TripleThreat wrote:

Chandler wrote:We need a better solution

Likewise you have the problem with the max player. E.g., Durant, LeBron etc. They're going to make their money wherever they go. SO why would they not want to do a bitch mover like KD did and join GS. Winning is more fun

Kawhi Leonard - F - Spurs

Kawhi Leonard is now eligible for a supermax extension with the Spurs.
The Spurs could offer Leonard a five-year extension worth roughly $221 million, but if he's traded, the most he could receive in an extension offer would be $108 million over four years. As a free agent, he'd be able to sign a five-year deal worth $190 million with the team that acquired him or four years for $141 million with a team that had the cap space. Things must have really rubbed Leonard the wrong way for him to be willing to leave that much money on the table.
Source: ESPN
Jul 16 - 5:07 PM

The NBA has done everything possible to create incentives for a "franchise" player to stay with his drafting team.

The cost to get a players Bird Rights in this environment is so prohibitive that the difference is a staggering 80 million. The extension Wall and Westbrook signed are literally franchise crippling for the long haul.

Tanking isn't the problem, talent scarcity based on height dependency is the problem. Even if the league found a way to kill pure tanking, there is just not enough incoming franchise changing talent to turn teams around fast enough. You can't make people taller, but you can negate the value of the height/athleticism matrix at work.

The structure of the game need to change. Raise the rim. Shorten the shot clock. Make starting rosters into 7 players. Add in a 4 point shot, then a 5 point half court shot. Remove foul outs but increase other foul based penalties. Use a soccer standard were certain players cannot cross the half court line marker. In a previous era, the rules changed because George Mikan was just too dominant. You have to artificially decrease the impact difference in the tiers between players.

Red Auerbach said the solution is to lower the rim to discount any height advantage

having said that the rules of the game are one approach; i'm talking about the rules for the GMs and how there are inherent disadvantages issues with teams trying to catch up

and back to the original post that for Silver to preach competition is a joke. He should be thankful that the fans are so loyal

compare any other league on pre-season forecasts for finals (e.g., vegas odds) to actual finals. (or even playoffs).