Holy crap, the NBA has gone trade happy. Bigger than in 2008, when Jason Kidd and Shaq were dealt in the same season, 2011 has proved to be crazier than we expected. Melo, Deron Williams, Baron Davis, and a miss-mash of has-been's and maybe-will-be's. And there is still time left on the clock with Gerald Wallace reportedly on the block and Tayshaun Prince rumored to be on his way out of Detroit.
Now before I jump into the heart of this post, can we all just take a second and imagine how little effort Baron Davis is going to put in with the Cavs? Baron "I can barely stay below 250 pounds when rehabbing my surgically repaired knee" Davis, arguably one of the biggest underachievers in the league on the team that more closely resembles a D League roster than an NBA one? Oh boy, Cleveland, just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, they do. And those two draft picks you have coming up in this draft (which could end up being the 1st and 2nd), probably won't do you any good because this draft is terrible. When it rains, it pours.
Now, since I don't have a lot of time to write this, and I promised a close look at the collective bargaining agreement talks, I am going to make this first post about the fans. Here is what you basically need to know for next year: there won't be a 2011-2012 season. I don't anticipate the two sides coming to agreement to save the rest of the season as they did in 98-99. The two stand too far apart from each other in negotiations.
And when the league does come back, expect some big changes. I suspect that the owners will concede a few points to the players, but they'll get most of what they want. Seeing as the owners write the checks that the players cash, they possess a great deal of leverage at the table.
My suggestion to you, the fans, would be this: you better pick a hockey team to start rooting passionately for because you won't be watching the NBA next year, nor the NFL (but that is another issue entirely). I, personally, think I will be adopting either the Atlanta Thrashers or the Buffalo Sabres as my team. I just haven't decided on which yet.
Coming tomorrow, or possibly tonight if I am feeling ambitious, the Collective Bargaining Agreement from the players' perspective and why they will ultimately lose out.
A throwback to better times: Weezer - The World Has Turned and Left Me Here
good point about the Baron...not only will he suck for the Cavs, but Mo Williams is not a good fit for the Clips at all. Mo is more Eric Gordon than Baron Davis, and Davis and Griffin were starting to gel of late. Not only is Donald Sterling completing yet another pointless trade, he is probably pissing off his only legit superstar in the process...
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