Straight, No Chaser!

Mark Thomas is a former New York City resident now living in North Carolina.

Hardcore Commentary on Professional Sports....from a Die-Hard Fan

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In its continuing effort to push the news and information envelope and challenge the insiders, particularly those at major sports networks, From The G-Man  proudly presents "Straight, No Chaser!", a brand new commentary series that examines professional sports, its players, and the teams we have come to love... or hate. 

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Straight, No Chaser!
By Mark Thomas

"The Fix", Poor Product, and Growing Dissent for the NBA

What’s up, folks? Allow me to introduce myself. I’m a die-hard KNICKS fan who played recreational sports. This article is written from the point of view of an “Ordinary Joe”, so I don’t want to give anyone the impression that I’m a former pro athlete or professional sportswriter. This article is littered with my opinion, based on facts. With that being said, welcome to the first installment of “Straight, No Chaser!”

I’d like to address the nonsensical debate regarding the NBA lottery and the fact that the Charlotte Bobcats did not receive the number one -- overall -- pick. As a New Yorker who recently relocated to Charlotte, I have heard all of the rhetoric, first-hand.  The talk surrounding “the fix” is particularly ridiculous to me.  Let’s first examine the genesis of why people give credence to the notion of “the fix”. 

It all began when Commissioner David Stern vetoed a trade of Chris Paul to the Lakers. Let’s look at the trade. More importantly, let’s look at what and who the Hornets would’ve gained in the trade. Here are the players that would go to the Hornets: Lamar Odom (forward from the Los Angeles Lakers), Kevin Martin (shooting guard from Houston Rockets), Luis Scola (power forward from the Houston Rockets), and Goran Dragic (point guard from the Houston Rockets). 

NBA Commissioner David Stern

Now, let’s look at them individually. Lamar Odom, a 32-year-old sixth man who had two years and $17.1 million left on his contract ($8.9 million in 2011 and $8.2 million in 2012).  If the Hornets were looking to clear some cap space that would be a nice addition because Odom’s expiring contract would have been appealing, but it’s going to be a struggle to get a quality, big-name, free agent to come to a rebuilding franchise.

Kevin Martin is probably my least favorite piece of this trade proposal. Martin has been in the league for eight years and has never played a full season. That’s right, but, to be fair, he did play 80 games twice. In four out of the eight seasons he has played in the NBA, he played 51 games or less. During the other two seasons, he played 72 and 61 games respectively. He’s a point guard that has never averaged three assist in a season.  I don’t think y’all heard me.  He’s a point guard that has never averaged three assists for one season in his eight seasons as an NBA starter. At the time of the trade, Martin was in the fourth year of a five year, $55 million contract, and was still owed $23.9 million. If you thought Martin was going to be an asset to the Hornets, I have few pet rocks I can let you have for only $100 each! 

Luis Scola, is a 32-year-old “power forward” that has been playing professional basketball for 16 years. Scola just resigned with the Rockets and was in the second year of a five year, $47 million contract. They offered that type of contract to a 32-year-old with knee problems that forced him to miss 16 games in 2011 and has been playing professionally since he was 16-years-old? Really? C’mon!

Goran Dragic is actually the only piece I really liked in this trade. He was a young player -- 25-year-old at the time of the proposed trade -- even with nine years of pro-basketball experience. He was slated to become an unrestricted free agent soon after the trade, but would have been a really nice asset to a rebuilding team. 

You cannot trade away your franchise player for two bums, a sixth man, and a player with potential, not to mention draft picks that would end up being really late round picks coming from playoff teams. The Hornets got two really young talents in Gordon and Aminu and a veteran double/double in Kaman.  They also received an UNPROTECTED first round pick from Minnesota.  I know all of you are saying, “Look at Eric Gordon!! He doesn’t even want to play for the Hornets.”  That’s fine, because that UNPROTECTED first round pick they received in the trade ended up being a lottery pick, and they got Austin Rivers.  With the original trade, the draft picks they would have received wouldn’t have been anywhere near the lottery. 

Okay, so let’s bring this circle to a close.  Stern vetoes the initial trade that would not have been in the best interest of the Hornets, or the NBA, since at that time the Hornets were owned by the NBA.  Then, the Hornets receive the first overall pick in the draft. Ooooooh, it’s the “magic bullet” all over again. In May, the Bobcats had a 25 percent chance of securing the number one pick, which means………say it with me……they had a 75 percent chance of NOT securing the number one pick!  That’s why it’s called a lottery.  It’s not guaranteed.  No team should be rewarded for tanking the season!  I’m in no way insinuating that the players tanked the season.  I am, however, saying that management tanked the season! 

The Bobcats made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, and the very next season trade the two players -- Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson -- directly responsible for their playoff bid, and get NOTHING for them!  They got three expiring contracts and cash for Wallace, and for Stephen Jackson they got Corey Maggette, and a project in Bismack Biyombo.  The Bobcats put a D-League team on the floor with the expressed purpose of securing the number one pick in the 2012 draft. When it didn’t happen, everyone started to scream conspiracy!  No, that’s justice!  It’s nonsense like what the Bobcats did that adversely affects the NBA product.  The Bobcats won seven games all season, becoming the worst team (winning percentage wise) in NBA history. Can you image being a fan of this team? 

So, let’s recap. The word “lottery”, in and of itself, exudes an inherent uncertainty!  Are you mad when you buy 10 quick picks from your corner store and don’t win?  No! Would you be mad if I told you that you had a 75 percent chance of not winning when you bought the ticket?  NO!  So, knock it off!  The Bobcats got what they deserved!  The NBA lottery system is not the best, by any stretch of the imagination, but in this instance it worked. It didn’t reward a team management group that placed a horrible product on the court. In essence, the Bobcats are an example of why there is an increasing dislike for the NBA. More and more fans, particularly in Charlotte, are beginning to point their finger and say, “The Charlotte Bobcats are the reason why I can’t stand pro-basketball!  Those players make millions for seven wins!” 

The Bobcats’ front office should be ashamed of itself, as should anyone who thinks the NBA fixed the lottery.  The legal ramification for fixing a draft lottery far outweighs the potential benefit. To even give that notion an ounce of credibility is as ridiculous as asking….have you stop beating your wife yet?

David Stern photo source: 
http://flickr.com/photos/codyraymulcahy/1366838042/ 
Author: Cody Mulcahy
Permission: GNU Free Documentation License