Julius Randle is younger and more talented than many of the "name" free agents cited in this article.
Additionally, he has fully recovered from his previous injuries and should have a long future in front of him, while some of the more celebrated names will be gimping through the short remainders of their careers.
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Thanks to JD and the Straight Shot, the Nets are now New York’s destination basketball franchise.
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But didn't Knicks' owner James Dolan promise that the Knicks would do "something big" in the off-season to drastically improve the team?
And he's always as good as his word, isn't he...?
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Looking at the vast salaries involved (which are usually dwarfed by endorsements), it will be interesting to see if there are very notable beneficial social effects to a huge expansion in the number of ultrawealthy African Americans. Were each to devote as much money to worthy causes, as LeBron James and Steph Curry have done, imagine the impact!
Perhaps James could follow the example of Bill Gates and set up a foundation and encourage massive donations by his peers.
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@DSM14 Perhaps the many wealthy team owners could follow the example of Bill Gates and set up foundations to encourage massive donations by their peers.
The players' wealth may be more visible but it likely pales in comparison to what the owners are sitting on.
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@M.M True in many cases,although it would be less historic. I wish Dolan would sell, donate and leave. And Cuban could promote himself less and give more, as could Arisohn of theHeat. I assume Gates has asked Ballmer.
If you exclude the worth of the franchises themselves, I don't know enough about the liquid assets of others.
Of all the signings I think the Warriors signing of D'Angelo Russell is the most overlooked deal of the lot. I watched as the Nets became competitive last season and I believe he was a major force in that revival. He is a great shooter, a reasonable passer and will help the Warriors fill the void until Thompson returns. It was a great deal for him to be traded to the Nets and find his game with them.
And now it is a great deal for him to go the GS where he can resume his ascendency as a player. Especially so when he can escape playing with Irving who is a team wrecker of the first order. Irving unfortunately thinks of himself as a leader and that includes taking high risk shots at the wrong moments. Some will remember the ones he made; teammates cringe at the ones times others they might have been made part of that equation. I think the jury is out as to whether the Nets (without Russell more so than the addition of Irving) will be the latest to lament Irving's presence. I am sorry that Rosier had to lose a season of development by losing minutes while Irving decimated the team effort but wish him well in Charlotte. Meanwhile we'll see if Brad Stevens with the addition of Walker can reinstitute the "team first" chemistry that has always been the Celtic brand. Though they appear to be very ordinary underneath with the tragic loss of Horford.
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The Nets took a big chance on Durant. I knew he was unhappy at Golden State, he never really fit. He went to win a championship and that was the fastest way. They will be better in the long run with out him. A much more fluid offense. But his recovery may take longer than expected. And Irving who I think is the most talented guard in the league is a nut case. He left Cleveland to get out of LeBron's shadow, which he never should have done. And now when Durant comes back he'll be in his shadow. So who knows .... I am surprised Kemba Walker went to Boston. L.A. wanted him & the Lakers will be right there, barring injury, vying for a championship. Had he signed with them it would have been very likely. Boston with Horford gone isn't going far. And I think Kawhi is staying in Toronto for at least one more year.
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@Doctor Woo The Nets will be winning nothing - just like the Knicks.
not a big fan of the NBA. very excited uncle drew Irving is gone. he could win 10 championships for ny and i would feel the same way. his shtick is brutal. why anyone wants him is beyond me.
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It it pretty amazing the money & hype just mid level players get, even mediocre ones.
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What can I say but YAY KLAY! On the bench or on the court, what Klay Thompson brings to the Warriors is classy. Klay and Steph Curry, the legendary Splash Brothers, are one of the best duos in NBA history, and together they define championship basketball.
If Klay had not been injured and out of the last game of the finals, good as the Raptors were, it's more than likely those rings would be on a different set of fingers.
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@dutchiris Good for Klay and the Warriors to stay together. It's also good that Klay and Steph didn't say that they would be wearing more rings if they were immune from injuries.
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The Celtics replacing Kyrie Irving with Kemba Walker is both a great addition, and addition by subtraction.
Irving is a great talent. But he has had every injury in the book, and is moody. My gosh, he resented LeBron being the leader of the Cavs in his native Ohio. This is another impetuous Nets' move.
