What? You thought NBA teams were going to sit back and watch the Golden State Warriors race their way to an NBA dynasty while enjoying the coughing and wheezing of blue and gold exhaust left in their wake?
The first major move of the NBA offseason happened when soon-to-be-former Los Angeles Clippers star guard Chris Paul said “no thanks” to the most money and “yes” to trying to build a machine comparable to the Warriors steamroller with the Houston Rockets.
The move itself is significant standing on its own as a threat to more NBA titles in the Bay Area, but what it means moving forward is even bigger. Teams aren’t buying popcorn to watch the show. They want to blow this thing up and grab the stage for themselves in a major way. Tweaks here and there aren’t stopping this train and executives in the league know they need to bring their big bats to the plate and swing for the fences.
Let’s start with the Paul trade. My first reaction is unlike when the Warriors acquired the perfect puzzle piece in Kevin Durant on the fourth of July last year. Two ball dominant players like Chris Paul and James Harden don’t seem like a fit.
Most decision-makers in all of professional sports are interested in first acquiring talent and fitting the pieces later. Durant made sense because with the other stars on the team and the way Steve Kerr’s offense works, the Warriors could get enough for Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Durant offensively, while Draymond Green was content defending, being a fourth option with shots and contributing through ball distribution. The pieces fit, the egos quelled by winning.
In Houston, Harden was second in the NBA in ball time of possession, and Paul was seventh in LA last season. The top Warriors player was Curry at 29th. Paul will unquestionably be the point guard. Harden, who couldn’t always coexist in Oklahoma City with ball dominant Russell Westbrook, will have to learn to play more off the ball and be much more of a traditional two guard. Can he do it? Sure. Has he done it in Houston? No.
Those who didn’t know the Warriors’ system — dedication to winning at the expense of personal stats — used the old one ball argument with the Warriors before last season. Paul has had almost all the personal accolades you could want, Harden still seems to be intent on proving how good he is individually with MVP hardware. The Warriors players were past that when they teamed up.
There will be an adjustment period for the Rockets. Let’s not be naive here though. Paul in with Sam Dekker, Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams out is an upgrade for Houston. The other factors which still tilt in the champs’ favor are that Mike D’Antoni teams still don’t play defense and Chris Paul in Houston is less of a threat to me than Chris Paul in San Antonio with Kawhi Leonard and Gregg Popovich, which was a widely floated idea. Reports are, though, that Houston is not done working to make the roster better.
Regarding the bigger picture, welcome to the Super Friends. It’s not Lex Luthor versus Superman, but close. One of the reasons Paul could leave money on the table in Los Angeles is he only has one year left on his deal after opting in to his Clippers contract to be traded to the Rockets. If he can’t make it work with Harden next season, he forms a super team and makes his money back with his good buddy LeBron James, who has one more year in Cleveland before he can opt out of his deal.
Paul George has one year left on his deal, Carmelo Anthony could be bought out in New York with their front office uncertainty now that Phil Jackson has been fired. The thing to do for the major stars in the league is to sign short term deals with opt outs after each season. This accomplishes two things. Always be near the top of the salary heap and give yourself flexibility and control when it comes to where you play and more importantly, who you play with.
Off the court earnings have made the money less of an issue, and winning rings is the most important currency for a star players legacy. The Warriors are the “it” team now, but in the next couple of seasons, many top players have flexibility. LeBron James knows most players don’t want to live in Cleveland, so star-studded squads will be formed in more desirable locations.
Los Angeles is always a top destination, Texas teams have no state income tax and players know Gregg Popovich wins in San Antonio. There is no state tax in Florida, which is one of the reasons players like to join forces in Miami, and the beaches and bikinis don’t hurt. The bright lights of New York could again become a destination now that Jackson is out, Boston has resources and a great young coach in Brad Stevens. The Bay Area has become the model for opportunities in the tech world after basketball and making key business connections with those who have oodles of dough.
The Warriors still have pole position, but other NBA teams aren’t enjoying season after season with a predetermined outcome as obvious as WWE. The battle of the stars has begun. The next few NBA off-seasons could be better than the regular season itself. Gentlemen, start your checkbooks.