All we do is think about the disparity between the East and the West but the fact is one team has created a major disparity betweeen all the teams in the NBA. This I believe is bad for the league. What those two chumps Malone and Payton did was make the NBA unwatchable. What those two did was just sick chasing a ring as a superstar is one thing but to do it on coattails makes them a chumps in my books. This is as bad as what Isiah Thomas did when he canned Adrian Dantley in favor of his boy Mark Agguire. New rules need to be put into place to protect the integrity of the league what the Lakers are getting away with wrong. I liked the idea that any team can win it makes a fan of a team feel excited about his product. In this case what good is it to get to the finals or even the playoffs. David Sterns blew this one he needed to step in and stop the maddness that is going on where players only want to play for winners or play for a team if they get a certain someone.
There is no way Malone or Payton should be earning a veterans minimum salary or an exception. This is outrageous a travesty has just occured in the NBA.

lololol

vmart man you got good points, what about the guy that takes 100 million to play at denver?????

karl malone has gave 18 years in the least linmelight basketball town and missed what 4 games

gary payton gave 12 years in seattle it rains every day,playing for horrible teams for years as the best point in the league.

let these guys pursue some funa nd to get a Ring Damn,lol

if they came to the knicks yall be singing hyms.

Why should n't some one want to work for good company, they sjhowed loyalty. peace.

Don't underestimate the likelyhood of 4 hall of famers who SAY they want to win a championship, have issues regarding playing time, the need to modify the triangle, and the willingness of a single minded player like Kobe who wants so bad to be the next Jordan, share the ball with the other 3.

Looks great on paper....but thats a ton of ego on the court now.

I gotta agree somewhat. When you put it all aside, thats what they are doing, riding the coat-tails of the Lakers to get a ring. I didn't see Ewing go play backup for Shaq and get his ring, instead he played with Orlando. Same for Barkley, he could have come back and joined the LAkers for a ring but he didn't. On the other hand, why didn't Malone or Payton go to the Kings, or Mavs? Or the Nets. You know, to be a champion, you have to beat a champion, not join them. Mark Madsen has a couple of rings, and thats cause he was riding the coat-tails of Shaq and Kobe. I have a hell of a lot of respect for Kidd and Alonzo wanting to do it by EARNING it, rather than go join the LAkers. And come to think of it, aren't the Lakers capped out like most other teams, how do they land both Payton and Malone? I know Malone is taking a cut, but still, the whole thing stinks.