Hopefully there are still some guys left in the NBA that would rather take down a team like that than join them. That stings coming in second again and losing a guy to the Warriors.
I have good news that will take the sting away. We didn't come in second on Durant, and he said as much. He was unimpressed by TB12's gaze.
I get it. Was no team left to offer him real money and frankly a good fit. What the fuck the Lakers were thinking throwing dumb money on rondo and others when they could have offered a lot more is beyond me.
Boogie gets to rehab without pressure and win a ring and prove he's healthy for a big payday next year with a higher cap and lots of contracts ending.
It's not a crazy thing for him. But yeah the draft and tanking is the NBA's issue. Fucking silver.
This is the part that confuses me. Even if they aren't winning a title this year, the Lakers could've gotten Boogie and had the entire year to evaluate his achilles before deciding whether to commit to him long term next off season. Bonus points for whatever he contributes in the playoffs. Instead, they watch GS pick him up on the taxpayer MLE. I don't know what Magic is thinking, because Lebron can say what he wants, but I don't think it is realistic for him to "wait til next year" given his age, and thew realities of the Western Conference.
Also, I agree completely on the last bit. Silver is a great commissioner in some ways, but his fascination with ending tanking while allowing two or three teams to play 2K on easy mode because of the way the cap is structured is hurting the competitiveness of the game, and will affect the ratings at some point. I know ratings were down for the Finals this year, but man, it could get a lot worse going forward.
We need Boston/Philly to really turn it up a notch in the next season or two to avoid a really boring stretch for non Bay Area residents and newfound GS fans who suddenly discovered their love of the Warriors but didn't watch them when Latrell Spreewell was choking mother fuckers out.