Kemba Walker plays bigger than his height, and takes charge putting the ball in the hole. He's a big time go-to guy who has been in relatively obscurity on subpar Charlotte teams.
Jimmy Butler, a late bloomer out of a Texas high school and Marquette, has an outstanding all-around game. He plays hard.
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@Wordsworth from Wadsworth Irving and Durant have that in common. Durant resented the Bay Area fans' affection for Curry. Curry was drafted by the Warriors so he was their homegrown hero. The whole picture of Warriors basketball changed when they got Curry, from being a bad, boring team to an exciting up-and-comer. And so Durant was jealous of that and didn't understand why the fans wouldn't displace Curry and make him their #1. How about that?
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No one goes to a game to watch the owners. The players' salaries are a function of their value to the business of basketball. It may seem crazy to many, but why should they play for less than they are worth? I hope that everyone stays healthy and injury free, plays to the best of his ability and the fans always see a great game. Of course, I'm a naive idealist, --but still...
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K.Leonard led the Raptors to an unforgettable season. Toronto is number one in basketball and number one in so many other ways. Leonard has nothing left to achieve in Toronto.A hero who overdelivered. Now it is time for him to join a team with multiple superstars. Where the burden of success will be shared with others. That will not be Toronto. Leonard will be warmly received by LeBron and Davis. The magic will return to the Lakers. Sorry Toronto.
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@Milton Lewis I'd love to see Leonard stay in Toronto to defend the title. But if he is going to leave, I think he should go to the Clippers. The Lakers already have two big stars. I know they need a third. However, the Clippers are a good team in need of a big star like Kawhi. He'd be perfect there, and would probably lead them to a championship. Plus, imagine the rivalry between the two LA teams. It would be great for the NBA.
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Durant was rich and unhappy in Oklahoma. Then he was rich and unhappy in California. Now he will be rich and unhappy in New York. Strange thing is that he could have been much richer and still been unhappy in California. The crosses that the one percent must bear.
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Disappointed in KD, probably Draymond Green was correct about KD being only for himself and not the team.
But the Warriors will rise again no doubt.
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@Dolly Patterson
When KD was in college at Texas, a walk-on was injured at practice. KD ran to the locker room to get him a bandage.
Today the Warriors dispatched NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala to Memphis. It's a business. KD knows it's a business.
The Warriors chemistry will have to be adjusted. If Klay Thompson signs with the Lakers, the Warriors' dynasty is over.
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@Wordsworth from Wadsworth Klay has already said informally that he is staying w the Warriors plus they just signed Russell.
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@Dolly Patterson
No sour grapes from me. I've been a Warriors fan since the mid-1960's, and am glad Durant came to the Dubs three years ago. He gave them his all, and I wish him the best. Time to move on and, hopefully, reload.
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Holy Moly! Incredible! I can't believe it. There must be some mistake! The national media, along with the New York "insiders". have been telling us for months that ALL the elite free agents wanted to play for the Knicks and their "mystique". The Knicks would have so many choices. The players would be begging. What happened? What about the history? What about Madison Square Garden? What about Spike Lee? What about...........?
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Players today, particularly top tier players, are far smarter and have far smarter representation and advisors. They want to win and stay healthy, but also they want their brand to flourish. The most successful teams have patient and thorough ownership and corporate leadership. Although the Knicks are good at the latter, the former is a joke. Players today don’t want to be embarrassed or have their brand tarnished by playing for a team owned by, as Mark Stein put it, a “buffoonish owner”. At the end of the day, James Dolan is the reason players will not submit their futures to New York. A meddling owner players will not stand for.
I could never afford to attend a game. I watched fans longingly go down the escalators on the sides of the Garden from my bedroom window in the Chelsea Projects after listening to Marv Albert’s play by play of the game, when the Knicks of my youth played - Clyde, Willis, Dave, Dollar Bill, Dick, and The Pearl, later Bernard and Patrick - winners all.
Since then, nothin.
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When it comes down to it, Curry has never won a Finals MVP.
And now, he never will!
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I am sure he would love to add that accolade. I am also sure he cares less than you seem to.
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Looking at the salaries of these players,the cost of a ticket for a game has to be seriously offset by Television money.Who can afford a ticket and how do you fill arenas?
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