The Indecisionists

Damn, make a decision already.

DEMAR DEROZAN

Out of all true free agents still on the market, DeRozan is the biggest gamechanger if placed on the right team.  His stock has gone down not so much due to a lack of efficacy as opposed to (#1) playing for two consecutive garbage franchises and (#2) being a victim of that 'midrange shots no longer matter' analytics' bullshit.

So one of the lingering effects of the past Warriors' dynasty is that now, you have teams who like no longer know how to score within the arc (and outside of the key).  Now that players like Shai and Wemby have taken over, the Steph imitating isn't as bad it was before.  But again, if there's a squad out there who actually needs him, DeMar can definitely help win a championship.

Preferred Destination: Miami Heat

Longshot Destination: New York Knicks

RUSSELL WESTBROOK

It's hard being so good that every time your team falters in one way or another, you're granted part of the blame.  It's also hard being so good that you have to hold yourself back in the name of overall team chemistry.  It's like a no-win situation for "the ScapeGOAT".

Westbrook has been in control of a team twice.  First was when KD bounced on OKC, and Russ immediately went on to win MVP.  Second was during his short stint with the Wizards, where he handily averaged a triple-double.

So all things considered, trying to call this guy garbage or someone undeserving of a contract is ridiculous.  It's logical, at least to me, that he should be most sought after by a team with a really-good starting five but like no bench.  In other words, give Russ complete, undeterred control of a second unit.  And if he's even too erratic for that, then yeah, maybe it is time for him to retire.  Or if he must start, I'm thinking a team like:

Preferred Destination: New Orleans Pelicans

JONATHAN KUMINGA

Jonathan Kuminga bet on himself and, in the short term at least, appears as if he's slated to take a loss.  And you know, I talk a lot of shit about the Warriors' inability to nurture draftees.  Steph may have even verified that when recently memorializing his first NBA Head Coach, the recently-departed Don Nelson, where he stated, plainly, that Nellie "never liked rookies".  So I'm thinking that frame of thought may have more or less persisted, to this day, within the Warriors' organization.

But that said, I'm not going to use this post to once again criticize Golden State's braintrust, because doing so, in context, may prove hypocritical.  It looks like Kuminga will be participating in next season's NBA at an annual salary somewhere in the $10mil range and definitely not exceeding $15mil.  Meanwhile, the Dubs offered him about $23mil annually.  So in hindsight, it's hard to say they lowballed him.  Rather, young Jonathan may have overestimated himself.

Preferred Destination: New Orleans Pelicans

Logical Destination: Cleveland Cavaliers

BRADLEY BEAL

Beal, on the other hand, was overestimated by the industry itself.  And when you compare his situation to Westbrook's, you see how hypocritical the collective mind can sometimes be.

Bradley led the Wizards, and they sucked, but he walked away being regarded as one of the best players in the league.  Westbrook led the Wizards while putting up a triple-double, and they sucked, but he walked away more or less disgraced.

Anyhow, if there's one thing Beal knows how to do, it's score.  I don't think that can ever be taken away from him, so long as he's playable.  So yeah, the Celtics sounds like a good choice, even tho they may not really need him (unless he's coming hard off the bench).  So a more viable option would be:

Preferred Destination: Miami Heat

JALEN DUREN

I'm mentioning Duren, even though he's restricted, because he's in a similar situation to Kuminga.  If he plays out the current year and is still coveted, as a completely free agent, next offseason, I mean come on.  The Pistons would be able to pay him the most money, but would he even want to stay?

Also, let's not forget that they're currently offering him something like $200mil(!).  Yes, other teams are willing to jump in and pay more, in theory.  Well actually, haven't dudes already spent all of their dough?

So realistically speaking, there is the possibility that when he hits the open market, like Kuminga, it may end up like his current team was actually willing to pay him more than anyone else will.

What I'm also envisioning is Jalen just being like fukit and forcing himself out by midseason, to an organization that expresses a willingness to pay him more or whatever.  If he feels that Detroit is devaluing him, it's not like, say he makes All-NBA or whatever, it's not like next offseason those feelings are just going to go away, even if they do max him out.

It wouldn't really make much sense for him to leave on paper, so that's like a worst-case scenario.  But you never know?  If they can't get along, it may all boil down to who the Pistons can get in return, or if maybe Jalen can get on a team where he has a better chance for a ring, tho at the moment it's hard to envision who.

