NBA Contraction?

[$tunna]

It feels weird to talk contraction. We’re programmed to believe the NBA, and sports in general, grow as time passes. They make more money, and expand to new cities. That’s the way it’s always been. Contraction is a sign of weakness, that you’ve failed, that you overextended your boundaries and didn’t meet expectations. But with so many teams reportedly losing money, Stern and the NBA are seriously thinking about contraction.

In an ESPN.com podcast, and in a piece written by CBSSports.com, the commish said:

[Contraction] is not a subject that we’re against. In fact, when you talk about revenue sharing, a number of teams have said that if you have a team that is perpetually going to be a recipient, aren’t you better off with the ability to buy them in? Because between the revenue sharing and the split of international and the TV money, we could almost buy them in with their own money.

The players actually have been heard to suggest that as well, which was interesting because that means they are suggesting that we eliminate 30 jobs, or the potential for 30 jobs. So we’ve said to the players, you know, ‘Give us the right to contract, let’s agree upon what the basis will be. Let’s make this deal and then let’s continue to look at that subject.’

Since Stern took over in 1984, he’s given the league stability, and the opportunities to bring in expansion clubs in places like Orlando, Toronto and even Vancouver. The league has grown, not just because of the star power that saved it in the ’80s and then blew it up in the ’90s, but also because of the league’s insistence on making this a global game. But realistically, contraction might do everyone some good.

We toyed with the idea yesterday, holding a Dime mock draft in which eight of our writers picked a full 15-man roster. Now obviously, no one wants to go back to just eight teams, but it showed the difference in talent. Some of the league’s best teams of all-time will never be duplicated as long as we have the greatest players spread out across the country. Imagine if there were less teams? It would do nothing but improve the actual product on the floor.

That being said, no city wants to lose their team. No one will be volunteering.

There are always candidates though, starting with teams like the New Orleans Hornets, Charlotte Bobcats and Sacramento Kings. No one yearns to see New Orleans go. For all of their problems supporting a team (you know it’s bad when I talk to the players, and even they say the fans need to get better), it’s still a city in re-growth, and moving out would signify failure and the NBA giving up. From a public relations standpoint, not the greatest move. Charlotte has Michael Jordan, so the chances anyone willingly shuts them down are very small.

Tyreke Evans. DeMarcus Cousins. Chris Paul. All of them stars or potential stars. If contraction were to happen, their teams would be near the top of the list…meaning they would be on their way to Indiana or New Jersey or the Clippers or Houston or a number of other teams.

Spotted this over at Dime.

What teams ya'll think would be out of the league first?

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I think it's just talk.

http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2011/8/15/2364565/get-contraction-out-of-your-mouth

http://www.cowbellkingdom.com/2011/08/15/contract-the-kings-stern-says-not-so-fast-bill-simmons/

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=20593

In the Hornets case, you will have to write checks to 10,000+ season ticket holders (most won't make it that easy) and you'll have to get by the LSED, Bobby Jindal, Mitch Landrieu, SMG, Tom Benson, George Shinn, Gary Chouest, and a line of others.

 

[Elite]

Contraction makes sense, whether or not the fans of one of the teams who would be contracted want to believe it.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Contraction makes sense, whether or not the fans of one of the teams who would be contracted want to believe it.

Contraction doesn't make sense. The word is just silly. You can't contract a team with a snap of your finger. There are many leases, many contracts, tons of sponsors who have written checks (like Entergy just did for the Hornets), governments who have given special tax rates, stuff an MBA-type would call “many moving pieces.” Life isn’t that easy, sadly, Simmons, Berger, and company.

Even though, in the Hornets case, we will be in the top 15 grossing teams next season. Stern said himself that he does not think the Hornets are candidates for contraction.

 

[Elite]

Contraction doesn't make sense. The word is just silly. You can't contract a team with a snap of your finger. There are many leases, many contracts, tons of sponsors who have written checks (like Entergy just did for the Hornets), governments who have given special tax rates, stuff an MBA-type would call “many moving pieces.” Life isn’t that easy, sadly, Simmons, Berger, and company.

