There's been a lot of discussion amongst the talking heads of the NBA world about how players are ditching the small market teams to running to the big markets. Some small-market owners are complaining, saying that there's a competitive disadvantage if they can't keep their star/franchise player because the larger market is more appealing to the player.
I think that's bogus. Absolutely bogus. The reason players leave teams (which, conveniently happens to be the small market teams) is because they're poorly run. It doesn't get much more simple than that. If you run your team smart, the players will stick around and reward you for rewarding them with the right pieces. Look at San Antonio, Tim Duncan has played their his entire career. Although Timmy doesn't seem like the guy who goes after the glitz and the glamour.
Or you can say the same with Oklahoma City. Kevin Durant is one of the best players in the planet, and just this past summer signed an extension because he was going to be playing with great players like Westbrook and Ibaka.
LeBron left because Cleveland wasn't putting the best players around him in an opportunity to win. It's that simple. He had stuck it out for 7 years. It's fair to say he gave them a fair shot. Now, going to Miami, to Dwayne Wade's team, is a totally different animal. But as far as "jumping ship" to a big market? If he wanted the biggest market he could of gone to the Knicks. He didn't. And just a year ago nobody would of wanted to go to the Knicks because they were in turmoil, with no direction and just seemed to be a mess. They freed up space to get Amare and now Carmelo, but so what? They're still a 6 seed, and might fall to 7 if they don't check their rearview mirror. They beat the Heat, but they lost to the Cavs. Riddle me that.
Remember, the NBA is different than the other sports because there is a max contract. There is no A-Rod deal. Kobe makes the same as Joe Johnson, who makes the same as Chris Bosh. That's as simple as it gets. So while money is nice, it's clearly the option of the players to determine where they want to get their money from. Although, that doesn't mean the NBA is free from it's boneheaded, scratch your head type contracts and just say "he makes HOW much to ride the bench and play 15 minutes a night?"
The league honestly is at an all-time high as far as popularity. I don't know if it's necessarily LeBron's doing, but for me it started right around then. There are so many subplots and story lines it's like a rich man's WWE. The Celtics Big 3 trying to show the young 3s teawmrok. Miami's Big 3. Orlando trying to prove they're the best team in Florida New York trying to make 3. Kobe still proving who is top dog. Blake Griffin trying to break the backboard. Kevin Love turning into the white Shaq. Durantula's continued evolution. And I haven't even talked about the Bulls, Spurs, or Mavericks.
Sure, nobody cares about the chaos in Detroit, or the Bucks, or the Pacers, or even the Sixers. I'm not sure I could tell you one player on the Memphis Grizzlies. Or the Rockets. But there are 8-10 teams that I would watch any time they're on television. That's about 8-10 more than I would have watched this time last year. I think that in itself is the accomplishment. The NBA is bringing the casual fan and getting them invested again, because there's fun to the league. Not everyone's having fun, but more people are than before.
So small market teams, shut up and run your team better. Your players will reward you for your efforts, if you play to win, and not play to make a profit.
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