Preferred Destination: Detroit Pistons

JAMES HARDEN

I'm still having a hard time, from the perspective of either party, trying to understand what logic was used to rationalize bringing the Beard to Cleveland.  They say on his part, he was looking for a longer contract and a better chance at winning, which is understandable.

I'm not going to criticize Harden, as of late I feel like I've been doing too much shaving.  But what I will say is this: all things considered, there are teams out there that could better utilize what he brings to the table.

Longshot Destination: Houston Rockets (sans KD)

BEN SIMMONS

When Ben Simmons ends up back on the Sixers, I want you to remember who called it first.

Simmons was like all-NBA, all-defense, all of that, but ultimately ended up being criticized for lacking the mamba mentality.  Too much eye of the tiger, and you're Russell Westbrook.  Too little, and you're Ben Simmons.

In any event, logic would dictate that reality could be mitigated by (#1) cutting his salary, (#2) not expecting too much out of him and (#3) surrounding him with teammates who are in fact feening.

Preferred Destination: Philadelphia 76rs

CONCLUSION

A team like the Pelicans, with a roster that at least has hope but in a situation where they've been all but forgotten about, could be perfect for undervalued vets who aren't obsessed with winning.  But somehow, New Orleans has already spent all of their cap money(?).

And that's the reality of the NBA, and it always has been, in a way.  You have more cautionary tales of guys betting on themselves and losing than players who took extensions and outplayed them.  In that latter regard, I can only think of Steph, but with the former, Sprewell, Schröder and even Isaiah Thomas, in a way, instantly come to mind.

That said, it baffles me how certain teams are standing pat instead of trying to find creative ways to implement quality players who are looking for work and who may be had relatively cheaply.  

Dear Kawhi, Just Stay with the Clippers

So if the reports are true, that the Clippers arranged to pay Kawhi an extra $40mil(!) - another salary basically - even though he didn't have to do jackshit to earn that money, then I have two questions.  Number one, why would a player want to walk away from a sweet situation like that?  And number two, after making such an investment, why would the organization want him to go?

If or when punishments are handed down, I hope the NBA isn't too hard on Kawhi, in terms of like suspending him and shit.  Funny how you don't hear the NBPA releasing statements related to this case.  Maybe in circumventing his salary or whatever, Leonard gypped them out of a cut.

Also at this point, what I'm actually hoping is that he just stays with the Clippers.  That'll teach him a lesson.  And I mean, if the goal is parity, trading Kawhi and in the process making the Raptors really good while LAC gets even worse isn't the way to achieve it.

Of course, I can't see the future.  But what the Clippers are trying to do, in terms of roster construction, is kinda weird.  This is the curse of being too bad to be good yet too good to be bad.

Instead of fruitlessly trying to compete without Kawhi, they might as well go full rebuild and hope for the best.  Meanwhile, if they are forced to keep him, I mean the offseason is practically over.  But if Ballmer and co. still have money to spend, might as well go after DeRozan and Kuminga, i.e. the two best noncommitted free agents left.  And if the Clippers are reluctant to acquire them because of tax concerns, I mean obviously they know how to quote/unquote 'handle' those types of situations.

If Kawhi is eventually forced to stick around, then might as well put him in the best situation possible to win.  And you never know.  A full season with him as the undisputed alpha may pay off better than those failed superteam experiments of the last few years.

THE INDECISIONS

I don't know if it's just me, but starting with that whole Lebron fiasco, it feels like dudes are intentionally taking longer to make their decisions, deadass exercising their patience.  In the meantime, I can't write my predictions or rate the offseason because first of all, if DeRozan does land on a contender, chances are he's going to make a major impact.  And now that I think about it, it kinda surprises me that the Pistons haven't gotten in the conversation, but they seem to actually prefer chasing C-listers and shit.

I used to be really big Jonathan Kuminga, someone I viewed as having been underappreciated by the Warriors.  Now looking back, there's absolutely no reason Golden State shouldn't have kept him, because they need all the quality help they can get, and he's definitely better than any of the other non-star currently on their roster.

Also, it looks like a situation whereas Kuminga may never perform as well as he did on the team that drafted him.  Sometimes, it's like that.  A team needs a certain player just as much as a certain player needs a particular team.  Jonathan may not have been the future of the Warriors in and of himself, but then again, neither is Draymond, who just scored a major loyalty contract.  Oh well.  The current GSW braintrust may undervalue youth, but at least they treat a couple of proven dudes they drafted over a decade ago really well.

