Today’s NBA game is changing more
than Dennis Rodman’s hairstyle. Back in the 60’s, it was all about who
could perform the basic skills most consistently and who could excel at
them. In the 70’s, players started to finesse their own moves. In the 80’s,
the salary cap started to move up, and the game started to take on a flashy
cover. In the Reign Of Jordan, I mean the 90’s, players have completely
revitalized the way the game is played. You’ve got crossovers, behind the
back passes, backwards dunks, on and on and on. And now in the new milennium?
It’s about the money. Whoever’s got the money, gets the good team. Owners
are slowly, but surely, adjusting to this style. And I just KNOW Mark Cuban
and Bob Whitsitt are chuckling behind their ugly, rich mugs (sorry Mark,
I’m jealous). Here are a few pointers for owners on how to “survive the
game”....
1.) Give up the money! That’s just how it is. The game
has changed to the point where money is what the players want, and if you’ve
got it, you’ve got the player. Take Mark Cuban for instance. He could care
less about the self-enforced luxury tax kicking in next year, which analysists
say will be a major pain in the you-know-what. Here’s what he had to say
on the subject...
“Bring it on. I love new taxes.”
That would perfectly sum up what
I’m trying to say. The owners willing to pay the price ARE going to get
the good team. Look at what Mark Cuban has gotten the Mavericks...
Steve Nash
Howard Eisley
Shawn Bradley
Donnell Harvey
Courtney Alexander
Etan Thomas
Christian Laettner
Dirk Nowitski
Gary Trent
Michael Finley
Eduardo Najera
Terry Mills
Hubert Davis
Greg Buckner
DAYUM! Consider that all of Eisley,
Harvey, Alexander, Thomas, Laettner, Najera, and Mills were added this
summer, with little cap room. And, of course, there’s the Blazers. They
are going to have to change the West All-Star jerseys to red and black.
Take a look at what Bob Whitsitt has done for them....
Damon Stoudamire
Greg Anthony
Erick Barkley
Steve Smith
Bonzi Wells
Stacey Augmon
Scottie Pippen
Detlef Schrempf
Rasheed Wallace
Shawn Kemp
Arvydas Sabonis
Dale Davis
Will Perdue
If you can afford to put ALL-STAR
Dale Davis, and former All-Star Shawn Kemp on the bench, then, uh, things
are looking good.
True, both of these teams will have
cap problems for years to come, or at least no cap flexibility. But they
don't care. They want to win, and will pay to get it. Mark Cuban would
steal candy from a baby.
2.) Outsmart your opponents 2000 NBA Draft. The Clippers select
Darius Miles. The Magic and Clippers had a mutual agreement that would
send Miles to the Magic, provided they could snag Marcus Fizer at the 5th
pick. Sure enough, Jerry Krause whined like a child that he couldn’t get
his pet-peeve. So, what do you do when you’re angry? Ruin it for everybody
else. He reared his fat mug at the Magic by selecting Fizer with the 4th
pick in the draft, closing the proposed trade. While everyone and their
brother knows that pick was out of jealousity, he did accomplish one thing.
While he didn’t necessarily help his team the best he could, he didn’t
help another team either. And that’s what more General Managers have to
do. It’s becoming clear that’s the plan. The Atlanta Hawks wouldn’t take
Matt Harpring from the Magic because that would clear cap room for the
Magic to sign Maurice Taylor in the free agent market. In a nutshell, if
you can’t help yourself, try your best to do the same for others.
3.) Know your cap situation. Do I have a middle-class exception?
How much am Iover the cap? Did I use my middle dollar exception last year,
or is it available now? Should I trade this hot dog to the Mavericks for
2 million? Get the point? Good.
4.) ALWAYS have a plan. It’s becoming more and more obvious
what teams, such as the Pistons, are trying to do. They want to clear cap
room to make a run at one of the free agents next year (Chris Webber).
Teams such as the Blazers want to stack up for their annual “Hack-A-Shaq”
marathon. The point is, you’ve got to have a plan and stick to it. No mid-lane
changes. Now, that plan may not always work. As much as Jerry Krause and
the Bulls want to be optimistic, you know they are disappointed they couldn’t
get one of the top 6 free agents in this year’s market (Tim Duncan, Grant
Hill, Tracy McGrady, Eddie Jones, Tim Thomas, Jalen Rose). But that’s a
risk you’ve got to take.
5.) Recruit, recruit, recruit. The CBA is now annually producing
NBA surprises (Adrian Griffin, Chucky Atkins, Bo Outlaw, etc.). Find those
guys. Know who’s around on the upcoming draft. Is Eddy Curry realistic,
or I am going to have to settle for Brendan Haywood? Also, keep up with
the waiver wire. There is almost always a ready-to-bloom player within
the unsigned lists.
Perhaps now I’ve shed some sense
into some of the people around these parts. Now, Mark, about my contract,
am I scheduled to make my million this year, or is it 2?....
___________________
Taylor Agee can be contacted at crazy7345@hotmail.com.
