In the opening two parts of a three-part Podcast extravaganza, Ryan and Michael talk about LeBron, Dirk, the Playoffs, Parity in the NBA, daddy issues, the CBA, whether David West opting out may be a good thing, which players we think we may see the back of, and which will stick around.
Part 3 will be out Wednesday, since it’s all about Thursday’s Draft. Bet you can’t wait!
Part 1: Containing LeBron, Dirk, the Playoffs, Parity in the NBA, and Michael’s pet theory.
Part 2: Containing the CBA, David West opting out, contract discussions and which of the players currently on the roster we think will remain on the Roster in time for the season to open.
Enjoy the Podcast! Want it on Itunes?
8 responses to “In the NO Podcast Episode 35: Parts 1 and 2”
I thought going into this offseason that Dell Demps would have to make a bold roster move to get Chris Paul to commit, whether thats packaging Okafor & Ariza for Iggy & another piece or whatever. I think its likely Chris Paul will take the same route that Dwight Howard is by not signing an extension and heading to Free Agency regardless of what happens with David West. So if West is opting out I just wonder is it worth resigning the injured, 31yr old West to a 4yr/32-38mil type deal. The only reason I could think why Demps would sign West to that deal is if it vastly improves chances of Chris paul staying in New Orleans and I’m not sure that it will as i believe Paul is already thinking Free Agency.
Mac, I agree that a Heat win might have unified the owners that are not the Lakers, Celtics, Miami, Chicago, Portland, and Dallas in the CBA battle for something like a franchise tag. However, I think that Dallas winning should unify the same owners on the more important issue of salary cap and revenue sharing. This championship proved one fact over all others: You can and over the last 5 years almost always have to buy an NBA Title.
The past champions salaries:
2011 Dallas: 2nd highest salary by $900,000 so lets just call them the highest. As you guys stated, paying double the “cap” in salary to get win this title.
2010 Lakers: $91.3M. or $112M post luxury tax. “cap” was $57.7M for that year.
2009 Lakers: $78.8M or $85.5M post luxury tax. “cap” was $58.1M for that year.
2008 Celtics: $75M or $82M post luxury tax. “cap was $55.6M for that year.
2007 Spurs: THE LONE ANOMALY: $65.5M or 65.8 post luxury tax. “cap” was $51.1M that year.
While most hyper-successful businessmen are among the most egotistical humans on the planet, they wouldn’t have gotten to the point where they could buy an NBA team if they didn’t have the business acumen to realize they are operating in a rigged system. I think Dallas winning will galvanize the owners who are not Allen, Cuban, Buss, Gilbert, and Bostons Basketball Group. I don’t think it takes a genius to see that the other 25 or so owners who don’t care to continue to gamble on buying a title in a system they are already losing money or barely breaking even, are going to care more about this fact than if they might lose a superstar player. At a certain point, businessmen want to see SOME return on investment and they all HATE working in an unfair system. For these reasons, I think the Dallas win will do more good leading into the CBA and following owner to owner revenue sharing decisions.
Well said, and thanks for the numbers to back it up.
Although they deny it, the current talks are being stalled by an owner vs. owner dynamic that we at Hornets247.com predicted would happen quite a while ago. That is why I have always been pessimistic about this situation getting settled prior to the season beginning, but it sounds like small miracles are happening behind the scenes. Then again, the NFL lockout was never supposed to happen and/or be resolved in a month.
I agree 100% with MAC on the ‘father theory’!
I was telling my wife a couple of days ago while we were on our 8th-year anniversary vacation in Tampa that I really never had that ‘killer instinct’ or that ‘look-deep-within’ gene, because their wasn’t a real father in my life as a youngster. Yea, I was a good player in both football and basketball, but my talents diminished a tad-bit when I was challenged. No one in my face pushing me, and for that matter, no male figure with the same face in my face challenging me every time I get discouraged or want to retreat from competition.
Yes, it’s not true in all cases, but at least 90-95 percent of them I’m sure.
As a result my son and daughter will be extreme competitors as long as I’m present in their lives. As I was telling my wife, our children will be more like Michael Jordan and Serena Williams and less like LeBron James because of that very reason.
Imagine your child playing ‘Park-Board’, ‘Little-League’, or ‘High School’ sports, and, yes they have the coach on the sideline, but right next to that coach is the parent playing assistant. The parent who is playing assistant may not understand the game better than the actually coach, but has the best understanding of how to get the most ability out of their child. That speaks volumes!
I will add the Bernard Hopkins analogy that he used for McNabb and say that an athlete also needs to have that feeling of ‘struggle’ and not ‘entitlement’. The reason why D-Wade is tougher than LeBron is solely about one having to work harder to prove that they’re a superstar, whereas the other has always been deemed as “the Kingâ€!
L_REAZY
Good podcasts guys. Looking forward to part 3. My take on the roster is that we can be good enough with our current core to make some noise, but the odds of everything going perfect is extremely slim. I would prefer we make some moves so that even if things dont go perfectly, we can still compete. Okafor is solid but his price tag is too much for his production, Ariza is too up and down, and West/Landry combo is too slow and small.
I would keep West (at any cost under $10 mill/year) and let Landry walk. West has more value than just on the floor, he’s a leader, a warrior, and he’s a friend of the city and team. Its hard to replace a key franchise piece like that, so you have to keep him. Who cares what the fans will say about Landry being a few months rental. They will forget about that once we start winning. The next question is who can you grab to play PF while West is out, but young enough and has the potential to be your next starting PF once West becomes our backup in another 2 years. He also should be versatile to play other positions, something Landry can’t do, so you maximize his opportunity. Insert Michael Beasely. Guy can hold us down until Dec/Jan at the starting PF spot, then rotate as backup PF, SF and be an offensive spark like MT5 was, only with so much more potential and size (rebounding). A veteran team like us could change his off court issues; its a gamble we should take. With MIN drafted Williams, Beasley is the odd man out. Would they consider a trade revolving around Webster and Beasely for Ariza (and part of our Peja TPE)? I think they would. Both teams win.
I think turning one mediocre player (Ariza), into 2 players that fit needs and have tremendous upside alone would improve this team. If you could then find a way to upgrade Okafor’s position and perhaps get a sure thing at SG, I think the team takes tremendous strides forward. Thoughts?
Would CLE trade Anderson V for Okafor straigt up?? If so, would AV be a better fit for the price?
PCAST 1:
“not one of those people who believe someone has to be at the top of their game all the time.”- Schwan
IMO if you’re a two-time MVP, you better be at the top of your game come finals time.
“Michael Jordan….got the life choked out of him” – Schwan
Jordan never choked, however he couldn’t breakthrough the wall of defense put up by Joe Dumars. Furthermore, the amount of hacking the Pistons did once he came through the lane, as well as teams like them*, prompted Jordan to change into a full-time jump shooter.
As for the fatherless, Malone would have won at least 2 rings if he wasn’t playing against Jordan’s Bulls. Real recognizes real, and I have no shame saying that about Malone, even as a native Chicagoan.
PCAST 2:
“There isn’t a center that can be had that is better than Okafor” – Schwan
I agree with you 100%. Hornets best chance of getting a good 5 is through the draft. Charles Okwandu would be a great pick IMO.
So your team winning a championship created no change in your life ??
must not be a saints fan .