If Bradley Beal ends up on the Celtics or Heat and is actually healthy type shit, he'll also make a difference.  But I'm having a hard time picturing both him and PG13 on the floor at the same time, trying to play defense.  The best defense is a good offense?

THE FOOLISH KING

And then there's the ScapeGOAT who, I mean idk what else to say.  Lebron is about get paid, what, $9mil, while the Beard, a lesser player all things considered, is prolly going to end up with another $100mil-ish contract.

Westbrook, who stat-wise is better than 90% of the players in the NBA, doesn't have a contract.  Meanwhile his former partner in crime, KD, demands a max salary, even though he never accomplished anything Russ hasn't besides excelling on a team that was already poised to win without him.

But I'm not trying to minimize KD's accomplishments, because it's not like a superstar joining a contender always works.  And the results may not have been the same for the Warriors if, say, they had gotten Westbrook instead of Durant.  So I figure that Russ must really be that difficult to control, like they say, to have fallen off like this.

In the past, I was sorta like it's the coaching staffs' fault for not being able to reign him in.  But now, I sympathize with anyone who may be stuck with a subordinate - so to speak - who's an A-hole, if that is in fact the case.  But I don't necessarily believe that.  I believe that the ScapeGOAT may actually be too complete of a player, in and of himself, to play 5-on-5 basketball. 

But that said, the Kings are just about as ass-backwards as an organization can be.  For instance, even if it was the Bulls who gave LaVine that ridiculous contract, why would you be dumb enough to pick it up?  That shit was questionable from the time it was signed.  And if you don't believe me, dig through this blog and find what I postulated back then, that basically, Chicago gave Zach all of that money moreso for his marketability than productivity per se.  Meanwhile, those types of Haliburton gambles don't always pay off

Also, when have you ever heard of an organization putting their "future" in the hands of a rookie PG, who has yet to play an NBA game, that was drafted all the way down at #5?  I mean I'm not sleeping on dude, but come on.  Have we learned nothing from the faith put in the likes of Telfair and Scoot?  What about Fultz?  C'mon, dudes.

Again, I'm not sleeping of Darius Acuff. But I mean yeah, generally speaking, I can't say off the top of my head I ever seen the media bigup a #5 pick like this, regardless of position.  That's how bad everyone wants Sacramento to finally take a step forward or at least look like they know what they're doing.

SMH @ Toronto Raptors

There's this article recently posted on MTO News titled "James Harden Paid Gang Member to Extort Adrian Broner".  MediaTakeOut is this gossipy, psuedo-journalism site, replete with intentionally-misleading headlines, that seems to get most of its information from social media.  They often write in a way which gives the impression that they're afraid of potentially facing a lawsuit.  For instance, their articles regularly feature misspelled words, poor editing or are sometimes downright confusing.

So as far as I can gather, the above post doesn't contain any actual reports or allegations pointing to Harden having extorted Broner (besides the headline).  Rather, it focuses on this idea that all celebrities who venture into a certain part of Los Angeles are extorted by gangbangers who demand "protection" money.

And on that note, let me chime something that I find pretty interesting.  Law enforcement is ubiquitous in the United States, besides citizens being under ever-increasing levels of surveillance, and that's especially true in big cities like Los Angeles.  Yet somehow, street gangs are able to perpetuate and proliferate.  But I guess that's a discussion for another blog.

SLICING THE NBA PIE

The reason I'm bringing that whole story up is because, reading that article had me once again thinking that there's there's no way these NBA players are making as much money as their contracts stipulate.  In other words, besides gangsters, there a whole bunch of other unsavory characters, if you will, that making millions of dollars attract.  And I would further speculate that the cut of some of those characters, i.e. the more formalized payments, are actually written into the contracts.

A quick Google search reveals that NBA players, on average, actually take home about 50% of their salary.  This is after taxes of course, besides paying "NBA escrow fees", agents and a "jock tax", whatever TF that is.

As far as those escrow fees go, if I'm reading correctly, it's a 10% cut that the league takes to ensure that the owners also profit or whatever, and players may get some of it back (tho refunds aren't common).  But that said, considering that, according to Google, a superstar's contract usually averages about 50 pages(!), then yeah, I think other parties may be written in there someway somehow, even if under those aforementioned categories.

