End of the Big 3 Era? How does this affect who gets MAX contracts?

[Flashbeanie]

It is becoming increasingly clear that a deep "Spurs"-type team laden with 2nd-tier stars and 1st-tier role players is having more success than a "Cavs/Thunder"-type team laden with 1st-tier superstars and 2nd-tier role players. The system on "Spurs"-type teams makes 2nd-tier stars better than they would be -- possibly as good as 1st-tier superstars, but only within that system.

As such, how should players be paid going forth? Do they have as much bargaining power if the organization basically uses a system that makes them more interchangeable and expendable? Anyone think Kawhi Leonard is a max player on a "Cavs"-type team? Jeff Teague?

[Top Gun]

I think a Big 3 can still work if you get the right 3 players. It's clear there's issues with the Cavs, but that might be because the Heat just had the right combination to make it work making it look easier.

[aj1987]

I think a Big 3 can still work if you get the right 3 players. It's clear there's issues with the Cavs, but that might be because the Heat just had the right combination to make it work making it look easier.

Exactly. Replace Irving with Conley and Love with Ibaka. Guaranteed Championship. Heck, they'll still have money left over to sign another decent player. LeBron, Conley, Ibaka. The ultimate Big 3.

[bdreason]

It comes down to defense. If you're big 3 are all offensive players, you aren't going to win shit.

LeBron, Wade, and Bosh wasn't a great fit, but Wade and LeBron are elite defenders, and Bosh is twice the defender Love is.

[navy]

The Spurs players are underpaid and discounted so basically it's fit as many guys as you can under the cap.

[JohnnyBravo5]

It also makes for a better locker room if all the starters are making 6-10 million per instead of 3 max contracts and the rest of the team on minimums.

[BlackWhiteGreen]

I think the "Big 3 era" is a bit of a myth, really. The Celtics won it all, but flamed out once Garnett got injured in 09 despite still having 70% of KG and Rondo stepping up. They were built perfectly, only a couple of players who needed the ball to be effective and great spacing. A top 20 all timer and 2 other top-60s always helps too.

After that, though? LeBrons Heat had SO much talent and space, but their main opposition year on year in the East was the Bulls before they were ready, the Celtics when they were too old, and the Pacers who lacked anything close to 2 all-stars, never mind 3. And after that their flaws were mostly exposed by Dallas and SA, and they beat a similarly-built OKC squad.

Other big 3s in the era, like Kobe-Dwight-Pau (all 3 having proven to be better in other situations) or Westbrook-Durant-Ibaka have flattered to deceive given their talent. Current elite teams, like GSW and ATL, have "better" and "worse" players in the team but their guys 4 through 7 seem to be the difference.

The league, in general, follows trends. The Celtics lucked into Pierce, Garnett and that other guy, and following that teams followed that model. Thibs' defensive schemes are now followed by the league. Once that was overturned by the Spurs pace/space model, teams have started to follow that, most notably Atlanta. The same goes for tanking - since OKC perfected it drafting KD, Westbrook, Harden and Ibaka, teams have tried much harder to get top picks.

What keeps me interested in the league is this level of adaptation. Im guessing the next trend will be the 2 PG lineups that the Suns have been using, given the influx of great PGs.