Lakers want Brook Lopez?

If Bucks want to keep roster together for most part owners will have to be willing to pay the luxury tax. Question is how far they are willing to go over the tax.
 
I have always scoffed at this idea that the league pushes players to larger markets. Westbrook and George are in OKC, Clippers traded Griffin to Detroit, Kahwi is in Toronto and decent chance he stays. Chicago and NY can’t get a FA to sign to save their lives, Lebron went to Cleveland after Miami. What pushes players to teams is cap space and the want to be the alpha dog thing.

The NBA has done a brilliant job of marketing stars not teams. Giannis is a perfect example as was how the league showcased Toronto is another. Look how the league featured San Antonio for years. If the league wanted big market success LA, NY and Chicago would be in the hunt year in and year out.

I get LA with Davis but to other team really had assets to trade for him
 
If Bucks want to keep roster together for most part owners will have to be willing to pay the luxury tax. Question is how far they are willing to go over the tax.
They are hedge fund guys. They will pay
 
I have always scoffed at this idea that the league pushes players to larger markets. Westbrook and George are in OKC, Clippers traded Griffin to Detroit, Kahwi is in Toronto and decent chance he stays. Chicago and NY can’t get a FA to sign to save their lives, Lebron went to Cleveland after Miami. What pushes players to teams is cap space and the want to be the alpha dog thing.

The NBA has done a brilliant job of marketing stars not teams. Giannis is a perfect example as was how the league showcased Toronto is another. Look how the league featured San Antonio for years. If the league wanted big market success LA, NY and Chicago would be in the hunt year in and year out.

I get LA with Davis but to other team really had assets to trade for him

You actually believe that? Apparently you didn't watch how the league used subtle rule changes in handling the cap, and things like the "Bird rule" to insure the big names stayed in cities that drew larger attendance, and was the staple of their TV offerings every week. If you couldn't see it, you were turning a blind eye to it.

You can't sit back and say that Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and LA were the only teams that had great programs. The fact is, when they had a star they didn't want to lose, the league created loop hole contract deals that kept these guys on their rosters. That didn't happen for the Bucks, or the rest of the "feeder league." They would get those exemptions after the fact, as a trickle down, but everyone knew it didn't matter because their pockets weren't deep enough.

Guys said they didn't want to play in Milwaukee, Toronto, or some other places, and lo and behold, a new cap rule came into play that allowed them to sign with a team in a larger market. There were even trades that were pretty much forced on teams because the league thought it was best for the league.

You are right on one point. League has done great marketing the player. But, before they started doing that like they are, they had to get these players into large markets, and then it started. Giannis is still getting just a small chunk of the marketing of guys in huge markets, and it's obvious. Announcers say he's great, then move on to laud over someone like Embiid. Why? Bigger market, plain and simple.

Here's the list of top selling jerseys.

  1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
  2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
  3. Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
  4. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
  5. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
  6. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
  7. Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
  8. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
  9. James Harden, Houston Rockets
  10. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
  11. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
  12. John Wall, Washington Wizards
  13. Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls*
  14. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
  15. Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls

This should tell you who gets the most marketing attention from the league, and teams. It's all about name, not team value any longer. Talent is second to league promotion and hype.

The past, less than 20 years ago, and going back, is one of a league that became oriented in big markets because that was how they fought to survive, and as such, they made rules that helped them survive. That included making decisions that protected the league by fortifying large market teams.

I understand the reasoning. But I don't think we can forget that what happened, did happen.
 
You actually believe that? Apparently you didn't watch how the league used subtle rule changes in handling the cap, and things like the "Bird rule" to insure the big names stayed in cities that drew larger attendance, and was the staple of their TV offerings every week. If you couldn't see it, you were turning a blind eye to it.

You can't sit back and say that Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and LA were the only teams that had great programs. The fact is, when they had a star they didn't want to lose, the league created loop hole contract deals that kept these guys on their rosters. That didn't happen for the Bucks, or the rest of the "feeder league." They would get those exemptions after the fact, as a trickle down, but everyone knew it didn't matter because their pockets weren't deep enough.

Guys said they didn't want to play in Milwaukee, Toronto, or some other places, and lo and behold, a new cap rule came into play that allowed them to sign with a team in a larger market. There were even trades that were pretty much forced on teams because the league thought it was best for the league.

You are right on one point. League has done great marketing the player. But, before they started doing that like they are, they had to get these players into large markets, and then it started. Giannis is still getting just a small chunk of the marketing of guys in huge markets, and it's obvious. Announcers say he's great, then move on to laud over someone like Embiid. Why? Bigger market, plain and simple.

Here's the list of top selling jerseys.

  1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
  2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
  3. Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
  4. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
  5. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
  6. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
  7. Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
  8. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
  9. James Harden, Houston Rockets
  10. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
  11. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
  12. John Wall, Washington Wizards
  13. Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls*
  14. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
  15. Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls

This should tell you who gets the most marketing attention from the league, and teams. It's all about name, not team value any longer. Talent is second to league promotion and hype.

The past, less than 20 years ago, and going back, is one of a league that became oriented in big markets because that was how they fought to survive, and as such, they made rules that helped them survive. That included making decisions that protected the league by fortifying large market teams.

I understand the reasoning. But I don't think we can forget that what happened, did happen.
I am going to respectfully disagree. The league has made efforts to keep the playing field as level as possible not only with the “Bird Rule” but also the “Rose Rule”. Short version, a player makes more $$$ resigning with his current team than moving in FA. And the “Rose Rule” also prevented A Davis from going to Boston with Kyrie there. The Rose Rule itself help keep George in Indiana (when he was there) and Townes in Minnesota being 5/30 players and ironically 5/25 players kept AD in NOLA, Lillard in Portland and Westbrook in OKC. Same will happen with Giannis. Small markets

With the salary cap and luxury tax its next to impossible for the league to dictate movement and the NBAPA wants players to maximize their salaries so it’s in their best interest to resign. Sure, jersey sales matter but it’s not what drives things. Milwaukee is 5th in merchandise sales and Giannis is at #3 in jersey sales and this is by definition a small market.

Sure, the league would love NY and LA to be relevant again that no secret but if it was critical for the league players would be there now. But who has been more relevant than NY or LA the last 10 years? OKC, Portland, SA, MKE.

And there is evidence to suggest that Bron going to LA has hurt ratings, more late starts. The biggest misconception in sports is low rating hurt leagues. Nope it hurt the networks, the league has already cashed the check and they know the next round of rights fees will make them richer
 
Though players now have found way's around these rules by having the contracts void after a year or two so they can then re-sign again for a larger contract so the Bird Rule does not mean much anymore.
 
Though players now have found way's around these rules by having the contracts void after a year or two so they can then re-sign again for a larger contract so the Bird Rule does not mean much anymore.
Yes and no. It’s more money upfront and in the case of Davis to Boston it restricts movement. Fact is other than Durant player movement has been limited and small markets like Milwaukee, Portland and OKC have more leverage. It’s more the Rose Rule that has helped
 
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