Some fans are in an uproar that NBA players now are able to not only select the team they wish to play for, but choose their teammates as well. I say more power to them.
The draft is inherently unfair to players but seems to be the best way to maintain a modicum of competitive balance in the league. But when a player attains free agency, he should have the right to be as discriminating as the owners were when they selected him. And if that includes conspiring with another free agent or even a signed player with another club, so be it.
In the latest example, when Kawhi Leonard convinced Paul George to join him in Los Angeles, the Clippers and Thunder didn’t have to go along. The OKC squad got some nice players and a host of first rounders for a superstar player. The Clips gave up a lot, but may have made themselves the best team in the West.
When the owners were calling all the shots, no one except players and agents complained. I find it odd that while most of us are employees, we side with the boss when it comes to worker freedom.
Let’s say you’re working for a widget company 500 miles from your hometown and you want to go back. You best friend and coworker would like to join you and there just happen to be two jobs available at a new company back home with higher compensation. Your current boss may hate to lose you but did he do everything in his power (money, perks) to make you stay?
I do have a problem eliminating the word owner from the NBA lexicon — in favor of governor. Ever hear of George Wallace? These gentlemen own the franchise, not the players. Although these well compensated athletes are somewhat restricted in their movement and pay in their early years, they can’t be compared to slaves.
So what happens if groups of star players chose a small number of franchises, leaving others in the dust? This will be a challenge to those less fortunate general managers to make their teams more attractive. Geography may have something to do with it, but well run organizations with great coaches can overcome the idea of less desirable cities.