"GENERATIONAL WEALTH"

These days, you hear the media talking alot about "generational wealth" in relation to NBA players, and they imply that, in order to pass down earnings to future generations, you have to make something like $100mil.  That's bullshit.

To most people in the world, even a million dollars - or perhaps even as low as 100k - may be considered "generational wealth", because ultimately, when you find yourself with surplus, it's not about how much extra you have but how you use it.  If you look at some of the greatest tycoons in American history, i.e. those who have built up "generational wealth", many, if not most of them, started from nothing.  They began as lackeys of the same companies or industries that they later went on to dominate.

And that's why some dudes can even make $100mil+ over their career and still end up broke.  Dudes on vet min. contracts are making "generational wealth", so long as they don't blow it on frivolous shit which, all things considered, they probably will.

KAWHI & BALLMER'S "ASPIRATIONS"

Or another way of looking at it is that virtually all money in the NBA is big money.  And all of this yappng is ultimately bringing us to Kawhi Leonard.

If I'm reading these allegations correctly, besides the gazillion dollars he's already making through his standard contract, the Clippers paid him roughly $30mil extra(!) through an endorsement deal with a third party (Aspiration) even though, according to said deal, Kawhi doesn't actually have to endorse anything.  If true, that's a pretty clever way to get extra funds to a player.  And again, Steve Ballmer is one of the greatest businessmen of 21st century America.  So you have to believe he's getting a cut of that $30mil also, besides perhaps other parties.

And then, in comes the Raptors.  If Phoenix was the surprise team of the West, then Toronto was that of the East.  This franchise is like a dumping ground for players the Knicks no longer want, and like they never, ever ever ever score an A-list free agent signing.  Yet and still, they were able to take the Cavs to seven games and, imo, even tho they lost were the better or at least more promising team.

This organization, despite its territorial shortcomings, is known to overachieve from time to time.  And that's why I said, at the conclusion of last season, they were just a player away from being contenders.  I was thinking more along the lines of a formidable big, but if you need a quality C yet can't score one, Kawhi is definitely the next option.  And that's not the mention the established history he already has with the Raptors.

But the reason I'm shaking my head is because, how long has this Aspiration shit been going on now?  But you see that as soon as the offseason transaction period began, the Clippers and Raptors tried to strike that deal quick quick quick.

What they didn't realize, or perhaps what they were trying to circumvent is that Silver and co. are really clamping down, the way I see it, on players' earnings.  That's what all this "tax apron" shit is leading to, in clearly visible terms, not contenders having trim down as much as players being paid less.  And in terms of all of this Aspiration stuff, i.e. organizations finding ways to pay players formally yet off-the-books at the same time, there's probably going to be a lot more of that going on now that dudes are systematically being paid less than their worth.  Previously, I was one of those people who viewed NBA players as being overpaid.  But now, knowing they only take home half of their salaries, I understand better.

So more specifically, the reason all of this funny - in a dark humor kinda way - is because the Raptors, all things considered, took sort of an unethical action.  It appears that they thought they could take Kawhi - shadiness and all - without having to face any of the consequences themselves.

Upon realizing that they would have to, they put the deal on hold, perhaps indefinitely, considering that the league is refusing to release a definitive timeline for the end of their investigation.  That's not necessarily the bad part because no, you shouldn't pay for any wrongdoing you weren't directly a part of(?).

But what does suck is that somehow, this whole drama has led to Toronto doing jackshit this entire offseason.  That isn't ideal, since they didn't even get past the First Round, while some of their competitors have upgraded.  So yeah, it does kinda look like they tried to beat the system but are slated to take a loss instead.

CONCLUSION

If things continue as is and if they league doesn't punish them too hard, this may actually good news for the Clippers, you know, keeping Leonard.  And that's another reason why they look guilty because, looking at their roster without Kawhi, like why would they trade away the only established star on the team, i.e. their clearly-best player?  Not only would this iteration of the Clippers likely suck (even more) without Kawhi but furthermore, it'd be really difficult for them to get national TV time (i.e. sell tickets) with this cast.  It looks sorta like a sell-fast-because-the-product-is-defective type of the scenario, with the buyer also trying to take advantage of that fact.