01-19-2026, 03:19 PM
Let's say you're a superstar on a max contract, like Giannis, or Luka, or Jokic, and you decide that your team can't win as currently constructed. Maybe the team has whiffed on some high draft picks. Maybe they've made trades that didn't pan out, and the draft cupboard is bare.
Maybe the team went "all-in" on acquiring high-priced veterans, but they just weren't good enough to win a championship.
Let's say you're unhappy without a ring, and want a trade.
Where are you going to go? And how will your GM construct a deal that satisfies both parties?
Maybe the deal will involve another disgruntled superstar on a max salary. Does that really increase the championship aspirations of either team? In an even swap, aren't both teams in about the same place as they were before the trade? Would Giannis for Luka really move the needle for either team?
If I'm Giannis, I want to be traded to a team that retains substantial talent, but can accomodate my max salary. So they have to send out high salaries of non-performing players, and probably a ton of draft capital to compensate, and maybe some young talent that isn't performing at a high level yet.
The key in the whole equation is for the acquiring team to have substantially underpaid talent already on their roster. Guys on rookie contracts who are contributing like superstars.
...and the window of opportunity is small, because soon, those rookie contracts expire and turn into big, huge contracts. Think Boston, OKC.
If any of those superstars really want to win, they should do like Dirk: take a lower-than-market deal to allow the team to acquire more talent. Kobe could have done that, but wanted the money. LeBron could do that, but hasn't.
Maybe the team went "all-in" on acquiring high-priced veterans, but they just weren't good enough to win a championship.
Let's say you're unhappy without a ring, and want a trade.
Where are you going to go? And how will your GM construct a deal that satisfies both parties?
Maybe the deal will involve another disgruntled superstar on a max salary. Does that really increase the championship aspirations of either team? In an even swap, aren't both teams in about the same place as they were before the trade? Would Giannis for Luka really move the needle for either team?
If I'm Giannis, I want to be traded to a team that retains substantial talent, but can accomodate my max salary. So they have to send out high salaries of non-performing players, and probably a ton of draft capital to compensate, and maybe some young talent that isn't performing at a high level yet.
The key in the whole equation is for the acquiring team to have substantially underpaid talent already on their roster. Guys on rookie contracts who are contributing like superstars.
...and the window of opportunity is small, because soon, those rookie contracts expire and turn into big, huge contracts. Think Boston, OKC.
If any of those superstars really want to win, they should do like Dirk: take a lower-than-market deal to allow the team to acquire more talent. Kobe could have done that, but wanted the money. LeBron could do that, but hasn't.
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