competitive. Cleveland will not. But, it would be awesome to see all the "diehard cavs fans" make a return:roll: :roll: :roll:

[sixer6ad]

Super team era ending? I think not...

Last time I checked Rudy Gay is an overrated ball stopping chucker. Who gives a shit honestly that hes on the craptors now:confusedshrug:
The Raptors arent winning anything and neither are the Grizzlies.

Not sure how this has anything to do with LeBron going back to Cleveland. Hed be better off staying in Miami, they will surround him with talent to stay competitive. Cleveland will not. But, it would be awesome to see all the "diehard cavs fans" make a return:roll: :roll: :roll:

Nice try: When you really have no idea what the f--- you're talking about, add " " and throw on some smiley icons. Die hard Cavs fans is the correct term, but eliminate the quotes. Here are last year's local TV ratings for NBA teams. Please note: We SUCKED, were in the lottery again, and finished in the Top 5 of local ratings. Look at the company we keep.

Overall Ratings
Top 5
Team RSN Avg. 2011-12 rating
San Antonio Spurs FS Southwest 7.94
Miami Heat Sun Sports 6.49
Chicago Bulls CSN Chicago 6.10
Oklahoma City Thunder FS Oklahoma 5.97
Cleveland Cavaliers FS Ohio 4.91

Bottom 5
Milwaukee Bucks FS Wisconsin 1.62
Houston Rockets FS Houston 1.56
Charlotte Bobcats SportSouth 1.15
Washington Wizards CSN Mid-Atlantic 1.13
New Jersey Nets YES 0.38

On top of that, we averaged over 15,000 fans at home games which, for a lottery team, is above average. We've increased that this year to over 16,500.

Don't confuse our stupid, passionate reaction to The Decision as "die hard". It only makes you look as if you are a "true fan" of NBA knowledge.

[sixer6ad]

Thats fine, but dont try to trap the best talent for that end. Lebron shouldnt be in cleveland. Stars of that caliber should not be on teams that dont care at all about winning.

WTF are you talking about? Define winning. Does that mean championships? If that's the case, then we have not won.

If you're talking about being a competitive, small market franchise, the Cavaliers have held their own. We've had 17 seasons of playoff basketball. During the decade of the 90's - BEFORE LBJ ARRIVED - we had 7 playoff seasons. We didn't start until 1970 and were in the playoffs 76, 77, 78. Again, with Price, Daugherty, Nance, we had very good playoff basketball 3 seasons in the 80's. Most of you on here know the Cavs as shi- before LBJ and the same after, but we have 7 retired jerseys in our rafters from players who won many games for us.

[RedBlackAttack]

What an absurd comment. If anything has been shown over the past seven years, it is Dan Gilbert is willing to open up his wallet for whatever it takes to make the best team possible. That is really the only barometer for a franchise either "caring about winning" or not.

You have to be dumb to say otherwise.

[daily]

I agree. I always respected him because he was a fast and reliable news source, but then I read some of his articles and he pretty much sucks.

Reading some twitter today I guess Wojo is upset Hollinger called Mark Stein with the scoop on the trade.

Wojo comes off as a snotty little kid at times and worse he makes things up and he's been called out on it before. Perfect example is that article he wrote last year bashing Jim Buss for having a friend on the scouting staff. Called him a bartender that Buss handed over the scouting to. The guy was never a bartender, he had already been with the Lakers for 5 years, he wasn't scout NBA teams he was scouting for the D-League team... Everything Wojo wrote in the article was a falsehood.

[2LeTTeRS]

thats a really good point

its only the huge markets that can afford these new penalties

Can't afford? I don't think you realize how rich these owners are. These guys have the money to put any amount of cash into these teams that they damn well choose. Digging into their pockets or not is nothing more than a personal decision

[coin24]

Nice try: When you really have no idea what the f--- you're talking about, add " " and throw on some smiley icons. Die hard Cavs fans is the correct term, but eliminate the quotes. Here are last year's local TV ratings for NBA teams. Please note: We SUCKED, were in the lottery again, and finished in the Top 5 of local ratings. Look at the company we keep.

