06-10-2021, 01:35 AM
(06-09-2021, 03:22 PM)Jommybone Wrote: These are interesting questions, all centered on the same theme: the confluence of star power and team management.
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This raises to me a a broad question from the broader questions. I call it the Super Pickup Team era which is different from the prior Super Team eras where franchise owners representing geographical locations competed on ground that was at least relatively more equal.
In today's NBA where the top players are putting together their own teams how do franchises remain competitive when they are not among the select few "destination cities" chosen by the most elite super stars?
Free agency is not a level playing field. Which cities are the top destinations based on geography?
The LA teams, NY teams, Miami? Orl seems they could be one if they could get in the Star game?
That leaves what 24 or 25 teams that are essentially 2nd tier or lower in the game within the game of getting enough talent to compete for a championship.
Obviously one way is still the draft which is the only way Dallas gets a Luka Doncic. Now having a Luka Dallas has to compete to get the best possible star talent next to Luka. For a team now competitive enough to miss the lottery for long time where is the 2nd and 3rd tier star talent coming from?
This is why Porzingis was the right move on paper because Dallas is not a very likely contender for the Kawhi's, George's and Lebron's of the NBA and even the Greek Freak types were always a long shot.
KP had at least flashed the potential to be at least an all star if not an outright super star. This is also why at 25 years old Cuban, Donnie and company are wise to play the Unicorn card to the maximum. He's still the closest they are to 2nd superstar at least in demonstrated potential.
Understanding the new 1st 2nd and 3rd tier nature of the Super Pickup Team era impacts Cubans team building strategy, or certainly should.