The Year of the Small Market

[The Truth #6]

The coastal glamour markets look horrible this year.

Nets: disaster
Lakers: a joke
Clippers: an embarrassment
Sixers: disappointing
Knicks: self explanatory
Golden State: still a favorite but showing cracks

Milwaukee: dominant
Memphis: ascending
Pelicans: ascending
Spurs: surprising
Jazz: surprising
Cleveland: ascending
Nuggets: still in good shape
Portland: surprising

Basically, it's an unusual year so far. Big market teams who are used to quick rewards have leveraged themselves so much to smaller market teams where they stole their talented players, and now these big market teams are horrible and have no draft picks.

It's an interesting dynamic. It's also suggestive of a larger problem with the lack of true superstars and the challenges in instant superteams.

This could all change in ten games, but for now I like the direction this is headed.

[Mr. Body]

The league is pretty flat/has parity. GSW was fairly average last year and won because no one else was ready and they were more experienced.

Part of the league parity has lead teams to going more 'all in' than usual, and many of those moves have gummed them up, especially where the fits aren't there. A lot of those 'contenders' can't even trade their draft picks, they're so leveraged.

This has left room for some young hungry teams to make a mark. There's both no truly exceptional teams and things are pretty open.

[scott]

The coastal glamour markets look horrible this year.

Nets: disaster
Lakers: a joke
Clippers: an embarrassment
Sixers: disappointing
Knicks: self explanatory
Golden State: still a favorite but showing cracks

Milwaukee: dominant
Memphis: ascending
Pelicans: ascending
Spurs: surprising
Jazz: surprising
Cleveland: ascending
Nuggets: still in good shape
Portland: surprising

Basically, it's an unusual year so far. Big market teams who are used to quick rewards have leveraged themselves so much to smaller market teams where they stole their talented players, and now these big market teams are horrible and have no draft picks.

It's an interesting dynamic. It's also suggestive of a larger problem with the lack of true superstars and the challenges in instant superteams.

This could all change in ten games, but for now I like the direction this is headed.

All this will lead to Adam Silver unveiling a new policy designed to “discourage tanking” that rewards big market teams for sucking even when they don’t have draft picks. “The Lakers are so bad, we are awarding them a pre-draft pick, with which they have selected Tall French Kid, France”

[jjspur]

Adam Silver is like most politicians, say something rather loudly, but eventually do something else. In other words lip service.

[The Truth #6]

All this will lead to Adam Silver unveiling a new policy designed to “discourage tanking” that rewards big market teams for sucking even when they don’t have draft picks. “The Lakers are so bad, we are awarding them a pre-draft pick, with which they have selected Tall French Kid, France”

Hadn’t thought of that, but wouldn’t shock me. The Commissioner always focuses on the big markets.

[baseline bum]

Hadn’t thought of that, but wouldn’t shock me. The Commissioner always focuses on the big markets.

Gotta do something to get that dream Lakers vs Lakers Finals.

[John B]

While the teams that notoriously tanked are still mediocre, OKC, Rockets, Magic, Kings. At least Cavs, Grizz and Pels have reloaded and looking good.

Also, I’m proud of Giannis signing back with the Bucks, even-though Lakers even signed his other brother. Giannis could easily have followed the lure of Hollywood, and maybe even won last year with LeBron. Him signing with his drafting team, a small market at that, gives a little light to players loyalty.

[R. DeMurre]

Never bought into the "draft is fixed" conspiracies... Since 2010, the #1 picks have gone to Washington, Cleveland, New Orleans, Cleveland, Cleveland, Minnesota, Philly, Philly, Phoenix, New Orleans, Minnesota, Detroit, Orlando. Where's the "big market fix?"

[R. DeMurre]

I would love a final four of Denver, New Orleans, Milwaukee, & Cleveland. Sure, ratings would be down, but I'd watch the outta that.

[TD 21]

Never bought into the "draft is fixed" conspiracies... Since 2010, the #1 picks have gone to Washington, Cleveland, New Orleans, Cleveland, Cleveland, Minnesota, Philly, Philly, Phoenix, New Orleans, Minnesota, Detroit, Orlando. Where's the "big market fix?"

Obviously, they're not going to be that obvious.

There's been too many conveniences over the years to ignore though.

[K...]

so there is no draft major heist, but lakers getting a lottery pick to parlay into AD was convenient for the LAL, and Clev getting number 1 could be seen as payback for freeing Lebron to MiA .

The bigger scandal is letting LAL and LAC tamper away and muscle into all in trades for AD and PG. The trades were fair, but small market teams never get those deals because the agents and media don't push it.

The luxury tax is the biggest impediment to LAL, NYK, LAC and MIA creating new dynasties.

Finally, while people bring up relegation, one fun option is to make LAL just a name, such that, the small market with the most promise gets moved to LAL, and then the old team gets waived and the Small market team gets pick 1 in the next draft and 2 is the next to reload. Something like that. Imagine guys like Jokic and Luka playing their careers with middling 2nd tiers. Send the team to LAL and let LAL collude to get the best free agents in ways that dallas and Denver can't.

The NBA could also just make a rule all game 7's are in NY or LA.

[The Truth #6]

A random observation. Do big market teams really have a team iden y, or at least anymore? That takes time and big market teams now just flounder until they can steal small market players via forced trades or free agency.

Small market teams have to take a slow approach due to not having elite talent and occasionally those GMs get to put their fingerprints on the team.

SA: players who are cultured or high character (in theory at least)

Memphis: grit, grind, fat guys with skills

Toronto: everyone is 6’9”

OKC: athletic guys who can’t shoot


Obviously, not a perfect theory. But throwing ideas around.

[offset formation]

Never bought into the "draft is fixed" conspiracies... Since 2010, the #1 picks have gone to Washington, Cleveland, New Orleans, Cleveland, Cleveland, Minnesota, Philly, Philly, Phoenix, New Orleans, Minnesota, Detroit, Orlando. Where's the "big market fix?"

Part of this has to do with NBA All-Stars selecting those big market destinations, which while not necessarily winning them championships, keeps them out of the highest end of the draft lottery.