Overall Ratings
Top 5
Team RSN Avg. 2011-12 rating
San Antonio Spurs FS Southwest 7.94
Miami Heat Sun Sports 6.49
Chicago Bulls CSN Chicago 6.10
Oklahoma City Thunder FS Oklahoma 5.97
Cleveland Cavaliers FS Ohio 4.91

Bottom 5
Milwaukee Bucks FS Wisconsin 1.62
Houston Rockets FS Houston 1.56
Charlotte Bobcats SportSouth 1.15
Washington Wizards CSN Mid-Atlantic 1.13
New Jersey Nets YES 0.38

On top of that, we averaged over 15,000 fans at home games which, for a lottery team, is above average. We've increased that this year to over 16,500.

Don't confuse our stupid, passionate reaction to The Decision as "die hard". It only makes you look as if you are a "true fan" of NBA knowledge.


Haha so mad:lol

But by "die hard cavs fans" im referring to the now "die hard heat fans" aka LeBron stans..
I dont have anything against the Cavs!!

[2LeTTeRS]

Thats fine, but dont try to trap the best talent for that end. Lebron shouldnt be in cleveland. Stars of that caliber should not be on teams that dont care at all about winning.

This statement is unfair. Ownership and management were among the most passionate and active over Bron's tenure as a Cav, but the previous regime ****ed up so bad (I.e. drafting Luke Jackson and DaJuan Wagner, letting Boozer leave in free agency for nothing, etc.) it was hard to come back from.

[stephanieg]

What does Rudy Gay have to do with a super team? Dude is an inefficient chuck.

[jrong]

Huh? It doesn't matter what they have to offer. He'd be a FA. If it was going to be an S&T, and Lebron was going there regardless, then the Cavs would dictate the terms.

I mean that if the Heat thinks he's gone in the summer of 2014, they'll trade him before the February deadline.

[PJR]

You guys aren't thinking of parity the way the owners do. They want FINANCIAL parity and you want COMPETITIVE parity. They care about making a profit not winning and this repeater tax means more money for them due to wealth distribution. So the CBA hurts title chances but improves the bottom line. Never forget this is a business.

You sir are a gentleman and scholar.

One of the few people who understood entirely what the last collective bargaining was all about.

[gilalizard]

Don't know about the "super team era" thing.

Current Celtics in the championship year? Maybe.
Lakers in their two? That's more of a stretch. They had an undeniable amount of talent. But hardly "super team" worthy.

Only the Heat really count as a "super team". And they needed farcical amounts of ref favoritism to "win" their championship.

[longtime lurker]

I think what the author is trying to get at is that if Lebron wants to leave in 2014 don't expect to form a super team because of the harsher luxury tax penalties. That's why he brought up Irving and the Cavs. Why does he think Lebron will leave for a only a super team? Because he's left a team to form one. Then again he could always just stay with the Heat which is what I hope he does.

[InfiniteBaskets]

You guys aren't thinking of parity the way the owners do. They want FINANCIAL parity and you want COMPETITIVE parity. They care about making a profit not winning and this repeater tax means more money for them due to wealth distribution. So the CBA hurts title chances but improves the bottom line. Never forget this is a business.

Do all owners want financial parity though? What about the owners in advantaged geographical cities? Or the owners that invest much more in team management and scouting?

Do you think Micky Arison truly cares about how much money MJ keeps at the end of the season? It's a business for the owners on top as well and they'll only agree to the CBA so long as they keep their competitive advantage and make that money back through playoffs or team branding.

[KyrieTheFuture]

Do all owners want financial parity though? What about the owners in advantaged geographical cities? Or the owners that invest much more in team management and scouting?

Do you think Micky Arison truly cares about how much money MJ keeps at the end of the season? It's a business for the owners on top as well and they'll only agree to the CBA so long as they keep their competitive advantage and make that money back through playoffs or team branding.
I think Micky Arison took the deal because he can still afford to compete and I think MJ took the deal because he can still make money. Think about it, without a hard cap the Lakers and Heat of the NBA will always outspend the other teams no matter what. This way the other teams don't lose games AND money. They cry all the way to bank. I am sure there are plenty of owners (Grizzlies/Toronto) who are perfectly content not being good and making money. Does this make sense Idk if my argument flows kinda just stream of consciousness.