Even though, in the Hornets case, we will be in the top 15 grossing teams next season. Stern said himself that he does not think the Hornets are candidates for contraction.

I'm not talking about money wise and stuff like that, I could care less about that aspect of it.

I'm talking from a competition standpoint.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I'm not talking about money wise and stuff like that, I could care less about that aspect of it.

I'm talking from a competition standpoint.

With all due respect, the competition is lacking because of all the stars only wanting to go to a few different teams, like your team. You don't have to contract teams to fix that, all you need to do is fix the money issues and the cap is a very good start.

 

[Elite]

With all due respect, the competition is lacking because of all the stars only wanting to go to a few different teams, like your team. You don't have to contract teams to fix that, all you need to do is fix the money issues and the cap is a very good start.

Up until this off-season, the concept that everyone wants to form super-teams wasn't even relevant. Miami did it and now everyone thinks that that's what every player in the league wants to do.

The competition was already lacking before LBJ and Bosh joined Wade in Miami.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Up until this off-season, the concept that everyone wants to form super-teams wasn't even relevant. Miami did it and now everyone thinks that that's what every player in the league wants to do.

The competition was already lacking before LBJ and Bosh joined Wade in Miami.

It has nothing to do with super teams. It has to do with the fact that everybody wants to play in the big markets. Miami, New York, Boston, LA, Chicago. Now there's the talk of Jersey wanting to attract the top players.

All of the players (and I'm not just talking about stars, I'm talking about the great role players the league has) all want to play for those teams. It's because they can, the cap allows it. The cap is set up to have competition problems in the league.

 

[Elite]

It has nothing to do with super teams. It has to do with the fact that everybody wants to play in the big markets. Miami, New York, Boston, LA, Chicago. Now there's the talk of Jersey wanting to attract the top players.

All of the players (and I'm not just talking about stars, I'm talking about the great role players the league has) all want to play for those teams. It's because they can, the cap allows it. The cap is set up to have competition problems in the league.

And again, like I said, nobody ever even thought about that until after LeBron left. To say that this is the reason why the competition is lacking is total bullshit.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

And again, like I said, nobody ever even thought about that until after LeBron left. To say that this is the reason why the competition is lacking is total bullshit.

Ok, I could start a huge debate over how stupid your post is, but I'll just ask a simple question.

Why do you think the competition is lacking? And please for the love of god, don't say because the talent in the NBA is lacking because that is complete bullshit.

 

[Elite]

Ok, I could start a huge debate over how stupid your post is, but I'll just ask a simple question.

Why do you think the competition is lacking? And please for the love of god, don't say because the talent in the NBA is lacking because that is complete bullshit.

The talent is lacking.

The only way to truly even the playing field is to have a fantasy draft and that is never going to happen.

 

[Pugz]

players will go wherever they want if the cash and team is good. nothing will ever change that. im not a fan of getting rid of teams but i can understand why they could.

 

[$tunna]

The NBA is filled with talent lol. Just not superstars

 

[jonathanlambert33]

players will go wherever they want if the cash and team is good. nothing will ever change that. im not a fan of getting rid of teams but i can understand why they could.

A cap would fix that. As of right now, the NBA basically has no cap.

 

[Pugz]

how do they have no cap? if owner A is richer then owner B and wants to pay the luxury to win, oh well.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

how do they have no cap? if owner A is richer then owner B and wants to pay the luxury to win, oh well.

You just said it yourself, you can go over the cap as much as you want as long as you play the luxury tax.

That's a crap system. Why you think the owners want a hard cap?

 

[Pugz]

i know its not too fair but no matter what, owners will never be able to control where players go. with an hard cap we can see players take smaller contracts to play with more stars. then what?

 

[DJT]

I don't see any teams leaving.

 

[Mexi]

contraction would be beautiful
it's what the NBA needs. only makes the product stronger

 

[Rios15]

contraction would be beautiful
it's what the NBA needs. only makes the product stronger

Easy for a Lakers fan to say.